about a quarter past eight
Simpson asked . `` I know he dined there at seven-thirty or thereabouts and that he ordered a drink at eight twenty-five . '' `` And what time was the murder ? '' `` Probably about a quarter past eight -- the bodies were found at half past , they say , '' I answered . Simpson shook his head . `` I 'm afraid his alibi is good . It 's cutting things too fine to think that he could have run six miles and back in less than half an hour and committed a murder in the bargain .