11 P.M.
As the third day of the trial was drawing to a close , a despatch in cipher was handed Mr. Sutherland , which when translated seemed to produce a startling effect upon its readers . Barton & Barton exchanged glances and frowned heavily ; Mr. Sutherland 's face for one brief moment showed genuine alarm , and Harold Mainwaring , upon reading the slip of paper passed to him , grew pale . A hurried consultation followed and Mr. Montague left the court-room . On the following morning the papers announced that at 11 P.M. the preceding night , the Victoria , the private car of the president of one of the principal railway lines , with special engine attached , had left for the West , evidently on business of great importance , as everything on the road had been ordered side-tracked . It was stated that no particulars could be ascertained , however , regarding either her passengers or her destination , the utmost secrecy being maintained by those on board , including even the trainmen . This item , though attracting some attention , caused less comment than did the fact that for the three days next ensuing , neither the senior Mr. Barton nor Mr. Montague was present in court ; but no one suspected any connection between the two events , or dreamed that the above gentlemen , with two of New York 's most skilled surgeons , were the occupants of the president 's private car , then hastening westward at almost lightning speed . On the afternoon of the sixth day of the trial , as it became apparent that the seemingly interminable evidence submitted by contestant was nearly at an end , the eager impatience of the waiting crowd could scarcely be restrained within the limits of order .