eight minutes to eleven
For the second time that day she burst into tears , shaken to the depths by the extraordinarily complicated feelings which filled her heart and mind , feelings of horror and of pain -- and yet of intense , immeasurable relief ! Then she pulled herself together , and prepared to act , for the second time that day , her part in a tragi-comedy in which where there had been two characters there was now but one . Dr. Panton 's appointment at the Home Office had been for half-past ten , and , though there happened to be on this early January day an old-fashioned , black London fog , he had been punctual to the minute . It was now eight minutes to eleven , and he began to feel rather cross and impatient . There was nothing to do in the big , ugly , stately room into which he had been shown . There was a bookcase , but it was locked , and he had not brought a paper with him -- but that , perhaps , was a good thing , for the one electric globe gave a very bad light . He wondered what manner of man Dr. Spiller might be -- in any case a remarkable and distinguished person , one of the great authorities on poisons in Europe .