eight minutes to ten
`` Ten o'clock , monsieur , at the little postern in the garden wall . '' `` And the time now ? '' `` Nine . '' Wogan dressed with some ceremony , supped , and at eight minutes to ten slipped down the stairs and out of doors . He had crushed his hat down upon his forehead and he carried his handkerchief at his face . But the streets were dark and few people were abroad . At a little distance to his left he saw above the housetops a glow of light in the air which marked the Opera-House .