about ten o'clock in
the evening
`` So low that over two thirds of the money that we subscribed now awaits our order at the Melbourne bank . '' And to confirm his words , Smith pulled from his bosom a small pouch that contained a certificate of deposit . Of course we congratulated our friend on the prospect that he had afforded us of making a large percentage on his purchases , and by the time that we had finished our interrogations we had reached Ballarat and drew up in front of our new store ; and in spite of the warmth of the afternoon , we stripped off our coats , and went to work unloading the carts and arranging the goods to suit our ideas of convenience and display . Even Murden did not disdain to lend a hand , and Mr. Brown , when he dropped around to take a cup of tea with us in the evening , finding that there was plenty of work to be done , sent us half a dozen policemen ; the latter labored as though they liked it , and when , about ten o'clock in the evening , we knocked off , and offered to pay them , to our surprise they told us that they were already paid , and all our entreaties were powerless to make them accept of a shilling . But they still lingered in the store , and we wondered at it ; and at length we hinted to Murden that we thought they wanted something for their services , although they had refused money . `` Leave them to me , '' the lieutenant replied , `` and I will find out what they expect . '' `` Well , boys , we have had a pretty hard evening 's work , '' the lieutenant said , speaking to the men , who had no idea that he belonged to the service .