Ten o'clock
What the two drank together , between Hilary Term and Michaelmas , might have floated a king 's ship . Stryver never had a case in hand , anywhere , but Carton was there , with his hands in his pockets , staring at the ceiling of the court ; they went the same Circuit , and even there they prolonged their usual orgies late into the night , and Carton was rumoured to be seen at broad day , going home stealthily and unsteadily to his lodgings , like a dissipated cat . At last , it began to get about , among such as were interested in the matter , that although Sydney Carton would never be a lion , he was an amazingly good jackal , and that he rendered suit and service to Stryver in that humble capacity . `` Ten o'clock , sir , '' said the man at the tavern , whom he had charged to wake him -- `` ten o'clock , sir . '' `` _ What 's _ the matter ? '' `` Ten o'clock , sir . '' `` What do you mean ?