nearly five o’clock
If , on the other hand , however , you reject such flimsy excuses , and simply say , `` I 'm booked in the mail , '' the opposition at once falls to the ground , and your quondam antagonist , who was ready to quarrel with you , is at once prepared to assist in packing your portmanteau . Having soon satisfied my friend Tom that resistance was in vain , I promised to eat an early dinner with him at Morrisson 's , and spent the better part of the morning in putting down a few notes of my Confessions , as well as the particulars of Mr. Daly 's story , which , I believe , I half or wholly promised my readers at the conclusion of my last chapter ; but which I must defer to a more suitable opportunity , when mentioning the next occasion of my meeting him on the southern circuit . My dispositions were speedily made . I was fortunate in securing the exact dress my friend 's letter alluded to among the stray costumes of Fishamble-street ; and rich in the possession of the only `` properties '' it has been my lot to acquire , I despatched my treasure to the coach office , and hastened to Morrisson 's , it being by this time nearly five o'clock . There , true to time , I found O'Flaherty deep in the perusal of the bill , along which figured the novel expedients for dining , I had been in the habit of reading in every Dublin hotel since my boyhood . `` Mock turtle , mutton , gravy , roast beef and potatoes -- shoulder of mutton and potatoes ! -- ducks and peas , potatoes !!