One o'clock
Hour after hour passed on , and the dull stupid work of the week went on . Mr. Allewinde 's eloquence , Mr. O'Malley 's energy , and Mr. O'Laugher 's wit , sounded equally monotonous to the anxious priest and his good-natured friend . Though they seemed to listen , and indeed endeavoured to do so , yet at the close of each trivial case that was tried , they had no idea impressed upon them of what had just been going on . One o'clock struck -- two -- three -- four -- five -- and yet they remained in the same position ; and still the jury who had been considering the subject remained undecided . The business in the Record Court had been closed on the Thursday , and therefore both the judges heard criminal cases during the whole of Friday ; and by six o'clock the business of the assizes was finished , and the prisoners are all disposed of with the exception of poor Thady . It was absolutely necessary that the judges should commence their business at Sligo on the following Saturday , and if the jury did not agree to a verdict before eleven on that morning , they would have to be discharged , and the case must stand over for a fresh trial at the summer assizes . This now seemed almost desirable to Father John and McKeon .