about five minutes to eleven
It 's useless to pretend astonishment . I do n't argue and I do n't beseech any further : I just sit on guard , as I would over a powder-cask . ' My father raised himself on an elbow . ` The explosion , ' he said , examining his watch , ` occurred at about five minutes to eleven -- we are advancing into the morning -- last night . I received on your behalf the congratulations of friends Loftus , Alton , Segrave , and the rest , at that hour . So , my dear Richie , you are sitting on guard over the empty magazine . ' I listened with a throbbing forehead , and controlled the choking in my throat , to ask him whether he had touched the newspapers .