a quarter to three
And the sun was bright , the air delicious , my health perfect . It took all the strength of all the straps Monson had put on my natural spirits to keep me from being exuberant . I had fully intended to be back at my office half an hour before the Exchange closed -- this in addition to the obvious precaution of leaving orders that they were to telephone me if anything should occur about which they had the least doubt . But so comfortable did my vanity make me that I forgot to look at my watch until a quarter to three . I had a momentary qualm ; then , reassured , I asked Anita to take a walk with me . Before we set out I telephoned my right-hand man and partner , Ball . As I had thought , everything was quiet ; the Exchange was closing with Textile sluggish and down a quarter .