nine o'clock
In his own opinion , the greenness of his native isle had long ago faded from his mental and moral complexion , and he did not propose that any stray dollars , which by any shrewdness or artifice could be diverted into his pocket , should get by him . Since his wife had developed into a huge , female divinity , at whose shrine it seemed probable that he would eventually become a human sacrifice , and whose wrath , in the meantime , it was his daily task to appease , Pat had gradually formed the habit of making a sort of companion of himself . In accordance with his custom , therefore , he stopped under the high window from whence gleamed the light , for the sake of a little personal counsel . `` Now , Pat , '' he muttered , `` if yees had gone home at nine o'clock , yees wud n't be afeared to go home now ; and if yees go home now widout a dollar more or less , the ould ` ooman will make yer wish yees had set on the curbstone the rest o ' the night . They sez some men has no bowels o ' marcies ; and after what I 've seen the night , and afore the night , too , I kin belave that Boss Arnot 's in ` ards were cast at the same foundry where he gets his mash-shines . He told me that I must spake nary a word about what I 've seen and heard , and if I should thry to turn an honest penny by givin ' a knowin ' wink or two where they wud pay for the same , that ` ud be the ind of Pat M'Cabe at the big office . And yet they sez that them as buys news is loike them that takes stolen goods -- moighty willin ' to kape dark about where they got it , so that they kin get more next time .