a quarter to twelve
I , as became a Democratic candidate , walked from polling-station to polling-station , while my opponent , as became a wealthy banker , drove about the city in a carriage and four . At eight o'clock the ballot-boxes were sealed up and conveyed to the town-hall , where the counting commenced in the presence of the Mayor , the candidates , their agents , and the necessary officers and assistants . Box after box was opened and the papers counted out into separate heaps , those for Colford into one pile , those for Therne into another , the spoiled votes being kept by themselves . The counting began about half-past nine , and up to a quarter to twelve nobody could form an idea as to the ultimate result , although at that time the Conservative candidate appeared to be about five and thirty votes ahead . Then the last ballot-box was opened ; it came from a poor quarter of the city , a ward in which I had many supporters . Sir Thomas Colford and I , with our little knots of agents and sub-agents , placed ourselves one on each side of the table , waiting in respectful silence while the clerk dealt out the papers , as a player deals out cards . It was an anxious moment , as any one who has gone through a closely-contested parliamentary election can testify .