six o'clock
If he failed to act upon this impulse , he knew he would never act at all . His heart beating , his breath coming short , he entered the building , and in a few moments found himself seated in an ante-room , his eyes fixed with hypnotic intensity upon the frosted pane of an adjoining door , whereon in gold letters was inscribed the word , `` PRESIDENT . '' In the end , Presley had been surprised to find that Shelgrim was still in . It was already very late , after six o'clock , and the other offices in the building were in the act of closing . Many of them were already deserted . At every instant , through the open door of the ante-room , he caught a glimpse of clerks , office boys , book-keepers , and other employees hurrying towards the stairs and elevators , quitting business for the day . Shelgrim , it seemed , still remained at his desk , knowing no fatigue , requiring no leisure .