six o'clock
He saw vaguely the tall figure of the prosecuting attorney sink into a chair , and he gave a great sigh of relief . Perhaps North expected Belknap to perform some miracle of vindication in his behalf , certainly when his counsel advanced to the rail that guarded the bench there were both authority and confidence in his manner , and soon the dingy court room was echoing to the strident tones of the old criminal lawyer 's voice . As the minutes passed , however , it became a certainty with North that no miracle would happen . Belknap concluded his plea shortly before six o'clock . And this was the end , -- this was the last move in the game where his life was the stake ! In spite of his exhaustion of mind and body North had followed the speech with the closest attention . He told himself now , that the state 's case was unshaken , that the facts , stubborn and damning , were not to be brushed aside .