ten o'clock
And he decided to go to his office , take his month 's salary , and tender his resignation . He felt a thrill of anticipatory pleasure at the thought of the faces that would be pulled up by the chief of his room and his colleagues . The notion of the bewilderment of the chief above all charmed him . He walked slowly , so as not to get there too early , the cashier 's office not opening before ten o'clock . His office was a large , gloomy room , in which gas had to be kept burning almost all day long in winter . It looked into a narrow court-yard , with other offices on the further side of it . There were eight clerks there , besides a sub-chief hidden behind a screen in one corner .