the hour of six
Would the shot come from behind ? Tick -- tick -- tick -- tick -- He counted the beating of his watch up to twenty . A sound stopped him then , and he closed his eyes , and a great shiver passed through his body . It was the tiny bell of his watch tinkling off the hour of six ! Scarcely had that sound ceased to ring in his brain when from far through the darkness beyond the wall of his prison there came a creaking noise , as if a heavy door had been swung slowly on its hinges , or a trap opened -- then voices , low , quick , excited voices , the hurrying tread of feet , a flash of light shooting through the gloom . They were coming ! After all it was not to be a private affair , and Jean was to do his killing as the hangman 's job is done in civilization -- before a crowd .