ten minutes to eleven
But there was no sign of him . When the train left Northampton I found myself alone , and I should only weary you were I to attempt to recount the troubled conjectures that bore me company to Birmingham . The train reached New Street at nine , with the result that having gulped a badly needed brandy and soda in the buffet , I grabbed my bag , raced across -- and just missed the connection ! More than an hour later I found myself standing at ten minutes to eleven upon the H -- platform , watching the red taillight of the `` local '' disappear into the night . Then I realized to the full that with four miles of lonely England before me there hung above my head a mysterious threat -- a vague menace . The solitary official , who but waited my departure to lock up the station , was the last representative of civilization I could hope to encounter until the gates of `` Uplands '' should be opened to me ! What was the matter with which I was warned not to interfere ?