about a quarter to nine
He was watching Inspector Dunbar intently ; only glancing from the gaunt face of the detective occasionally to look at Denise Ryland , who sat close to the table . At such times his gaze was pathetically reproachful , but always rather sorrowful than angry . As for Miss Ryland , her habitual self-confidence seemed somewhat to have deserted her , and it was almost with respectful interest that she followed Dunbar 's examination of a cabman who , standing cap in hand , completed the party so strangely come together at that late hour . `` This is what you have said , '' declared Dunbar , taking up an official form , and , with a movement of his hand warning the taxi-man to pay attention : `` ` I , Frederick Dean , motor-cab driver , was standing on the rank in Little Abbey Street to-night at about a quarter to nine . My cab was the second on the rank . A young lady who wore , I remember , a woolen cap and jersey , with a blue serge skirt , ran out from the corner of the Square and directed me to follow the cab in front of me , which had just been chartered by a dark man wearing a black overcoat and silk hat . She ordered me to keep him in sight ; and as I drove off I heard her calling from the window of my cab to another lady who seemed to be following her .