a quarter to
seven
I had little time , and still less inclination , to meditate upon the Colonel 's wrath -- the theatre had all my thoughts ; and indeed it was a day of no common exertion , for our amusements were to conclude with a grand supper on the stage , to which all the elite of Cork were invited . Wherever I went through the city -- and many were my peregrinations -- the great placard of the play stared me in the fact ; and every gate and shuttered window in Cork , proclaimed , `` THE PART OF OTHELLO , BY MR. LORREQUER . '' As evening drew near , my cares and occupations were redoubled . My Iago I had fears for -- 't is true he was an admirable Lord Grizzle in Tom Thumb -- but then -- then I had to paint the whole company , and bear all their abuse besides , for not making some of the most ill-looking wretches , perfect Apollos ; but , last of all , I was sent for , at a quarter to seven , to lace Desdemona 's stays . Start not , gentle reader -- my fair Desdemona -- she `` who might lie by an emperor 's side , and command him tasks '' -- was no other than the senior lieutenant of the regiment , and who was a great a votary of the jolly god as honest Cassio himself . But I must hasten on -- I can not delay to recount our successes in detail . Let it suffice to say , that , by universal consent , I was preferred to Kean ; and the only fault the most critical observer could find to the representative of Desdemona , was a rather unlady-like fondness for snuff .