Naradasmriti m2.3

m2.3

śvo lekhanaṃ vā sa labhet tryahaṃ saptāham eva vā /
arthī tṛtīyapāde tu yuktaṃ sadyo dhruvaṃ jayī //

Or let him (the defendant) deliver his answer on the next day, or three days, or seven days later. The plaintiff no doubt duly obtains his victory at once, when the trial has reached the third stage (the examination of the evidence).