four o'clock
_ They _ would n't deny their obligations when the premiums fell due . But the greatest rallying point for his business enthusiasm proved to be Hilmer . It seemed that scarcely a day went by that Hilmer did not drop a new piece of business Fred 's way . Returning to the office at four o'clock on almost any afternoon , he grew to feel almost sure that he would find Hilmer there , bending over Helen 's shoulder as he pointed out some vital point in the contract they were both examining . He was a trifle uneasy at first -- dreading the day when Hilmer would approach him on the matter of sharing commissions . It was a generally assumed fact that Kendrick , the man who handled practically all of Hilmer 's business , was a notorious rebater -- that he divided commissions with his clients in the face of his sworn agreement with the Broker 's Exchange not to indulge in such a practice . Obviously , then , Hilmer would not be a man to throw away chances to turn such an easy trick .