six o'clock
His ears strained to catch the deep notes of the doctor 's voice . And then , suddenly , with a gush of joy he heard a quick step outside , and the sharp click of the key in the lock . In an instant he was out in the hall , before the doctor 's foot was over the threshold . `` If you please , doctor , I 've come for you , '' he cried ; `` the wife was taken bad at six o'clock . '' He hardly knew what he expected the doctor to do . Something very energetic , certainly -- to seize some drugs , perhaps , and rush excitedly with him through the gaslit streets . Instead of that Doctor Miles threw his umbrella into the rack , jerked off his hat with a somewhat peevish gesture , and pushed Johnson back into the room .