three in the morning
She was busily engaged in distributing tea to three pale , red-eyed , emaciated men , whose spongy-looking , threadbare garments bespoke to be attorney 's clerks , A small imp , a kind of embryo practitioner , knelt before the fire in the act of toasting bread , but followed with his sharp piercing eyes every stir in the apartment and seemed to watch with malicious pleasure the wry faces around , whenever any undue dilution of the bohea , or any curtailment of the blue milk , pressed heavily on the guests . These were not exactly the circumstances to renew my acquaintance with my fair neighbor , had I been so minded ; so having declined her offer of breakfast , I leaned moodily on the chimneypiece , my anxiety to know my fate becoming each instant more painful . Meanwhile not a word was spoken , -- a sad , moody silence , unbroken save by the sounds of eating , pervaded all , when suddenly the door of the front parlor was flung open , and Bubbleton 's pleasant voice was heard as he talked away unceasingly ; in an instant he entered , followed by Basset , over whose hard countenance a shade of better nature seemed to pass . -LSB- Illustration : May Good Digestion Wait on Appetite 171 -RSB- `` In that case , '' cried the captain , `` I 'm your man , not that I 'm anything of a performer at breakfast or dinner ; supper 's rather my forte , -- an odor of a broiled bone at three in the morning , a herring smeared with chetna and grilled with brandy , two hundred of small oysters , a few hot ones to close with , a glass of seltzer dashed with hollands for health , and , then any number you like of glasses , of hot brandy and water afterwards for pleasure . '' While Bubbleton ran on in this fashion , he had broken about half a dozen eggs into the slop basin , and seasoning the mess with pepper and vinegar , was busily engaged in illustrating the moderation of his morning appetite . `` Try a thing like this , Tom , '' cried he , not defining how it was to be effected under the circumstances ; while he added in a whisper , `` your affair 's all right . '' These few words brought courage to my heart ; and I ventured to begin the breakfast that had lain untasted before me .