minutes before noon
In this glance of hers and this action of his began the struggle that was to make that day memorable in many hearts . After the first stir occasioned by the entrance of two such important persons the crowd settled back into its old quietude under the coroner 's hand . A tedious witness was having his slow say , and to him a full attention was being given in the hope that some real enlightenment would come at last to settle the questions which had been raised by Amabel 's incomplete and unsatisfactory testimony . But no man can furnish what he does not possess , and the few final minutes before noon passed by without any addition being made to the facts which had already been presented for general consideration . As the witness sat down the clock began to strike . As the slow , hesitating strokes rang out , Sweetwater saw Frederick yield to a sudden but most profound emotion . The old fear , which we understand , if Sweetwater did not , had again seized the victim of Amabel 's ambition , and under her eye , which was blazing full upon him now with a fell and steady purpose , he found his right hand stealing toward the left in the significant action she expected .