a quarter to twelve
Something at the back of his brain suggested to him that he knew the man 's face , that he had seen him before . A spy probably . It was nothing unusual for any of them to be `` shadowed , '' and for their out-goings and in-comings to be noted . The highly gilded French clock on the mantel-piece at the far end of the room announced the hour as being a quarter to twelve . Emile stooped down to pick up his sombrero which had tumbled off a chair on to the floor , when he remained with outstretched hand , arrested by the sound of a woman 's voice which came through the partly opened door of the proprietor 's private room and office . A woman 's voice ? It was Arithelli 's unmistakably .