fifteen minutes to three o'clock
He dashed off , his hat in his hand , his hair flying , puffing , important beyond everything , and apparently babbling his mission to half the people he met on the street . In most countries he would have landed speedily in jail , but among a people who exist on a basis of ` jibbering , his violent gabble aroused no suspicions as to his sanity . However , he stirred several livery stables to their depths and set men running here and there wildly and for the most part futiltiy . At fifteen minutes to three o'clock , a carriage with its horses on a gallop tore around the corner and up to the . front of the hotel , where it halted with the pomp and excitement of a fire engine . The dragoman jumped down from his seat beside the driver and scrambled hurriedly into the hoiel , in the gloom of which hemet a serene stillness which was punctuated only by the leisurely tinkle of silver and glass in the dining room . For a moment the dragoman seemed really astounded out of specch .