about midnight
Their mules plod along and keep out of the way of other vehicles without any guidance , and their dogs protect them from thieves , who might steal their money ; for they always carry the sum necessary to pay the octroi duty at the city gates , where every cart is stopped . As they are on the road most of their lives , winter and summer , they would not get much sleep if they tried to keep awake all night ; and they drink a good deal , partly because wine is really a protection against the dangerous fever , and partly because their drink costs them nothing . Some of them drank their employers ' wine at supper , others exchanged what they brought for Paoluccio 's , which they liked better . They usually got away about midnight , and Mommo was often the last to go . It was a part of Regina 's work to go down to the cellar and draw the wine that was wanted from the hogsheads when the host was too lazy to go down himself , and being quite unwatched she could draw a measure from the oldest and strongest if she chose . Mommo could easily be made a little sleepier than usual , after being tempted to outstay the others . And so it turned out that night .