a quarter to four in the afternoon
Another patient complained of a `` sinking feeling . '' `` My dear , '' said he , `` take your medicine ; and if that does no good , swallow the cork , for there is nothing better when you are sinking . '' As far as I could judge , the bulk of the patients looked upon a morning at Cullingworth 's as a most enthralling public entertainment , tempered only by a thrill lest it should be their turn next to be made an exhibition of . Well , with half-an-hour for lunch , this extraordinary business went on till a quarter to four in the afternoon . When the last patient had departed , Cullingworth led the way into the dispensary , where all the fees had been arranged upon the counter in the order of their value . There were seventeen half-sovereigns , seventy-three shillings , and forty-six florins ; or thirty-two pounds eight and sixpence in all . Cullingworth counted it up , and then mixing the gold and silver into one heap , he sat running his fingers through it and playing with it .