six o'clock
Needless to say , the fact that it compelled those who used it to work quickly recommended the stuff to Misery . As for the smell , he did not care about that ; he did not have to inhale the fumes himself . It was just about this time that Crass , after due consultation with several of the others , including Philpot , Harlow , Bundy , Slyme , Easton and the Semi-drunk , decided to call a meeting of the hands for the purpose of considering the advisability of holding the usual Beano later on in the summer . The meeting was held in the carpenter 's shop down at the yard one evening at six o'clock , which allowed time for those interested to attend after leaving work . The hands sat on the benches or carpenter 's stools , or reclined upon heaps of shavings . On a pair of tressels in the centre of the workshop stood a large oak coffin which Crass had just finished polishing . When all those who were expected to turn up had arrived , Payne , the foreman carpenter -- the man who made the coffins -- was voted to the chair on the proposition of Crass , seconded by Philpot , and then a solemn silence ensued , which was broken at last by the chairman , who , in a lengthy speech , explained the object of the meeting .