six o'clock
I had always been susceptible where the fair sex was concerned , and now ... oh , now ! I could pick and choose ! The comely widow had a small fortune of her own , and there were others ! ... Thus I dreamed on for the better part of an hour , until , soon after six o'clock , there was a knock at the outer door and I heard Theodore 's shuffling footsteps crossing the small anteroom . There was some muttered conversation , and presently my door was opened and Theodore 's ugly face was thrust into the room . `` A lady to see you , '' he said curtly . Then , he dropped his voice , smacked his lips , and winked with one eye .