six
o'clock
Well , you better give Mort a good send-off . He appreciates a good job ; he 's a sort o ' literary cuss himself . '' As another mirthful spasm seemed imminent Dan retired , wondering just what in himself or in his errand had so moved the fat editor 's risibilities . He learned at the Bassett Bank that Mr. Bassett was spending the day in a neighboring town , but would be home at six o'clock , so he surveyed Fraserville and killed time until evening , eating luncheon and supper with sundry commercial travelers at the Grand Hotel . Harwood 's instructions were in every case to take the subjects of his sketches at their own valuation and to set them forth sympathetically . The ambitions of most of the gentlemen he had interviewed had been obvious -- obvious and futile . Nearly every man who reached the legislature felt a higher call to Congress or the governor 's chair .