three o’clock
` Why then , Mr Richard , ' said Brass , darting at him a supercilious and reproachful look , ` it 's my opinion that you 've mistaken your calling , and will never make a lawyer . ' ` Not if you live a thousand years , ' added Miss Sally . Whereupon the brother and sister took each a noisy pinch of snuff from the little tin box , and fell into a gloomy thoughtfulness . Nothing further passed up to Mr Swiveller 's dinner-time , which was at three o'clock , and seemed about three weeks in coming . At the first stroke of the hour , the new clerk disappeared . At the last stroke of five , he reappeared , and the office , as if by magic , became fragrant with the smell of gin and water and lemon-peel . ` Mr Richard , ' said Brass , ` this man 's not up yet .