twelve o'clock
Save through misadventure , the gentleman will not throw over even a cad ; but the cad waits his opportunity and throws over friend and foe , gentle and simple , with equal impartiality . Mr. Swanland did at all events , and therein , situated as he chanced to be , he was wise . For with the best intentions in the world , Mr. Forde had hitherto always managed to bring those trustees who were simple enough or dishonest enough to do his bidding to ultimate grief . When Mr. Swanland spoke of the Manager of the General Chemical Company as so mentally short-sighted that he could only see to twelve o'clock that day , he described his character to a nicety . Probably , through no fault of his own in the first instance , Mr. Forde eventually found himself traversing a path which led him at one time along the brink of a precipice , at another across a country intersected by deep ravines and dangerous gulleys , and any man who had fully realised the peril of his position must either have abandoned the idea of going further in despair , or have so utterly lost his head as to have been dashed to pieces long before the period when this story opens . But Mr. Forde did not realise his position , or the position of the General Chemical Company . He had faith if he could only hold out long enough relief would come -- to him -- or to the Company .