five o'clock P.M.
Do you wish me to state the offer of travelling as a final contract -LRB- for which consideration has been received at former dates -LSB- by sums advanced -RSB- , which would be binding -RRB- , or as a tender of services for which compensation is to be paid -LRB- according to future agreement between the parties -RRB- , on performance of the conditions ? '' `` Any way , any way , '' said Edwards ; `` he seems in distress , and I would assist him . '' `` The motive is good , sir -LRB- according to appearances which are often deceitful -RSB- on first impressions -RRB- , and does you honor . I will mention your wish , young gentleman -LRB- as you now seem -RRB- , and will not fail to communicate the answer by five o'clock P.M. of this present day -LRB- God willing -RRB- , if you give me an opportunity so to do . '' The ambiguous nature of the situation and character of Mr. Edwards had rendered him an object of peculiar suspicion to the lawyer , and the youth was consequently too much accustomed to similar equivocal and guarded speeches to feel any unusual disgust at the present dialogue . He saw at once that it was the intention of the practitioner to conceal the nature of his business , even from the private secretary of Judge Temple ; and he knew too well the difficulty of comprehending the meaning of Mr. Van der School , when the gentleman most wished to be luminous in his discourse , not to abandon all thoughts of a discovery , when he perceived that the attorney was endeavoring to avoid anything like an approach to a cross-examination . They parted at the gate , the lawyer walking with an important and hurried air toward his office , keeping his right hand firmly clinched on the bundle of papers .