half past three in the afternoon
`` But we _ ca n't _ be behind time . We started , you know , on December 1st , at 13 minutes and 20 seconds before 11 o'clock , and we were to arrive four days later at midnight precisely . To-day is December 5th Gentlemen , please examine your watches . It is now half past three in the afternoon . Eight hours and a half are sufficient to take us to our journey 's end . Why should we not arrive there ? '' `` How about being ahead of time ? ''