a quarter past six
It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume . His expression , his manner , his very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed . The stage lost a fine actor , even as science lost an acute reasoner , when he became a specialist in crime . It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street , and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue . It was already dusk , and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge , waiting for the coming of its occupant . The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes 's succinct description , but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected . On the contrary , for a small street in a quiet neighborhood , it was remarkably animated .