six o'clock
`` I 'm surprised at you . For a few paltry votes you -- '' Just here the front door bell rang , and the business of the day beginning stopped the conversation , which bade fair to become unpleasant . * * * * * Night came . The votes were being counted , and at six o'clock Perkins was informed that everything was going his way . `` Get your place ready for a brass band and a serenade , '' his manager telephoned . `` I sha 'n' t ! '' ejaculated the candidate to himself , his old -- time independence asserting itself now that the polls were closed -- and he was right .