about nine o’clock
`` I am going there on duty to-night ; I daresay , if you asked the Captain to let you accompany me , he would do so . '' This was too good an offer not to be taken advantage of . I plucked up courage , made my bow , asked leave , and got it ; and the evening found my friend the lieutenant , and myself , after a ride of three hours , during which I , for one , had my bottom sheathing grievously rubbed , and a considerable botheration at crossing the Ferry at Passage , safe in our inn at Cork . I soon found out that the object of my superior officer was to gain information amongst the crimp shops , where ten men , who had run from one of the West Indiamen , waiting at Cove for convoy , were stowed away , but I was not let farther into the secret ; so I set out to pay my visit , and after passing a pleasant evening with my friends , Mr and Mrs Job Cringle , the lieutenant dropped in upon us about nine o'clock . He was heartily welcomed , and under the plea of our being obliged to return to the ship early next morning , we soon took leave , and returned to the inn . As I was turning into the public room , the door was open , and I could see it full of blowsy-faced monsters , glimmering and jabbering , through the mist of hot brandy grog and gin twist ; with poodle Benjamins , and greatcoats , and cloaks of all sorts and sizes , steaming on their pegs , with Barcelonas and comforters , and damp travelling caps of seal-skin , and blue cloth , and tartan , arranged above the same . Nevertheless , such a society in my juvenile estimation , during my short escapade from the middy 's berth , had its charms , and I was rolling in with a tolerable swagger , when Mr Treenail pinched my arm .