three
minutes to two
But anything useful will do . '' * * * * * We made a point of being in upon the following afternoon . It was not often that we all sat down to lunch together , but the satisfaction of witnessing the delivery of three precious tons of coal in the teeth of the authorities was more than we could forego . The butler was admitted to our confidence , and instructed to stifle any attempt to allay curiosity , by interpretation of the carman , that might originate in the servants ' hall , and immediately after luncheon , which finished at three minutes to two , an O.P. was established by the side of one of the dining-room windows , in which Jill was posted with orders to advise us directly the convoy appeared . In the library we spent a restless time . Berry , usually somnolent at this hour , sat upon the club kerb and toyed with _ The Times _ . Jonah fidgeted with a refractory pipe .