about two in the
morning
These companions had been employed in smoking a social pipe at an alehouse in the neighbourhood , when the knight made his excursion ; and returning to the house about supper-time , found Mr. Clarke in waiting . The young lawyer was alarmed when he heard the hour of ten , without seeing our adventurer , who had been used to be extremely regular in his economy ; and the captain and he supped in profound silence . Finding , upon inquiry among the servants , that the knight went out abruptly , in consequence of having received a billet , Tom began to be visited with the apprehension of a duel , and sat the best part of the night by his uncle , sweating with the expectation of seeing our hero brought home a breathless corpse . But no tidings of him arriving , he , about two in the morning , repaired to his own lodging , resolved to publish a description of Sir Launcelot in the newspapers , if he should not appear next day . Crowe did not pass the time without uneasiness . He was extremely concerned at the thought of some mischief having befallen his friend and patron ; and he was terrified with the apprehensions , that , in case Sir Launcelot was murdered , his spirit might come and give him notice of his fate . Now he had an insuperable aversion to all correspondence with the dead ; and taking it for granted that the spirit of his departed friend could not appear to him except when he should be alone , and a-bed in the dark , he determined to pass the remainder of the night without going to bed .