five o'clock
`` But I can only lead you downwards . I can not lead you upwards ... '' As with a sword -- He sat back in his chair and gazed upon this armed intruder to give it battle . The morning passed and the afternoon while still he sat , no more moving than to sink lower in his seat as the battle joined and as he most dreadfully suffered in its most dreadful onsets . Towards five o'clock he put out his hand without moving his position and drew towards him the letter he had begun . The action was as that of one utterly undone . He very slowly tore it across , and then across again , and so into tiniest fragments till his fingers could no more fasten upon them . He dropped his arm away and opened his hand , and the white pieces fluttered in a little cloud to the floor .