eight o'clock
Had he failed after all ! Surely he was not being turned away ? But the city editor 's next words dispelled all doubt . `` We go to work on this paper at eight o'clock , Mr. Collins ; and by eight I mean eight , and not ten minutes past . I ca n't have any man working for me who can not be prompt . You understand ? '' As Tom clattered happily downstairs a deep reverberation that shook the building from top to bottom told him that the presses were already printing the result of his first assignment .