a quarter to one
Good-bye ! '' He set down the receiver and rang off to escape further questioning . Now indeed the plot was commencing to thicken . This was a deliberate effort on the part of some one to secure his absence from his offices at a quarter to one . With the document in his pocket and the safe securely locked , Laverick felt at ease as to the result of any attempted burglary of his premises . At the same time his curiosity was excited . Here , perhaps , was a chance of finding some clue to this impenetrable mystery .