a quarter to eight
Down the passage came the sound of emptying taps and a voice singing cheerfully in the bath . `` Do n't stay there all night , Geoff ! '' Eric cried , banging on the door . `` It 's a quarter to eight now . '' It was five minutes to eight before the bathroom , sloppy and filled with steam , was surrendered to him . No man could have a hot bath and dress in five minutes ; he was particularly anxious to appear at his best for the meeting with Agnes ... . And the water was tepid ...