nine o'clock
If it 's not in any way disagreeable to you , you 'll oblige me by doing the same . I do n't wish it professionally spoken about . '' Of course I felt my good faith involved in the observance of his request . The punch being very nice , we sat there drinking it and talking , until it was almost nine o'clock . `` Getting near gun-fire , '' said Wemmick then , as he laid down his pipe ; `` it 's the Aged 's treat . '' Proceeding into the Castle again , we found the Aged heating the poker , with expectant eyes , as a preliminary to the performance of this great nightly ceremony . Wemmick stood with his watch in his hand until the moment was come for him to take the red-hot poker from the Aged , and repair to the battery .