five o'clock
Puddock explained , and the storm subsided , rumbling off in half a dozen testy assertions on the general 's part that he , Puddock , had distinctly used the word ' _ wounded _ , ' and now and then renewing faintly , in a muttered explosion , on the troubles and worries of his command , and a great many ` pshaws ! ' and several fits of coughing , for the general continued out of breath for some time . He had showed his cards , however , and so , in a dignified disconcerted sort of way , he told Puddock that he had heard something about O'Flaherty 's having got most improperly into a foolish quarrel , and having met Nutter that afternoon , and for a moment feared he might have been hurt ; and then came enquiries about Nutter , and there appeared to have been no one hurt , and yet the parties on the ground -- and no fighting -- and yet no reconciliation -- and , in fact , the general was so puzzled with this conundrum , and so curious , that he was very near calling after Puddock , when they parted at the bridge , and making him entertain him , at some cost of consistency , with the whole story . So Puddock -- his head full of delicious visions -- marched homeward -- to powder and perfume , and otherwise equip for that banquet of the gods , of which he was to partake at five o'clock , and just as he turned the corner at ` The Phoenix , ' who should he behold , sailing down the Dublin road from the King 's House , with a grand powdered footman , bearing his cane of office , and a great bouquet behind her , and Gertrude Chattesworth by her side , but the splendid and formidable Aunt Becky , who had just been paying her compliments to old Mrs. Colonel Stafford , from whom she had heard all about the duel . So as Puddock 's fat cheeks grew pink at sight of Miss Gertrude , all Aunt Becky 's colour flushed into her face , as her keen eye pierced the unconscious lieutenant from afar off , and chin and nose high in air , her mouth just a little tucked in , as it were , at one corner -- a certain sign of coming storm -- an angry hectic in each cheek , a fierce flirt of her fan , and two or three short sniffs that betokened mischief -- she quickened her pace , leaving her niece a good way in the rear , in her haste to engage the enemy . Before she came up she commenced the action at a long range , and very abruptly -- for an effective rhetorician of Aunt Becky 's sort , jumps at once , like a good epic poet , _ in medias res _ ; and as Nutter , who , like all her friends in turn , experienced once or twice ` a taste of her quality , ' observed to his wife , ` by Jove , that woman says things for which she ought to be put in the watch-house . ' So now and here she maintained her reputation -- ` You ought to be flogged , Sir ; yes , ' she insisted , answering Puddock 's bewildered stare , ` tied up to the halberts and flogged . '