ten o'clock
` Well , I believe it 's quite a new thing , ' said Alaric Tudor . ` The schoolmaster must be abroad with a vengeance , if he has got as far as that . ' And then they carefully examined Charley 's work , crossed his t 's , dotted his i 's , saw that his spelling was right , and went to bed . Again , punctually at ten o'clock , Charley presented himself at the Internal Navigation ; and again saw the two seedy old messengers warming themselves at the lobby fire . On this occasion he was kept three hours in the waiting-room , and some of the younger clerks ventured to come and speak to him . At length Mr. Snape appeared , and desired the acolyte to follow him . Charley , supposing that he was again going to the awful Secretary , did so with a palpitating heart .