quarter past three
To be sure , Rogers had merited his punishment , but the school failed to consider that , and indignation ran high . Curly himself , seated in the silent class room , acknowledged failure at last . He looked at his watch . It was quarter past three . With a sigh he drew paper toward him , dipped pen in ink and began to write . The letter was brief , yet it took him nearly ten minutes . When at last it was finished , lacking only the signature , he read it over .