The hands of the clock were then pointing to twenty minutes to nine.
"Five minutes more," said Stuart.
The five friends looked at each other. One could almost hear their hearts beating, for it must be confessed that even for such seasoned players the stakes were pretty high, but they did not wish their anxiety to be remarked, and on Fallentin's suggestion they sat down to whist.
"I would not give up my four thousand pounds," said Stuart as he sat down, "if anyone were to offer me three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."
The clock pointed to eighteen minutes to nine.
The players took up their cards, but kept looking at the clock. No matter how safe they felt, the minutes had never appeared so long.
"8.43," said Flanagan, as he cut the pack Ralph passed to him.
At that moment the silence was profound, but the cries of the crowd outside soon rose again. The clock beat out the seconds with mathematical regularity, and each of the players checked every tick of the pendulum.
"8.44," said Sullivan, in a voice which betrayed his nervousness.
One minute more and they would have won their bet. They laid down their cards and counted the seconds.