ten minutes to two
At length the masquerader calculated the hour as ripe for what he had contemplated from the beginning ; and interrupted Hickey with scant consideration , in the middle of a most interesting exposition . `` You 'll pardon me , I 'm sure , if I trouble you again for the time . '' The fat red fingers sought uncertainly for the timepiece : the bottle was now empty . The hour , as announced , was ten minutes to two . `` I 've an engagement , '' invented Anisty plausibly , `` with a friend at two . If you 'll excuse me -- ? _ Garçon , l'addition !