thirteen
minutes past four
Back to his breast , Eleanor ! Thence to your place ! '' The tall figure changed ; it became misty , shapeless . It seemed to fall on him like a cloud of icy vapour , chilling him to the heart , and through that vapour he could see the ormolu clock which stood on a bracket in the recess , and even note the time , which was thirteen minutes past four . After this he became unconscious , and in due course woke up as usual . The first thing his eyes fell on was the clock , of which the hands now pointed to a quarter to five , and the sight of it brought everything back to him . Then he observed that all the circle seemed much agitated , and distinctly heard Madame Riennes say to Professor Petersen in English : -- `` The thing was very near .