a quarter past four
The clerk 's face was a study . `` If he presents himself here , sir , '' he announced stiffly , `` I shall take the liberty of sending for the police . '' Laverick made no reply . At precisely a quarter past four , nothing having happened in the meantime but a steady rush of business , Laverick ordered a taxicab to be summoned . He then unlocked his safe , placed the pocket-book securely in his breast pocket , walked through the office , and directed the man to drive to Chancery Lane . Here at the headquarters of the Safe Deposit Company he engaged a compartment , and down in the strong-room locked up the pocket-book . There was only now the document left .