five minutes to twelve
I had a horror of the duty which had been thrust upon me . It went against not merely my inclinations but my instincts . However , there was only one thing to do , and of course I did it . At five minutes to twelve I was knocking at the north door of the cathedral . A sacristan , who carried in his hand a long lighted taper , admitted me at once . Save for this taper and four candles which stood at the four corners of the bier , the vast interior was in darkness . The sacristan silently pointed to the chancel , and I walked hesitatingly across the gloomy intervening space , my footsteps echoing formidably in the silence .