twenty-three minutes after five
Cut clean , not a cry could be formed in the windpipe , and in his armchair Caffie shook with convulsions from head to foot . Leaving his position behind the chair , Saniel , who had thrown the knife on the floor , looked at his watch and counted the ticking of the second-hand in a low voice . `` One , two , three - '' At the end of ninety seconds the convulsions ceased . It was twenty-three minutes after five . Now it was important that he should hurry and not lose a second . The blood , after having gushed out , had run down the body and wet the vest pocket in which was the key of the safe . But blood does not produce the same effect upon a doctor as upon those who are not accustomed to its sight and odor , and to its touch .