a quarter past one
`` I think we had better go , Brandon , '' said Erskine , his mistrust of Trefusis growing . `` We promised to be back before two . '' `` So you shall , '' said Trefusis . `` It is not yet a quarter past one . By-the-bye , I have not shown you Donovan Brown 's pet instrument for the regeneration of society . Here it is . A monster petition praying that the holding back from the laborer of any portion of the net value produced by his labor be declared a felony .