twelve o'clock
`` Nay , Dick , '' says Jack , shaking his head , `` I have no mind to wait ; get it over for me as soon as may be . '' `` No , no , '' says Bentley , sharply , `` at least let us have a bottle of wine first , '' and on this point he was so insistent that Jack was ultimately forced to give in to him , though even then Bentley seemed ill-content , for he fell to fidgetting awkwardly in his chair , and compared his chronometer with the clock full a dozen times in as many minutes . The crowd at the other table grew uproarious again , and more than once I heard the Captain 's high-pitched laugh . `` Bentley , '' says I , '' 't is past twelve o'clock . '' `` Yes , '' says he , and began straightway upon `` Lillibuleero . '' Jack started and looked up . `` Come , Dick , let us begin at once . ''