eleven o'clock
If he lived in lodgings in the town , he stuck his head out of the window to perceive a cheery neighbour from the country on his doorstep . Think of a system which could do this , not for Putnam County alone , but for all the counties in the State ! The Honourable Hilary Vane , captain-general of the Forces , had had but four hours ' sleep , and his Excellency , the Honourable Asa Gray , when he arose in the twilight of the morning , had to step carefully to avoid the cigar butts on the floor which -- like so many empty cartridge shells were unpleasant reminders that a rebellion of no mean magnitude had arisen against the power to which he owed allegiance , and by the favour of which he was attended with pomp and circumstance wherever he chose to go . Long before eleven o'clock the paths to the state-house were thronged with people . Beside the office-holders and their friends who were in town , there were many residents of the capital city in the habit of going to hear the livelier debates . Not that the powers of the Empire had permitted debates on most subjects , but there could be no harm in allowing the lower House to discuss as fiercely as they pleased dog and sheep laws and hedgehog bounties . But now !