half past eleven
He had not felt so well for many years . He laughed to himself at intervals as he performed his toilette , and knew not quite why . His secretary was just like a new toy to him , offering many of the advantages of official life and routine without any of the drawbacks . At half past eleven he descended , wearing one or two of the more discreet of his new possessions , and with the sensation of having already transacted a good day 's work , into the breakfast-room and found Miss Warburton and Machin in converse . Machin feverishly poked the freshly-lit fire and then , pretending to have urgent business elsewhere , left the room . `` Here are some particulars of a house in Manchester Square , '' said Mr. Prohack . `` Please read them . ''