noon
There were two other , inner , offices to McCarthy 's establishment , in which sat a private secretary and an office boy . Occasionally McCarthy , with some especial visitor , retired to one of these for a more confidential conversation . The secretary seemed always very busy ; the office boy was often in the street . At noon McCarthy took lunch at a small round table in the cafe below . When he reappeared at the elevator shaft , the elevator starter again verified his watch . Malachi McCarthy had but the one virtue of accuracy , and that had to do with matters of time . At five minutes of six he reached for his hat ; at three minutes of six he boarded the elevator .