nearly a quarter to three
`` The King of Wurtemberg , and two of the Bavarian royal Princes , an Abyssinian Envoy who is over here -- he will lend a touch of picturesque barbarism to the scene -- the general commanding the London district and a whole lot of other military bigwigs , and the Austrian , Italian and Roumanian military attaches . '' She reeled off the imposing list of notables with an air of quiet satisfaction . Sir Leonard made mental notes of personages to whom he might send presentation copies of his new work `` Frederick-William , the Great Elector , a Popular Biography , '' as a souvenir of to-day 's auspicious event . `` It is nearly a quarter to three now , '' he said ; `` let us get a good position before the crowd gets thicker . '' `` Come along to my car , it is just opposite to the saluting base , '' said her ladyship ; `` I have a police pass that will let us through . We 'll ask Mrs. Yeovil and her young friend to join us . '' Larry excused himself from joining the party ; he had a barbarian 's reluctance to assisting at an Imperial triumph .