twelve o'clock in the
morning
Hence , all this being taken into consideration , it is not surprising that invitations poured in upon him , and that the doors of the most exclusive clubs flew open at his step . Number Five St. James 's Square suddenly became a rendezvous of Sport and Fashion , before its portal were to be seen dashing turn-outs of all descriptions , from phaetons to coaches ; liveried menials , bearing cards , embossed , gild-edged , and otherwise , descended upon St. James 's Square in multi-colored shoals ; in a word , the Polite World forthwith took Barnabas to its bosom , which , though perhaps a somewhat cold and flinty bosom , made up for such minor deficiencies by the ardor of its embrace . By reason of these things , the legs of the Gentleman-in-Powder were exalted , -- that is to say , were in a perpetual quiver of superior gratification , and Barnabas himself enjoyed it all vastly -- for a week . At the end of which period behold him at twelve o'clock in the morning , as he sits over his breakfast -LRB- with the legs of the Gentleman-in-Powder planted , statuesque , behind his chair -RRB- , frowning at a stupendous and tumbled pile of Fashionable note-paper , and Polite cards . `` Are these all ? '' he inquired , waving his hand towards the letters . `` Them , sir , is -- hall ! ''