ten minutes past ten
`` It is ten o'clock , '' said the old man ; `` I believe somewhat past . '' `` A quarter , perhaps ? '' `` Yes , '' said the old man , `` a quarter , or -- '' `` Or ? '' `` Seven minutes , or ten minutes past ten . '' `` I do not understand you . '' `` Why , to tell you the truth , '' said the old man , with a smile , `` there is one thing to the knowledge of which I could never exactly attain . '' `` Do you mean to say , '' said I , `` that you do not know what 's o'clock ? ''