a quarter to twelve
`` I will wait ten minutes , '' she said , `` not a moment beyond , before I enter on my new peril . '' She listened to the wild roaring of the March wind , which seemed to have risen with the stillness and darkness of the night . The hand slowly made its inevitable way to the figures which told that the ten minutes were past . It was exactly a quarter to twelve when my lady took her lamp in her hand , and stole softly from the room . Her footfall was as light as that of some graceful wild animal , and there was no fear of that airy step awakening any echo upon the carpeted stone corridors and staircase . She did not pause until she reached the vestibule upon the ground floor . Several doors opened out of the vestibule , which was octagon , like my lady 's ante-chamber .