five minutes after twelve
`` Heard every word you said . We 're all set and ready to go . '' John glanced at his watch . It was five minutes after twelve . They made themselves as comfortable as possible on the empty packing boxes . Smith produced his notebooks and a handful of carefully sharpened pencils . A picture of Consuello as she appeared when she stood beside the window with its red geraniums , reciting the verse in which she found heart comfort , flashed into John 's mind .