a quarter to one
Then counsel sat down somewhat unsteadily ... . Berry was followed by an expert witness , called to substantiate our contention that two hundred pounds was a fair charge for the execution of such repairs to the Rolls as the accident had necessitated , and that another two hundred for the hire of a similar car for the month during which our own was in dock , was not excessive . As he stepped down from the box -- `` That , my lord , '' said our leader , `` is the case for the plaintiff . '' It was a quarter to one when Berry 's antagonist rose again to his feet . Shortly he opened his case . Nothing , he said , was more difficult to prove than a negative . But for one thing , it might have gone hard with an innocent man .