three minutes to eight o'clock
The wearer , too , was taller than the ordinary run of men , while it was noticeable that his hair was snow-white , and that his face was deeply pitted with smallpox . After disposing of their hats and coats in an ante-room , they reached room No. 22 , where they found the gentleman in clerical costume pacing impatiently up and down . Left alone , the tallest of the trio , who for want of a better title we may call the Best Dressed Man , took out his watch , and having glanced at it , looked at his companions . `` Gentlemen , '' he said , with a slight American accent , `` it is three minutes to eight o'clock . My name is Eastover ! '' `` I 'm glad to hear it , for I 'm most uncommonly hungry , '' said the next tallest , whom I have already described as being so marked by disease . `` My name is Prendergast ! ''