half past ten
They know that I know it . '' He looked at Mr. Hand quite as one advocate of righteousness should look at another , and the rich promoter went away satisfied that the reins of government were in safe hands . Immediately afterward Mr. Sluss gave out an interview in which he served warning on all aldermen and councilmen that no such ordinance as the one in question would ever be signed by him as mayor . At half past ten on the same morning on which the interview appeared -- the hour at which Mr. Sluss usually reached his office -- his private telephone bell rang , and an assistant inquired if he would be willing to speak with Mr. Frank A. Cowperwood . Mr. Sluss , somehow anticipating fresh laurels of victory , gratified by the front-page display given his announcement in the morning papers , and swelling internally with civic pride , announced , solemnly : `` Yes ; connect me . '' `` Mr. Sluss , '' began Cowperwood , at the other end , `` this is Frank A. Cowperwood . '' `` Yes .