Ten minutes to twelve
Luigi was there already . There were several customers still in the store , however , and therefore we had to sit in silence while Vincenzo quickly finished a prescription and waited on the last one . At last the doors were locked and the lights lowered , all except those in the windows which were to serve as signals . `` Ten minutes to twelve , '' said Kennedy , placing the oblong box on the table . `` Gennaro will be going in soon . Let us try this machine now and see if it works . If the wires have been cut since we put them up this morning Gennaro will have to take his chances alone . ''