eleven o'clock
His frown , swagger , bluster , and authoritative shakings of his head , the annihilating ferocity of his look , and the inflated pomp of manner with which he addressed them , and `` damned his honor , '' were all inimitable in their way . The father was more cautious and within bounds , simply because he had more sense , and knew the world better ; but , at the same time , it was easy to see by his manner , that in spite of all his efforts at impartiality and justice , he possessed the poison as well as the wisdom of the serpent , but not one atom of the harmlessness of the dove . At another table , a little to the right of M'Clutchy , sat M'Slime , ready to take his appropriate part in the proceedings of the day , and prepared , whilst engaged in the task of seeing that everything was done according to law , to throw in `` a word in season , touching the interests of the gospel . '' At length eleven o'clock arrived , and found Val , Phil , our old friend Darby , who had not yet entered upon the duties of his office , together with one or two other understrappers , all ready for business . The two principal characters were surrounded by books , rentals , receipts , and every other document necessary and usual upon such occasions . The day was wet and cold , and by no means in the spirit of the season ; but we know not why it happens , that there seems in general to be a fatality of disastrous weather peculiar to such days , leading one to imagine that the agent possessed such a necromantic foreknowledge of the weather , as enabled him to superinduce the severity of the elements upon his own cruelty . In a country so poor as Ireland , the scene presented by a rent day is one too impressive and melancholy ever to be forgotten by any heart touched with benevolence .