About six in the evening
Now on this day , James Starr 's ideas were boiling fast . But suddenly an unexpected incident occurred . This was the drop of cold water , which in a moment was to condense all the vapors of the brain . About six in the evening , by the third post , Starr 's servant brought him a second letter . This letter was enclosed in a coarse envelope , and evidently directed by a hand unaccustomed to the use of a pen . James Starr tore it open . It contained only a scrap of paper , yellowed by time , and apparently torn out of an old copy book .