about a quarter past ten
`` Go on , '' he said . `` It was not murder , '' began Mr. Cupples , slowly measuring off inches with a fork on the edge of the table . `` I will tell you the whole story . On that Sunday night I was taking my before-bedtime constitutional , having set out from the hotel about a quarter past ten . I went along the field-path that runs behind White Gables , cutting off the great curve of the road , and came out on the road nearly opposite that gate that is just by the eighth hole on the golf-course . Then I turned in there , meaning to walk along the turf to the edge of the cliff , and go back that way . I had only gone a few steps when I heard the car coming , and then I heard it stop near the gate .