a quarter to five
Only , if you should decide to accept Professor von Schalckenberg 's suggestion , I should like to know soon , as it is nearly Ida 's bedtime ; and if we are to start early to-morrow morning , I will send her and Nurse on board at once . '' And so it was presently arranged , the whole party making their way to the ship together , and there and then taking possession of their quarters . It wanted a few minutes of four o'clock the next morning , when Professor von Schalckenberg rose from his couch and , wrapping himself in a gorgeous dressing-gown , made his way quietly to one of the luxurious bathrooms with which the _ Flying Fish _ was fitted , where he took his matutinal cold tub , returning , a quarter of an hour later , to his cabin , fresh and vigorous , to find that , according to orders , George , the chief steward , had already brought a cup of coffee for his delectation while dressing . And punctually at a quarter to five the professor might have been seen making his way , on slippered feet , into the pilot-house . Arrived there , he turned on an electric light of moderate power and , with the assistance of the illumination thus furnished , peered about him as he satisfied himself that everything was in perfect order . Then he laid his hand upon the crank of a large wheel within reach , and gave the wheel three or four turns , directing his gaze , meanwhile , upon two large dials which were attached , side by side , to the wall of the pilot-house . Each of these dials was provided with an index hand , both of which began to move almost simultaneously with the first movement of the large wheel by the professor .