a quarter to ten
`` I wonder how long the interval is , '' I said . `` I suppose spying is a sort of job you ca n't fix an exact time-limit to . '' Tommy looked at his watch again . `` It 's just on a quarter to ten now . He told me not to wait after half-past . '' I stuffed down the baccy with my thumb , and felt in my pocket for a match . `` It seems to me -- '' I began .