noon
But twice he spoke to the prisoner in a low voice , and was hurriedly answered in French as crude as his own was perfect . When he spoke , which was at rare intervals , his voice was without feeling , concise , insistent , unappealing . It was as though the business before him was wholly alien to him , as though he were held there against his will , but would go on with his task bitterly to the bitter end . The court adjourned for an hour at noon . During this time Charley refused to see any one , but sat alone in his office with a few biscuits and an ominous bottle before him , till the time came for him to go back to the court-house . Arrived there he entered by a side door , and was not seen until the court opened once more . For two hours and a half the crown attorney mercilessly made out his case against the prisoner .