a quarter to seven
He believed perhaps that he was listening to the voice of Fate again , and it may have been so , for already , for the third time , all his plans were changing to suit this new ally of his -- this miraculous Fate which was shaping matters for him as he waited . Sylvia had started up-stairs like a fragrant whirlwind , but her flying feet halted at Leila 's constrained voice from the drawing-room , and she spun around and came into the darkened room like an April breeze . `` Leila ! They 'll be here at a quarter to seven -- '' Her breath seemed to leave her body as a shadowy figure rose in the uncertain light and confronted her . `` You ! '' He said : `` Did n't you recognise the Mercedes outside ? '' She had not even seen it , so excited , so deeply engaged had she been with the riotous tumult of her own thoughts .