eight o’clock
Somehow , we never can resist joining a crowd , so we turned back with the mob , and entered the office , in company with our friend the pickpocket , a couple of policemen , and as many dirty-faced spectators as could squeeze their way in . There was a powerful , ill-looking young fellow at the bar , who was undergoing an examination , on the very common charge of having , on the previous night , ill-treated a woman , with whom he lived in some court hard by . Several witnesses bore testimony to acts of the grossest brutality ; and a certificate was read from the house-surgeon of a neighbouring hospital , describing the nature of the injuries the woman had received , and intimating that her recovery was extremely doubtful . Some question appeared to have been raised about the identity of the prisoner ; for when it was agreed that the two magistrates should visit the hospital at eight o'clock that evening , to take her deposition , it was settled that the man should be taken there also . He turned pale at this , and we saw him clench the bar very hard when the order was given . He was removed directly afterwards , and he spoke not a word . We felt an irrepressible curiosity to witness this interview , although it is hard to tell why , at this instant , for we knew it must be a painful one .