a quarter past twelve
George rose from his desk just then and Lute hurried to the door . I smiled . I imagined his arrival in our kitchen and how he would explode the sensational news upon his unsuspecting wife . But I was not altogether calm , though I did my best to appear so , when I entered that kitchen at a quarter past twelve . Lute was seated in a chair by the window , evidently watching and waiting . He sprang up as I entered . `` Set down , '' ordered Dorinda , who was taking a clam pie from the oven .