a quarter after one
Just as I happened to see him slipping his little old cocaine-squirter back in his pocket after a surreptitious shot in the arm -LRB- while our party was entering the drawing-room on the left side of the front corridor -RRB- , Lord Launcelot evidently thought it incumbent upon him to kid Holmes for the lack of results so far ; but he had n't spoken more than a few words of his would-be witty remarks when Holmes turned and barked at him like a terrier . `` Say , you , lord or no lord , you 'll have to chop out the funny remarks on my method of handling this case , or else I 'll drop the whole thing right here , '' he flung at the surprised Launcelot . `` I ca n't stand this eternal butting-in while I 'm trying to think ! '' The Earl warned Launcelot to cease the comedy , and then Holmes motioned all of them except me out of the room , saying that he had some deep thought on hand that would take up at least two hours , and that we should n't be called to luncheon until a quarter after one . My stomach rebelled at this , but my head knew better than to oppose the old boy when he had a thought-tantrum on . Billie Hicks , -- he from Canada , -- was the last one to go , and as he was leaving he hurled this Parthian shot at Holmes : `` Now go ahead and try to think , Holmes . Maybe you 'll succeed in the attempt ! ''