ten minutes to five
His head sank lower and lower on his breast . He heaved two or three sighs ; a great shiver passed through his body ; and he moved no more . And the death-rattle began in his throat , very softly and rhythmically , broken only by interruptions in which a last instinctive effort appeared to revive the flickering life of the intelligence , and to rouse fitful gleams of consciousness in the dimmed eyes . The Prefect of Police entered his office at ten minutes to five . M. Desmalions , who had filled his post for the past three years with an authority that made him generally respected , was a heavily built man of fifty with a shrewd and intelligent face . His dress , consisting of a gray jacket-suit , white spats , and a loosely flowing tie , in no way suggested the public official . His manners were easy , simple , and full of good-natured frankness .