twelve o’clock at night
The boys applied whip and spur , the waiters shouted , the hostlers cheered , and away they went , fast and furiously . ` Pretty situation , ' thought Mr. Pickwick , when he had had a moment 's time for reflection . ` Pretty situation for the general chairman of the Pickwick Club . Damp chaise -- strange horses -- fifteen miles an hour -- and twelve o'clock at night ! ' For the first three or four miles , not a word was spoken by either of the gentlemen , each being too much immersed in his own reflections to address any observations to his companion . When they had gone over that much ground , however , and the horses getting thoroughly warmed began to do their work in really good style , Mr. Pickwick became too much exhilarated with the rapidity of the motion , to remain any longer perfectly mute . ` We 're sure to catch them , I think , ' said he .