a quarter to seven
I have , fortunately , a few bottles of excellent wine in the car ; so I propose , gentlemen , that we go in to a fire , have a glass of wine , and smoke a cigar , tranquilly . '' Monsieur Teclier gave a few directions concerning the balloon ; and they then adjourned to a work shed near , where a good fire was blazing , for the use of the men employed in filling the balloon . Here the hour and a half of waiting passed pleasantly . At a quarter to seven , the dispatches arrived . They were hastily placed in the car , in which everything else had already been packed . The Barclays took their place , the word was given , `` Let go all ! '' and , in another instant , the earth seemed to sink away from under them , and they were rising over the tops of the houses .