forty-seven minutes past six
Some time previous to that hour , the stairs leading from the street door to the hall were lined with the lads of the village , who amused themselves with making jocular remarks about `` the man in the cage there '' -LRB- meaning Marcus -RRB- , and `` t ` other man at the door , whose shirt was out of jail '' -LRB- meaning Tiffles -RRB- . Marcus smiled grimly at his assailants through the small pigeon hole ; and Tiffles , who felt reckless in the sure view of a failure , laughed heartily at them , returned jokes as bad as they sent , but , in the height of his humor , begged them distinctly to understand that they could not get In without paying . At which the juvenile chorus sarcastically replied , `` P ` r ` aps not ; '' `` Mebbe you 're right , '' `` You 'll have to stop up the keyhole , Mister ; '' `` Mind I do n't get down the chimbley , '' & c. , & c . At precisely forty-seven minutes past six , the first man made his appearance . He was a thick-set , pompous individual , with a gold-headed cane and gold spectacles , and climbed up the stairs with dignity and difficulty . He was followed by a pale little woman , four small children , and a stout , red-haired nurse , bearing in her arms a baby , which was laboring under an attack of the intermittent squalls . Marcus reconnoitred the party through his pigeon hole , and nervously jingled the seventy-five cents in his hand .