a quarter to eleven
`` I 'll look in to-morrow evening , if I may . '' `` No use to-morrow , '' Mr. Hartley called after him ; `` there will be nobody at home but Joan . '' MR. ROBERT VYNER entered upon his new duties with enthusiasm . The second day he was at the office half an hour before anybody else ; on the third day the staff competed among themselves for the honour of arriving first , and greeted him as respectfully as their feelings would permit when he strolled in at a quarter to eleven . The arrival of the senior partner on the day following at a phenomenally early hour , for the sake of setting an example to the junior , filled them with despair . Their spirits did not revive until Mr. John had given up the task as inconvenient and useless . A slight fillip was given to Robert 's waning enthusiasm by the arrival of new furniture for his room .