a quarter to ten
It was altogether a noble and stately letter , written in formal , irreproachable phrases which no daughter in the world would ever have written to a mother . Clementina laughed over it , but said that it would serve . Wogan looked at his watch again . It was then a quarter to ten . `` Quick ! '' said he . `` Your Highness will wait for me under the fourth tree of the avenue , counting from the end . ''