four o'clock
`` Yes . '' `` There 's my hand . Now bring out your Consolidated Smelting , and I 'll do what 's decent . '' At four o'clock that same day Fitz , with Mr. Klutchem beside him , swung back the wicket-gate of the tunnel , traversed its gloom , crossed the shabby yard piled high with snow heaped up by Chad 's active shovel , and rapped at the front door of the little house . The Colonel was in his chair by the fire . I had just told him the good news , and he and I were sampling a fresh bottle of the groceryman 's Madeira in celebration of the joyous turn in Fitz 's affairs , when Chad with eyes staring from his head announced : `` Misser Klutchem and Misser Fitzpatrick . '' What the old darky thought was coming I do not know , but I learned afterwards , that as soon as he had closed the door behind the visitors , he mounted the stairs three steps at a time , grabbed up the case of pistols from his master 's dressing-table , pulled the corks from their mouths , and hurrying down laid the case and its contents on the hall table to be ready for instant use .