a quarter past eight
he asked . `` Sir Alfred has a guest at eight o'clock , sir , '' the man replied . `` There are several others , I think , but they have not ordered tables specially . '' `` At a quarter past eight , if you please . I shall be in the billiard-room , Charles , '' he added , turning to the hall-porter . Sir Alfred wearied soon of the pages of his review and leaned back in his chair , his hands folded in front of him , gazing through the window at the opposite side of the way . A good many people , passing backwards and forwards , glanced at him curiously .