Half past eleven
Mr. Brandon , the manager , was a bachelor and occupied a flat above the bank premises . From time to time he strode in , his big pipe in the corner of his mouth . The last of these occasions was when Jasper Cole had replaced the last ledger in Mr. Minute 's private safe . `` Half past eleven , '' said the manager disapprovingly , `` and you have had no dinner . '' `` I can afford to miss a dinner , '' laughed the other . `` Lucky man , '' said the manager . Jasper Cole passed out into the street and called a passing taxi to the curb .