quarter to six
questioned the man . `` I 'll tell you what it means , '' said Hal . `` He is trying to prove an alibi , in case a body was found in the vat . He thinks you can remember he was here looking for Macklin at quarter to six . If that was true , how could he have helped Macklin at five o'clock ? '' `` Well , well ! he 's a smart villain , so he is ! ''