six o'clock
THE ROLL-CALL III . IN THE MACHINE THE ROLL-CALL PART I In the pupils ' room of the offices of Lucas & Enwright , architects , Russell Square , Bloomsbury , George Edwin Cannon , an articled pupil , leaned over a large drawing-board and looked up at Mr. Enwright , the head of the firm , who with cigarette and stick was on his way out after what he called a good day 's work . It was past six o'clock on an evening in early July 1901 . To George 's right was an open door leading to the principals ' room , and to his left another open door leading to more rooms and to the staircase . The lofty chambers were full of lassitude ; but round about George , who was working late , there floated the tonic vapour of conscious virtue . Haim , the factotum , could be seen and heard moving in his cubicle which guarded the offices from the stairs .