ten minutes to nine
He had guessed it might be fourteen minutes to ten . He caught the eye of a barmaid , and she seemed to be saying to him sternly : ` If you think you can occupy this place all night on a ninepenny drink , you are mistaken . Either you ought to order another or hook it . ' He braved it for several more ages , then paid , and went ; and still it was only ten minutes to nine . All mundane phenomena were inexplicably contorted that night . As he was passing the end of the short street which contains the stage-door of Prince 's Theatre , a man , standing at the door on the lookout , hailed him loudly . He hesitated , and the man -- it was the doorkeeper -- flew forward and seized him and dragged him in .