five
minutes before ten
A little pile of burnt paper fluttered on the hearth . His pistols were lying close by in their mahogany case , the blue and white steel relieved against the crimson-velvet lining . He slept so soundly , poor fellow , that I could with difficulty make up my mind to wake him . Once roused , however , he was alert and ready in a moment , changed his coat , took out a new pair of lavender gloves , hailed a cab from the window , and bade the driver name his own fare if he got us to the terrace at Bellevue by five minutes before ten . `` I always like to be before my time in a matter of this kind , Damon , '' said he . `` It 's shabby to be merely punctual when one has , perhaps , not more than a quarter of an hour to live . By-the-by , here are my keys .