ten minutes to nine
The money-lender did not attempt to show the policeman any consideration . He had decided that Horrocks was a fool , and when Lablache formed such an opinion of a man he rarely attempted to conceal it , especially when the man stood in a subordinate position . After seeing the officer off the premises , Lablache moved heavily back to his desk . The alarm clock indicated ten minutes to nine . He stood for some moments gazing with introspective eyes at the timepiece . He was thinking hard . He was convinced that what he had just heard was a mere fabrication , invented to cover some ulterior motive .