twenty minutes to one
The man who had followed him had been , he thought , at any rate as long-winded as himself ; but to this orator less than half a column had been granted . To him had been granted ten lines in big type , and after that a whole column and a half . Let Lord Chiltern come and do his worst ! When it wanted but twenty minutes to one , and he was beginning to think in what way he had better answer the half-mad lord , should the lord in his wrath be very mad , there came to him a note by the hand of some messenger . He knew at once that it was from Lady Laura , and opened it in hot haste It was as follows : -- DEAR MR. FINN , We are all talking about your speech . My father was in the gallery and heard it , -- and said that he had to thank me for sending you to Loughton . That made me very happy .