four o'clock in the afternoon
Mr. Wise was engrossed in a particularly interesting novel , and was so deeply buried in it that he failed to hear or respond to the noonday call to dinner . When , an hour later , hunger called his attention to the fact that he had not eaten , he rang for the steward , and a liberal tip brought a satisfactory luncheon to his stateroom . Thus it came to pass that he did not observe Charley 's absence from the dinner table . It was four o'clock in the afternoon when , the novel at last finished , Mr. Wise left his room to challenge the doctor to a game in the smoking room . It was not until the six o'clock evening meal that his attention was called to the fact that Charley , who was usually prompt at meals , was not present . He had no doubt Charley had gone to his room and fallen asleep . If his ward chose to sleep at meal time it was no fault of his .