Midnight
Then came obscene revels and libidinous acts . The depraved Josephine , attired in a superb robe of lace , her splendid bust uncovered , and her cheeks flushed with wine , danced with voluptuous freedom , while the intoxicated rector , reeling and flourishing a goblet , sang a lively opera air , in keeping with her graceful but indelicate movements . Then -- but we will not inflict upon the reader the disgusting details of that evening 's licentious extravagances . Midnight came and the doctor , tipsy as he was , saw the necessity of taking his departure ; for though urged by Josephine to pass the night with her , he dared not comply , knowing that his absence from home all night would appear strange and suspicious to his housekeeper and domestics , and give rise to unpleasant inquiries and remarks . He therefore sallied forth , and though he staggered occasionally , he got along tolerably well , until he encountered a watchman standing half asleep in a doorway , muffled up in his huge cloak ; and then , with that invincible spirit of mischief which characterizes a drunken man , the Doctor determined to have a ` lark ' with the night guardian , somewhat after the fashion of the wild , harem-scarem students at the University at which he had graduated -- in which pranks he had often participated . Leaning against a lamp-post support , he began singing , in a loud and boisterous manner -- ` Watchman -- hic -- tell us of the -- hic -- night . ' Now it happened that the watchman was one of those surly ruffians who never stop to remonstrate with a poor fellow , in whom wine has triumphed over wit .