ten o'clock
For an hour he paced back and forth in his office alone , screening his eye behind his bushy brows , wrinkling his forehead , twisting his mouth , and now and then thrusting his hand into his collar and tugging at it , as though he were choking . Gordon 's new study was in the dome of the Temple commanding a wonderful view of the great city , its rivers and bays , and the long dim line of the open sea beyond the towers of Coney Island . It was his habit to take an early breakfast on Sunday mornings and spend the three hours before his services there . When Overman reached the house at ten o'clock , clouds had obscured the sun , The air was wet and penetrating , and charged with the premonition of storm . He felt nervous , excited and irritable . The maid showed him into the spacious library , where a cheerful fire of red-hot coals glowed , and his spirits rose . He stood before the fire without removing his top coat , and the maid said : `` Mrs. Gordon says to make yourself comfortable .