a quarter past seven
Then he shook hands with Coulson and threw himself into a corner of the cab which was waiting . `` Drive down the Brompton Road , '' he said to the man . `` I 'll direct you later . '' It was a quarter past seven when he left the hotel . At half past a policeman held up his hand and stopped the taxi , to the driver 's great astonishment , as he was driving slowly across Melbourne Square , Kensington . `` What 's the matter ? '' the man asked .