a
quarter to ten before
By eight o'clock the sun was high in a blue heaven , new-swept by a steady breeze . Limping into the courtyard before breakfast , I rejoiced to notice that the air was appreciably warmer than any I had breathed for a month . We had hoped to leave Angoulême at nine o'clock . Actually it was a quarter to ten before the luggage was finally strapped into place and my brother-in-law climbed into the car . With a sigh for a bad beginning , I reflected that if we could not cover the two-hundred and twenty odd miles in twelve and a quarter hours , we ought to be shot . Jonah stood by , watch in hand . `` Are you ready ? ''