a quarter past eleven
Robert Audley drew his chair nearer to that of Mr. Talboys , and commenced a minutely detailed account of all that had occurred to George from the time of his arrival in England to the hour of his disappearance , as well as all that had occurred since his disappearance in any way touching upon that particular subject . Harcourt Talboys listened with demonstrative attention , now and then interrupting the speaker to ask some magisterial kind of question . Clara Talboys never once lifted her face from her clasped hands . The hands of the clock pointed to a quarter past eleven when Robert began his story . The clock struck twelve as he finished . He had carefully suppressed the names of his uncle and his uncle 's wife in relating the circumstances in which they had been concerned . `` Now , sir , '' he said , when the story had been told , `` I await your decision .