quarter to ten o'clock
But means shall not be wanting to come to the bottom of this conduct of Mr Walpole 's . Your friends will rally round you , ' exclaimed Mr Catcott vehemently . ` Gently , gently , George , ' exclaimed his more wary brother Alexander : ` We must first know that Mr Walpole has any dishonest intentions , which in a person of quality like him is scarce reasonable to suppose , ' and then the author of _ The History of the Deluge _ pulled from his capacious waistcoat pocket a bit of fossil , which he handed round for inspection in support of one of his theories . When the clock chimed the quarter to ten o'clock Chatterton hastily rose , saying , -- ` I am late as it is , sir . Permit me to bid you good evening . ' Mr Barrett followed Chatterton to the door , and laying his hand kindly on his arm , he slipped into his hand half-a-guinea . ` This is a small acknowledgment for the last curious bit of information you handed me on Bristol antiquities .