About twenty minutes past three
He had gone home at one o'clock that day , as usual . Not that there was any necessity for his doing so , for the dinner hour was postponed until later , and it would have furthered the business of the office had he remained for once at his post . Had any one suggested to Roland to do so , he would have thought he was going to be worked to death . About twenty minutes past three he came clattering in . `` I say , Jenkins , I want a holiday this afternoon . '' Jenkins , albeit the most accommodating spirit in the world , looked dubious , and cast a glance at the papers on Roland 's desk . `` Yes , sir .