8:30
He drew forth the telegram and slowly , painfully unfolded it . No one could have told by his expression that he felt almost that he was reading his death warrant . It was from Grant & Ripley and evidently had been following him about town for two or three hours . The lawyers had filed it at 8:30 o'clock . He read it at a glance , his eyes burning , his heart freezing . To the end of his days these words lived sharp and distinct in his brain . `` Come to the office immediately .