With these proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a small brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had contained a full and damning resume of the whole plot, the Government had called an eleventh-hour conference.
The Government held the meeting at 5:29pm, a minute before the actual end of shift for most government employees. 
mnli hypothesis: The Government held the meeting at 5:29pm, a minute before the actual end of shift for most government employees.  premise: With these proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a small brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had contained a full and damning resume of the whole plot, the Government had called an eleventh-hour conference.