ten o'clock
From this remark and some explanatory hints that followed , it seemed that the Quarryman had abandoned his scheme of putting Ratcliffe to immediate political death , and had now undertaken to invite him into a Cabinet which was to be specially constructed to thwart and humiliate him . The President , it appeared , warmly applauded the remark of one counsellor , that Ratcliffe was safer in the Cabinet than in the Senate , and that it would be easy to kick him out when the time came . Ratcliffe smiled grimly as Mr. Lord , with much clever mimicry , described the President 's peculiarities of language and manner , but he said nothing and waited for the event . The same evening came a note from the President 's private secretary requesting his attendance , if possible , to-morrow , Saturday morning , at ten o'clock . The note was curt and cool . Ratcliffe merely sent back word that he would come , and felt a little regret that the President should not know enough etiquette to understand that this verbal answer was intended as a hint to improve his manners . He did come accordingly , and found the President looking blacker than before .