a quarter after twelve
This thing of meeting a man here at twelve o'clock is -- '' `` Goodness ! '' cried Mrs. Gloame anxiously . `` It is not twelve , is it ! I must hasten away by a quarter after twelve . '' `` It lacks considerable of that hour , '' said Gates . Turning to Godfrey Gloame , who was leaning against the mantel , he went on to explain : `` You see , sir , I was reading here and your wife dropped in -- blew in , I might say -- all without my knowledge , very much as you did . She had had no invitation , we had made no date -- I mean arrangement -- and I was paralysed at first .