a quarter to nine
Abruptly he put out his hand and picked it up . Then remembrance of the Doctor 's warning flooded over him . In sudden panic he put the ring down again , almost in the same place at the edge of the handkerchief . Trembling all over , he looked at his watch ; it was a quarter to nine . He rose stiffly to his feet and sank into his chair . After a moment he lighted a cigar . The handkerchief lay at his feet ; he could just see the ring over the edge of his knees .