five minutes before eleven
This condition was nearly unaltered for a quarter of an hour . At the expiration of this period , however , a natural although a very deep sigh escaped the bosom of the dying man , and the stertorous breathing ceased -- that is to say , its stertorousness was no longer apparent ; the intervals were undiminished . The patient 's extremities were of an icy coldness . At five minutes before eleven I perceived unequivocal signs of the mesmeric influence . The glassy roll of the eye was changed for that expression of uneasy inward examination which is never seen except in cases of sleep-waking , and which it is quite impossible to mistake . With a few rapid lateral passes I made the lids quiver , as in incipient sleep , and with a few more I closed them altogether . I was not satisfied , however , with this , but continued the manipulations vigorously , and with the fullest exertion of the will , until I had completely stiffened the limbs of the slumberer , after placing them in a seemingly easy position .