about seven o'clock
It seemed to be a very simple case ; and , to Alaric 's own understanding , it seemed impossible that his counsel should do anything for him . But as each impaled victim shrank with agonized terror from the torture , Mr. Gitemthruet would turn round to Alaric and assure him that they were going on well , quite as well as he had expected . Mr. Chaffanbrass was really exerting himself ; and when Mr. Chaffanbrass did really exert himself he rarely failed . And so the long day faded itself away in the hot sweltering court , and his lordship , at about seven o'clock , declared his intention of adjourning . Of course a _ cause célèbre _ such as this was not going to decide itself in one day . Alaric 's guilt was clear as daylight to all concerned ; but a man who had risen to be a Civil Service Commissioner , and to be entrusted with the guardianship of twenty thousand pounds , was not to be treated like a butcher who had merely smothered his wife in an ordinary way , or a housebreaker who had followed his professional career to its natural end ; more than that was due to the rank and station of the man , and to the very respectable retaining fee with which Mr. Gitemthruet had found himself enabled to secure the venom of Mr. Chaffanbrass . So the jury retired to regale themselves _ en masse _ at a neighbouring coffee-house ; Alaric was again permitted to be at large on bail -LRB- the amiable policeman in mufti still attending him at a distance -RRB- ; and Mr. Chaffanbrass and his lordship retired to prepare themselves by rest for the morrow 's labours .