twelve o'clock
'T was a tall black brute , very strong in the loins , and I bought him at once out of my shrunken stock of guineas . At ten o'clock , I set out , not along the Bath road , but bearing to the south , as the young gentlewoman had counselled . I began to hold a high opinion of her advice . By twelve o'clock I was back at the inn door , clamoring to see the man that sold me the horse , which had gone dead lame after the second mile . `` Dear heart ! '' cried the landlord ; `` they are gone , the both , this hour and a half . But they are coming again within the fortnight ; and I 'm expressly to report if you return 'd , as they had a wager about it . ''