a quarter past two
A hard fate was making him his father 's betrayer ; but beyond the betrayal , with the bare duty done , he would take his place as his father 's son , proving his love and loyalty by going down with him to any depth of infamy into which the cataclysm might drag him . Since there was much to be done in the winding-up task , the forenoon fled quickly , and the hands of the small paper-weight clock on the desk were pointing to a quarter of two when Blount snapped the rubber band upon the final file of referred papers . There were other odds and ends to be set in order , but he determined to let them wait until he had eaten . A scant half-hour in the club grill-room was all he allowed himself , and at a quarter past two he was back at his desk , preparing to make the cleaning-up task complete . Between four and five , Judge Hemingway had said ; and Blount began on one of the odds and ends , which was the writing of his letter of resignation from the railroad service . He was enclosing the letter when there came a light tap at the office-door , and then the door itself opened to admit Patricia -- a Patricia bright-eyed and determined , alluringly charming in her tightly veiled driving-hat , muffling motor-coat , and dainty gauntlets . `` You ? ''