four o'clock
`` I do n't believe there 's anything in what you 've said yet that you ca n't live down . Now I suppose if Gorham had told you that we 'd had our lunch , the fact that your father was starving to death would n't be accepted as evidence worthy of consideration . '' Allen laughed as he pulled out his watch , his mind easier and his heart lighter than it had been for months . `` I had forgotten all about that , and it 's after four o'clock . Come on out with me , and I 'll give you a revised version of the ` fatted calf ' story . '' `` You think it is the return of the prodigal father , do you ? '' `` I hope we are both prodigals , you dear old pater , '' Allen replied , seriously ; `` I hope we both need each other so much that we never can exist alone again . ''