a quarter past seven
Well , for one thing only , I take it you 'd pay pretty high for her -- her health . '' Piers went very white . For myself , I strove to keep my brain steady , but the thought of Adèle -- my wife , in the power of the dog , would thrust itself , grinning horribly , into the foreground of my imagination . I heard somebody say that the hour was a quarter past seven . I had my watch in my hand , so I knew they were right . Vainly they repeated their statement , unconsciously voicing my thoughts ... . Only when Daphne fell on her knees by my side did I realise that I was the speaker .