three
o'clock
I felt as though I was the greatest criminal in the universe , and that the whole vast assemblage had no other object or aim there than to see me arraigned for my offence . I was scarcely ordered to advance before I was desired to stand back again , the prosecutor , Captain De Courcy , not being in court . While a policeman was , therefore , despatched by the magistrate to request that he would have the kindness to appear , -- for the captain was an honorable and an aide-de-camp , titles which the sitting justice knew well how to respect , -- other cases were called and disposed of . It was nigh three o'clock when a great bustle in the outer court and a tremendous falling back of the dense crowd , accompanied by an ostentatious display of police zeal , heralded a group of officers , who , with jingling spurs and banging sabretaches , made their way to the bench , and took their seats beside the justice . Many were the courtesies interchanged between the magistrate and the captain : one averring that the delay was not in the slightest degree inconvenient ; the other professing the greatest deference for the rules of court ; neither bestowing a thought upon him most deeply concerned of all . A very brief narrative , delivered by the captain with a most military abruptness , detailed my offence ; and , although not exaggerated in the slightest degree , the occasional interruptions of the magistrate served very considerably to magnify its guilt , -- such as `` Dear me ! a favorite mare ; a pure Arab ; a present from your noble father , Lord Littlemore ; infamous treatment ; abominable case ; abandoned young scoundrel ! ''