ten minutes to four
There he concealed himself behind a column and watched to see the location of Chico 's nest . It was so late that the children had gone home , but Andrea had left a folded paper , weighted by a stone , on the window ledge . Opening it Paolo deciphered , without difficulty , the boy 's writing . `` Chico reached home at ten minutes to four . '' `` Bene ! '' the old man ejaculated , forgetting his fatigue ; `` he made it in thirty minutes , and it took me all of three hours . '' As he reached his rough hand in through the window and touched affectionately the sleeping bird , the Austrian moved from his position and slunk down a side street .