about a
quarter to three
`` She has just gone to sleep , sir . '' `` Good , '' muttered Dr. Cairn . `` Blessed is youth . '' Silence fell again , upon the man 's departure , to be broken but rarely , despite the tumultuous thoughts of those two minds , until , at about a quarter to three , the faint sound of a throbbing motor brought Dr. Cairn sharply to his feet . He looked towards the window . Dawn was breaking . The car came roaring along the avenue and stopped outside the house .