about fifteen minutes to eight
Tommy laughed . `` He spends an hour here every morning , '' he said . `` What ! '' `` Turns up as regular as the clock at about fifteen minutes to eight , and stays until he has just time to get to the office on the stroke of nine . '' There was a long pause , each man regarding the other thoughtfully . It was Tommy who relieved the situation . `` So far as I know , '' he said slowly , `` he has confided in no one but myself and one other regarding his plans .