midnight
And as the major never refused an invitation , especially when it came from persons distinguished in the profession in which he claimed to have won no small honors , he at once joined them , and proceeded to the room aforesaid , where brandy and champagne , in great abundance , were provided , and to which the major took with such renewed avidity , that they began to think his bowels vulcanized . After they had plied him sufficiently with liquor , they insisted that he relate some of the wonderful exploits he had performed in war and politics , which he did , and with such an appearance of truth , that the two who had not so far drenched their senses with liquor as to be incapable of judging , whispered to themselves that he was not so much of a fool after all ; in fact , that there was so much truth in what he said , that no man could doubt his being a real and not a sham hero of the Mexican War . `` It does not become me to speak of myself , gentlemen , '' said the major , in conclusion , `` but if there was a war in Mexico I was not in , it was not worth calling a war ; and as for politics , why I have made twenty-eight speeches in a month , and you may learn of their quality by inquiring of the people of Barnstable , who used to praise them enough , God knows . '' It being past midnight , the two sober generals withdrew , undecided as to the major 's mental qualities , and left him with General Benthornham , whom he found no difficulty in soon talking into a profound sleep . And this the major , who was not so far gone as to forget what belonged to good manners , regarded as an indignity no really great military man could suffer to pass unresented . He thereupon mounted his three cornered hat and stalked out of the room , in the hope of finding his own and going quietly to bed . But such was the labyrinth of passages , that he lost his way , and mistook for his own the bedroom of a fellow boarder , which was natural enough considering the state of his optics .