a quarter to nine
`` You 'll land me into the trouble of telling you not to talk rot in a minute , '' he returned . Then , standing up and peering out ahead over the long dim expanse of water , dotted here and there with patches of blurred light , he added cheerfully : `` You take her over now , Neil , We 're right at the end of the Yantlet , and after this morning you ought to know the rest of the way better than I do . '' He resigned the tiller to me , and pulling out his watch , held it up to the binnacle lamp . `` Close on a quarter to nine , '' he said . `` We shall just do it nicely if the engine does n't stop . '' `` I hope so , '' I said . `` I should hate to keep a Government official waiting . ''