About 7:30
of the field . I was introduced by the admiral to his guests as one fresh from the seat of the operations in Corsica , and was welcomed cordially and freely plied with questions of all kinds , to some of which , by-the-bye , I found it rather difficult to reply without exciting a feeling of jealousy in the breasts of the red-coats . Fortunately , however , the evening passed without the occurrence of any incident of a disagreeable character ; and at a late , or , more strictly speaking , at an early , hour next morning I turned in , so thoroughly tired that I felt scarcely able to remain awake until I had undressed . About 7:30 a knock sounded at my door , and a voice announced -- in tones which struck me as being somewhat tremulous with suppressed laughter -- `` Your shaving-water , sir . '' Now , I may as well confess that at this particular period of my life the one subject upon which , above all others , I was most sensitive was shaving . I shaved with the most scrupulous regularity every morning ; but it was done furtively , so far , at least as my elders were concerned . In the presence of my fellow - mids , the act was performed openly and with all due ceremony and solemnity -- _ all _ the mids on board the `` Juno '' shaved -- but I had noticed , upon more than one occasion , that any reference in the hearing of my elders to the punctuality with which I performed this duty was invariably received by them with a silence more eloquent than words , and with an expression of ironical incredulity which could only be adequately atoned for by the shedding of their heart 's blood .