5 P.M
The FIFTH Chapter On opening the door of my sitting-room , I found Arthur , the factotum , sitting in my large easy-chair , with one of my volumes of Poe in his hand . He had overheard part of the conversation of the preceding evening , and was evidently interested in `` The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym . '' I observed also that a bottle of cognac which sat upon my table , and which I could have sworn was not more than one-fourth emptied when I left the hotel directly after dinner , was now quite empty . The atmosphere of the room was pervaded with the odor of `` dead '' brandy ; and Arthur 's eyes were unusually glassy and staring -- for so early an hour as 5 P.M. . Then he settled the matter , beyond the shadow of a doubt , with a hiccough . `` Well , Arthur , '' I said , pleasantly , as he clumsily rose in part from his seat -- into which he dropped back , however , as he heard my kindly tone of address , and knew there was to be no severity of reckoning -- `` well , my boy ; been enjoying yourself ? '' `` Yes , sir , '' he replied , in a fairly steady voice -- the words that followed , however , being rhythmically interrupted by an aldermanic and most vociferous hiccough , which shall be omitted from this record -- `` been reading about Pym and Barnard .