twelve o’clock
`` Ay , that he can , '' cried O'Mooney : `` he lends himself , like the whale , to be tickled even by the fellow with the harpoon , till he finds what he is about , and then he pays away , and pitches the fellow , boat and all , to the devil . Ah , countryman ! you would give me credit indeed for my good humour if you knew what danger you have put me in by detecting me for an Irishman . I have been found out six times , and if I blunder twice more before twelve o'clock this night , I shall lose a hundred guineas by it : but I will make sure of my bet ; for I will go home straight this minute , lock myself up in my room , and not say a word to any mortal till the watchman cries ` past twelve o'clock , ' -- then the fast and long Lent of my tongue will be fairly over ; and if you 'll meet me , my dear friend , at the King 's Arms , we will have a good supper and keep Easter for ever . '' Phelim , pursuant to his resolution , returned to his hotel , and shut himself up in his room , where he remained in perfect silence and consequent safety till about nine o'clock . Suddenly he heard a great huzzaing in the street ; he looked out of the window , and saw that all the houses in the street were illuminated . His landlady came bustling into his apartment , followed by waiters with candles .