One minute to eight
You know that I was once a tolerable worker in the clock trade . '' `` Certainly you shall see it in action , '' said Maitre Voigt . `` What is the time now ? One minute to eight . Watch , and in one minute you will see the door open of itself . '' In one minute , smoothly and slowly and silently , as if invisible hands had set it free , the heavy door opened inward , and disclosed a dark chamber beyond . On three sides , shelves filled the walls , from floor to ceiling .