a quarter past one
`` All right , dear . Take it as easy as you can . '' A moment later I was striding along the Marvel road . By the time I had covered the two miles it was a quarter past one , and I was unpleasantly hot . I was also conscious of being improperly dressed in an unusually loose grey overcoat , tweed cap , striped cashmere trousers and patent-leather boots . I had taken off my morning coat and waistcoat before starting to walk , but the heat was awful , and my stiff white shirt and collar were wilting visibly ... . I was fortunate to obtain the services of two mechanics , but I must confess that my face fell when the only car that was available proved to be a 1908 Ford ... .