about midnight
He was as dead drunk as any man could get to be and still be alive . They knocked air-holes in the coffin-lid , screwed it on , and carried the coffin , the Flour , and all to the local lock-up . They laid their burden down on the bare , cold floor of the prison-cell , and then went out , locked the door , and departed several ways to put the `` boys '' up to it . And about midnight the `` boys '' gathered round with a supply of liquor , and waited , and somewhere along in the small hours there was a howl , as of a strong Irishman in Purgatory , and presently the voice of the Flour was heard to plead in changed and awful tones -- ``` Pray for me soul , boys -- pray for me soul ! Let bygones be bygones between us , boys , and pray for me lovely soul ! The lovely Flour 's in Purgatory ! '' ` Then silence for a while ; and then a sound like a dray-wheel passing over a packing-case ... .