ten minutes to
five
Discontented or hungry jurymen , my dear sir , always find for the plaintiff . ' ` Bless my heart , ' said Mr. Pickwick , looking very blank , ` what do they do that for ? ' ` Why , I do n't know , ' replied the little man coolly ; ` saves time , I suppose . If it 's near dinner-time , the foreman takes out his watch when the jury has retired , and says , `` Dear me , gentlemen , ten minutes to five , I declare ! I dine at five , gentlemen . '' `` So do I , '' says everybody else , except two men who ought to have dined at three and seem more than half disposed to stand out in consequence . The foreman smiles , and puts up his watch : -- `` Well , gentlemen , what do we say , plaintiff or defendant , gentlemen ?