twenty past six
He nodded with respect to Louis through the grimy window . Louis lit the gas , and spread a newspaper in front of the window by way of blind . And then he began a series of acts on the petty-cash book . The office clock indicated twenty past six . He knew that time was short , but he had a natural gift for the invention and execution of these acts , and he calculated that under half an hour would suffice for them . But when he next looked at the clock , the acts being accomplished , one hour had elapsed ; it had seemed to him more like a quarter of an hour . Yet as blotting-paper can not safely be employed in such delicate calligraphic feats as those of Louis ' , even an hour was not excessive for what he had done .