a quarter to eight p.m.
Ramsgate , where in all the earth , Beside the lovely sea , Can any town of note or worth Be found to equal thee ? `` Nowhere ! '' said Queeker , bringing his fist down on the table with a force that made the ink leap , when he had finished these verses -- verses , however , which cost him two hours and a profuse perspiration to produce . It was exactly a quarter to eight p.m. by the Yarmouth custom-house clock , due allowance being made for variation , when this `` Nowhere ! '' was uttered , and it was precisely a quarter past nine p.m. that day week when the Durants drove up to the door of the Fortress Hotel in Ramsgate , and ordered beds and tea , -- so powerful was the influence of a great mind when brought to bear on Fanny Hennings , who exercised irresistible influence over the good-natured Katie , whose power over her indulgent father was absolute ! Not less natural was the presence , in Ramsgate , of Billy Towler . We have already mentioned that , for peculiarly crooked ends of his own , Morley Jones had changed his abode to Ramsgate -- his country abode , that is .