ten minutes to
nine
We have two definite proofs of this : his father 's evidence and the prints of his feet in the snow , which fell from a quarter past nine o'clock to eleven . '' `` Mr. Deputy , '' Jérôme Vignal declared , without heeding the bad effect which his obstinacy was producing , `` I am relating things as they were and not as they may be interpreted . But to continue . That clock marked ten minutes to nine when I entered this room . M. de Gorne , believing that he was about to be attacked , had taken down his gun . I placed my revolver on the table , out of reach of my hand , and sat down : ` I want to speak to you , monsieur , ' I said . ` Please listen to me . '