a quarter to seven
All next day Nelly waited . After the very early morning she did not dare go outdoors lest he should come in her absence . The General went off to his club to be out of the way . At a quarter to seven he opened the door with his latch-key and came in , more than half-expecting to find an overcoat which did not belong to him in the hall . There was none ; and he went on to the drawing-room with a vague sense of disappointment . Langrishe must have been and gone . In the drawing-room he found Nelly alone .