a quarter to
six
He had three rounds of that . Then he was persuaded by Jake Williams to try a glass of beer , and after that a bumper of strong , fruity port -- the pure juice of the Californian grape . That warmed him up ! At a quarter to six he took his first drink of whisky , and then the evil spirits of all the devils who manufacture it seemed to possess him . In less than half-an-hour he was the centre of a howling crowd , and none howled louder than he . He set up the drinks again and again . I tried to drag him away , and failed miserably .