half past nine
When he had done this he found himself in plenty of time and so walked along the Strand . The office of Messrs. Herbert Carter & Co. was in a little street off Chancery Lane , and he had to ask his way two or three times . He felt that people were staring at him a great deal , and once he took off his hat to see whether by chance the label had been left on . When he arrived he knocked at the door ; but no one answered , and looking at his watch he found it was barely half past nine ; he supposed he was too early . He went away and ten minutes later returned to find an office-boy , with a long nose , pimply face , and a Scotch accent , opening the door . Philip asked for Mr. Herbert Carter . He had not come yet .