eighteen minutes to nine
The five gentlemen looked at each other . Their anxiety was becoming intense ; but , not wishing to betray it , they readily assented to Mr. Fallentin 's proposal of a rubber . `` I would n't give up my four thousand of the bet , '' said Andrew Stuart , as he took his seat , `` for three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine . '' The clock indicated eighteen minutes to nine . The players took up their cards , but could not keep their eyes off the clock . Certainly , however secure they felt , minutes had never seemed so long to them ! `` Seventeen minutes to nine , '' said Thomas Flanagan , as he cut the cards which Ralph handed to him .