Five minutes to three
ha ! ' His good-humour being in some degree restored by the vision of Ralph Nickleby swallowing , perforce , a five-shilling piece , Newman slowly brought forth from his desk one of those portable bottles , currently known as pocket-pistols , and shaking the same close to his ear so as to produce a rippling sound very cool and pleasant to listen to , suffered his features to relax , and took a gurgling drink , which relaxed them still more . Replacing the cork , he smacked his lips twice or thrice with an air of great relish , and , the taste of the liquor having by this time evaporated , recurred to his grievance again . ` Five minutes to three , ' growled Newman ; ` it ca n't want more by this time ; and I had my breakfast at eight o'clock , and SUCH a breakfast ! and my right dinner-time two ! And I might have a nice little bit of hot roast meat spoiling at home all this time -- how does HE know I have n't ? `` Do n't go till I come back , '' `` Do n't go till I come back , '' day after day .