Using millis() to get elapsed time

Hi,

Each value of elapsedTime is preceeded by a strange character and they are always different. Sometimes its " or £ etc. So each line has one of these characters and an elapsedTime value, no space between them. I am trying to read the elapsedTime value in Processing but is it sending just the value or the strange character plus the value?

The processing code is, (maybe I should not be posting it here!)

import processing.serial.*;

Serial port;
float elapsedTime;

void setup() {
  size(200, 200);
  background(204);
  noStroke();
  port = new Serial(this, 9600);
}

void draw() {
  if (0 < port.available()) {
    elapsedTime = port.read();
  }
  println(elapsedTime);
}

Thanks,

Shane