a quarter past eight
She evidently considers that in pretending to expect him you have been merely playing a part , and that it would have been manlier and more straightforward for you to have admitted at the beginning that you had forgotten to invite him . During the soup and the fish you recount anecdotes of his unpunctuality . By the time the _ entree _ arrives the empty chair has begun to cast a gloom over the dinner , and with the joint the conversation drifts into talk about dead relatives . On Friday , at a quarter past eight , he dashes to the door and rings violently . Hearing his voice in the hall , you go to meet him . `` Sorry I 'm late , '' he sings out cheerily . `` Fool of a cabman took me to Alfred Place instead of -- '' `` Well , what do you want now you are come ? ''