two in the afternoon
These matters , now seemed a great way off -- too unreal to be of personal moment . He was feeling sick ; that occupied his mind . Also the slush on the sidewalk had wet through his shoes , which probably was not good for his cough . It was scarcely two in the afternoon , yet there remained so little daylight that the electricity burned in the shops along Fifth Avenue . Through a smutty , grayish gloom , rain drove densely ; his hat and waterproof coat were heavy with it , the bottoms of his trousers soaked . Passing the Patroons Club it occurred to him that hot whiskey might extinguish his cough . The liveried servants at the door , in the cloak-room -- the page who took his order , the white-headed butler who had always personally served him , and who served him now , all hesitated and gazed curiously at him .