two in the morning
This was true enough , and it struck the speaker as so pathetic that he managed even to squeeze up a tear . `` But come , '' he went on , with a sudden change to vivacity , `` tell me how you happened into this scrape ? '' And so , with the lantern between them casting long spokes of light on the ship 's timbers , the rafters and the two drunken sleepers in the corner , father and son sat and talked for the better part of an hour ; at the end of which time Captain Salt , who dexterously managed to do nine-tenths of the listening , was pretty well posted in the affairs of the Blue Pavilions and their inmates , and knew almost as much of Tristram 's past history as if he had spent a day with the thirty-seven green volumes . It was past two in the morning when he arose to return to his own ship . At parting he kissed Tristram on both cheeks . `` Farewell , dear lad ! '' he said , with a manner that was admirably paternal .