a
quarter to three
The thought may have struck him , that , not to take the number of a bank-note , sent by post , betrayed some carelessness for a man of business . Mr. Galloway , at least , inferred this , and answered the look . `` Of course I am in the habit of taking their numbers ; I do n't know that I ever did such a thing before , as send a bank-note away without it . I had an appointment , as I tell you , at the other end of the town for a quarter to three ; it was of importance ; and , when I heard the college strike out the three-quarters -- the very hour I ought to have been there -- I hurriedly put the note into the folds of the letter , without waiting to take its number . It was not that I forgot to do so , but that I could not spare the time . '' `` Have you any means of ascertaining the number , by tracing the note back to whence it may have come into your possession ? '' was the next question .