Just A Second Meaning

(idiomatic) A short period of time, typically anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes or more.

Example: 1853, C. Routledge, Oakmote Hall: or, The adventures of Joe Rattler: with the extraordinary ...[1], page 406:
  And so it proved with our wise couple; for, unfortunately, just a second before they arrived, Mr. Sharpwrit, and his lady, were sat down to dinner, ...