a quarter past two
The lawyer and Mr Ball then touched each other 's hands , and the former followed his cousin down the steps out into the square . Tribulation When they were once more out in the square , side by side , Miss Mackenzie took hold of her cousin 's arm and walked on for a few steps in silence , in the direction of Great Queen Street -- that is to say , away from the city , towards which she knew her cousin would go in pursuit of his own business . And indeed the hour was now close at hand in which he should be sitting as a director at the Shadrach Fire Assurance Office . If not at the Shadrach by two , or , with all possible allowance for the shortcoming of a generally punctual director , by a quarter past two , he would be too late for his guinea ; and now , as he looked at his watch , it wanted only ten minutes to two . He was very particular about these guineas , and the chambers of the Shadrach were away in Old Broad Street . Nevertheless he walked on with her . `` John , '' she said , when they had walked half the length of that side of the square , `` I have heard dreadful news . ''