a quarter to five
Politics was going to take a hand in the game . After all , it was best to take the bull by the horns at once and have it over with . He knew how well he had fortified himself against any political machinery . So , promptly at a quarter to five , he departed , leaving explicit orders with his subordinates . The strikers moved aside for him , muttering and grumbling , but they made no effort to impede his progress . There were groans and catcalls , but that was all . He looked neither to the right nor to the left , but presented his back to them fearlessly .