Sixteen minutes to nine
Then there was a moment of silence . The great saloon was perfectly quiet ; but the murmurs of the crowd outside were heard , with now and then a shrill cry . The pendulum beat the seconds , which each player eagerly counted , as he listened , with mathematical regularity . `` Sixteen minutes to nine ! '' said John Sullivan , in a voice which betrayed his emotion . One minute more , and the wager would be won . Andrew Stuart and his partners suspended their game .