about one in the morning
The Jew 's look by itself was not much , yet greatly more to the eye of a detective than even an expert physiognomist could imagine . The picture-plastered wall was more ; the cup in the sack was merely an enlivening joke ; but Slabberdash was no joke , as many a douce burgher in Edinburgh knew to his cost . The fellow was a match for the father of cheats and lies himself ; and therefore it could be no dishonour to our clever detective that hitherto he had had no chance with him , any more than if he had been James Maccoul , or the great Mahoun . Meanwhile , the other watch having arrived , the two kept up their surveillance ; nor would they be without something to report to their officer , were it nothing more than that little Abram -- for he was very diminutive -- about one in the morning rather surprised one of the guard , who was incautiously too near the house , by slowly opening the door , and looking out with an inquiring eye , in his shirt ; and upon getting a glimpse of the dark figure of the policeman , saying , as if to himself , though intended for the said dark figure , whoever it might be , `` I vash wondering if it vash moonlight . '' And , shutting the door hurriedly , he disappeared . About an hour afterwards , a tall female figure , coming up the entry from North Richmond Street , made a full stop , at about three yards from Abram 's door , and then darted off , but not before one of the guard had seen enough , as he thought , to enable him to swear that it was Slabberdash 's companion , a woman known by the slang name of Four-toed Mary , once one of the most dashing and beautiful of the local street-sirens . About an hour after that the two guards forgathered to compare notes .