a quarter to eight
He went down . I followed two minutes later , but saw nothing of him , either on the staircase or the street . He had vanished as suddenly and mysteriously as he had appeared . I whistled for a hansom , and , as the cab turned up Whitehall , Big Ben chimed a quarter to eight . Dinner was served by the time I reached the Cecil , and , as I entered the salon , and made my way towards the table where our seats were , I saw that my fears were realized . Anne was angry , and would not lightly forgive me for what she evidently considered an all but unpardonable breach of good manners . I know Mary had arranged that Anne and I should sit together , but now the chair reserved for me was on Mary 's left .