about five o'clock
No one had dared to say a harsh word to his face . Nothing further had reached his ears . After leaving the bank he had gone back to his office , and had written letters , -- just as if nothing had happened ; and , as far as he could judge , his clerks had plucked up courage . One of them , about five o'clock , came into him with news from the west , and with second editions of the evening papers . The clerk expressed his opinion that the election was going well . Mr. Melmotte , judging from the papers , one of which was supposed to be on his side and the other of course against him , thought that his affairs altogether were looking well . The Westminster election had not the foremost place in his thoughts ; but he took what was said on that subject as indicating the minds of men upon the other matter .