a quarter to eight
Nick was more struck with its thick earthly than with its fine spiritual reference , and he felt the oppression of his conscience as he walked slowly about . It was in his mind that nothing in life was really clear , all things were mingled and charged , and that patriotism might be an uplifting passion even if it had to allow for Lord Bottomley and for Mr. Carteret 's blindness on certain sides . He presently noticed that half-past seven was about to strike , and as he went back to his old friend 's he could n't have said if he walked in gladness or in gloom . `` Mr. Carteret will be in the drawing-room at a quarter to eight , sir , '' Chayter mentioned , and Nick as he went to dress asked himself what was the use of being a member of Parliament if one was still sensitive to an intimation on the part of such a functionary that one ought already to have begun that business . Chayter 's words but meant that Mr. Carteret would expect to have a little comfortable conversation with him before dinner . Nick 's usual rapidity in dressing was , however , quite adequate to the occasion , so that his host had not appeared when he went down . There were flowers in the unfeminine saloon , which contained several paintings in addition to the engravings of pictures of animals ; but nothing could prevent its reminding Nick of a comfortable committee-room .