a quarter to eight
Keep yourself before the public from morning to night , and they 'll never think of you in the still small hours . '' Our behavior , in fine , had so long been irreproachable that I rose without misgiving on the morning of Lord Thornaby 's dinner to the other Criminologists and guests . My chief anxiety was to arrive under the aegis of my brilliant friend , and I had begged him to pick me up on his way ; but at five minutes to the appointed hour there was no sign of Raffles or his cab . We were bidden at a quarter to eight for eight o'clock , so after all I had to hurry off alone . Fortunately , Thornaby House is almost at the end of my street that was ; and it seemed to me another fortunate circumstance that the house stood back , as it did and does , in its own August courtyard ; for , as I was about to knock , a hansom came twinkling in behind me , and I drew back , hoping it was Raffles at the last moment . It was not , and I knew it in time to melt from the porch , and wait yet another minute in the shadows , since others were as late as I. And out jumped these others , chattering in stage whispers as they paid their cab . `` Thornaby has a bet about it with Freddy Vereker , who ca n't come , I hear .