about twelve
o’clock
Now that Greaves had retired , there appeared to be less restraint upon the few who had been a witness of the observations he had made upon the subject , for they one and all seemed to flow into the common channel of sympathy , so largely occupied by O'Brien in this connection . In addition , one of them ventured to remark , that although Greaves pretended to be an Englishman , he was evidently no such thing ; for on more than one occasion , he gave utterance to expressions that were not only purely Irish , but tinged with a genuine Irish accent and native peculiarity , that no mere accident could account for , and which was , without doubt , the genuine thing itself peeping out at the elbows of a foreign dress . This idea seemed to find favor with O'Brien , although Barry was not impressed with its correctness , from the fact , no doubt , of his constant intercommunication with the English and Irish element that was so jumbled up in his company . As it became later , the party began to drop off , until about twelve o'clock , up went the shutters and round went the heavy key in the bar-room door -- all having disappeared at the latter period , save Barry and one of his most intimate friends who seemed loath to leave , and inclined to take another glass . No sooner then , were the doors and windows securely fastened , and the gas extinguished , than both these parties accompanied by Tom with a bed-room lamp in his hand , proceeded to a small and comfortable apartment which was sacred to the foot of every individual who was not a tried friend of O'Brien . Here all three seated themselves beside a comfortable coal fire that burned brightly in the grate : when Tom , on extinguishing the lamp , after having lit the jet of gas that hung in the centre of the room , exclaimed : -- `` Nick , my name 's not Tom O'Brien , or we have got the divil up-stairs ! -- but what he 's up to it 's hard to say : although I thought it was jist as well to let him take up his quarthers here , seem that I 'll be able to keep an eye on him -- now that the times are becomin sarious . ''