an hour after midnight
Master Landry took me down and settled it all with the master , a French farmer fellow that came a horse-dealing to Paris . I knew what my young Lord was after , but none of the other varlets did ; and I went down and made as decent a place as I could between decks . My Lord and Master Landry were gone down to the court meantime , and we were to lie off till we heard a whistle like a mavis on the bank , then come and take them aboard . Well , we waited and waited , and all the lights were out , and not a sound did we hear till just an hour after midnight . Then a big bell rang out , not like a decent Christianable bell , but a great clash , then another , and a lot of strokes enough to take away one 's breath . Then half the windows were lighted up , and we heard shots , and screeches , and splashes , till , as I said to Jack Smithers , ` twas as if one half the place was murthering the other . The farmer got frightened , and would have been off ; but when I saw what he was at , `` No , '' says I , `` not an inch do we budge without news of my Lord . ''