quarter after
midnight
A lamp stood on a small table littered with books and papers ; an array of pipes and cigar-holders were strewn carelessly on the marble mantelpiece . A sense of brightness and commonplace comfort permeated the atmosphere , and were sensibly soothing after the chill of the cool December night . He took a cigar from his case and lit it , and threw himself back and smoked at his ease . As he did so , he heard a clock in the distance strike the quarter after midnight ; mechanically he counted the strokes . `` She will wake now , '' he said , half aloud . The sound of his voice startled himself in the stillness of the room . As its echoes died away he glanced nervously round .