three o'clock
It was then ten o'clock in the morning . Now , in hunting the larger fauna of the North American continent with a dog-whip , it is advantageous to have some knowledge of the game 's habits . Mr. Harrington Surtaine 's first error lay in expecting to find the editorial staff of a morning newspaper on duty in the early forenoon . So much a sweeper , emerging from a pile of dust , communicated to him across a railing , further volunteering that three o'clock would be a well-chosen hour for return , as the boss would be less pressed upon by engagements then , perhaps , than at other hours . In the nature of things , the long delay might well have cooled the knightliest ardor . But as he departed from the office , Mr. Surtaine took with him a copy of that day 's `` Clarion '' for perusal , and in its pages discovered a `` follow-up '' of the previous day 's outrage . Back home he went , and added to his literary effort a few more paragraphs wherein the editorial `` we '' more profoundly cringed , cowered , and crawled in penitential abasement .