one o'clock
Matters had come to a crisis with Martin financially , and a suspension of specie payments was forced upon him . He continued to walk about the streets in that aimless way which results from absence of occupation , and found it , on the whole , rather cheerless work . Besides , he was beginning to get hungry . He had eaten a hearty breakfast at his boarding-house in Brooklyn , but it was now one o'clock , and the stomach began to assert its claims once more . He had no money . Still there were places where food , at least , could be had for nothing . He descended into a subterranean apartment , over the door of which was a sign bearing the words FREE LUNCH .