twelve o'clock
He spread the chamois leather out upon the table , and cut the skins into two long strips , about a foot broad . He measured these round his waist , and then began to stitch them together , slowly and laboriously . The work was not easy , and it took the banker a very long time to complete it to his own satisfaction . It was past twelve o'clock when he had stitched both sides and one end of the double chamois-leather belt ; the other end he left open . When he had completed the two sides and the end that was closed , he took four or five little canvas-bags from his pocket . Every one of these canvas-bags was full of loose diamonds . A thrill of rapture ran through the banker 's veins as he plunged his fingers in amongst the glittering stones .