noon
And the captain , no doubt in secret understanding with the admiral , played off the same trick . The survey was deferred from day to day , for six days , and until the very one before the ship weighed anchor . It must have been a period of intense vexation and bodily suffering to the manoeuvring doctor . Each day as he made his appearance at noon in the captain 's cabin , he had to wait in miserable state his hour and a half ; or two hours , and then to meet the gibing salutation of the captain , of ; `` Not dead yet , doctor ? '' with his jokes upon the invaliding suit . The misery of the deception , and the sufferings that he was forced to self-impose to keep it up , as he afterwards confessed , had nearly conquered him on the third day : that he was a man of the most enduring courage to brave a whole week of such martyrdom , must be conceded to him . Had the farce continued a day or two longer , he would have had the disagreeable option forced upon him , either of being seriously ill , or of returning _ instanter _ to excellent health .