three o'clock
` Yes , ' said Pete -- ` and we all got bundled off to the watch-house ; but the Captain let me go -- he always does , because I vote for his party . After I got clear , I came here , wrapped in a great sheet , and went up into Mrs. Belmont 's chamber ; after frightening the poor woman almost to death , I goes up to the bed , puts my hand on her face , and tells her that she 'd see me agin -- whereupon she gives a great shriek , and I cut my puck through the hole in the cellar . ' ` Be the powers , ' remarked Bloody Mike -- ` it 's a great convenience entirely , to have thim sacret passages from the Vault into intarior of houses ; there 's two of thim , one under the crib in Anthony street , and the other under this dacent house in _ Rade _ street . ' ` Yes , you 're right , ' said Pete -- ` but come , let 's do our business and be off -- it 's near three o'clock . ' The two worthies mounted the stairs with noiseless steps , and pausing before Mrs. Belmont 's chamber , Ragged Pete gave utterance to an awful groan . A stifled shriek from the interior of the room convinced them the inmates were awake and terribly frightened . Pete 's groan was followed by a violent _ hiccuping _ on the part of Bloody Mike -- for , to confess the truth , that convivial gentleman had imbibed so freely that he was , in vulgar parlance , most essentially drunk .