twenty past four
One 's first thought on entering is that the lady assistant will approach one and ask in a hushed voice `` Tea or chocolate ? And would you care to view the remains ? '' Maud looked at her watch . It was twenty past four . She could scarcely believe that she had only been there five minutes , but the ticking of the watch assured her that it had not stopped . Her depression deepened . Why had Geoffrey told her to meet him in a cavern of gloom like this instead of at the Savoy ?