a quarter
to eight
Either he should triumph as he had in the grueling race , or he should have to face the ignominy of transfer and legal proceedings at St. Andrew 's . At half-past seven Squire Hardy , his round , red face fringed by snowy whiskers , came in . He dragged a chair into the passageway in front of the bar and was beginning a long and laborious law opinion when the detective , who had been to Mis ' Shannon 's boarding-house for dinner , returned . The two began to fight the matter out between them when , at a quarter to eight , Nat came in , dressed in his best clothes and smoking a land cigar . `` Well , what do you want of me , Schofield ? '' he asked . `` You sent for me , but you need n't try to beg off .