about two o'clock in the morning
How Titmouse would have got through the task he had undertaken , the reader must be left to conjecture ; seeing that , in point of fact , `` circumstances , over which he had no control , '' prevented him from fulfilling his promise . The meeting waited for him at least three-quarters of an hour ; when , finding that neither he nor any tidings of him came , they elected some one else into the chair , and got on as well as they could . I dare say the reader is rather curious to know how all this came to pass ; and I feel it my duty to state the reason frankly . On the evening of the day before that on which he had promised to preside at Stonemasons ' Hall , he dined out with one or two choice spirits ; and , about two o'clock in the morning , they all sallied forth , not a bit the _ better _ for wine , in quest of adventures . Mr. Titmouse gave some excellent imitations of donkeys , cats , and pigs , as they walked along arm in arm ; and very nearly succeeded in tripping up an old watchman , who had crawled out to announce the hour . Then they rang every bell they passed ; and , encouraged by impunity , proceeded to sport of a still more interesting and exciting description -- viz. twisting knockers off doors . Titmouse was by far the most drunk of the party , and wrenched off several knockers in a very resolute and reckless manner , placing them successively in his pocket -- where , also , his companions contrived , unknown to him , to deposit _ their _ spoils -- till the weight was such as seriously to increase the difficulty of keeping his balance .