eleven o'clock
Within a fortnight after the mischance which I have above described , Titmouse dined with the members of a sort of pugilistic club , which met every fortnight , for the purpose of settling matters connected with the `` ring . '' On the present occasion there had been a full muster , for they had to settle the preliminaries for a grand contest for the championship of England -- to which Titmouse 's master , Mr. Billy Bully , aspired . Titmouse had scarcely ever enjoyed himself more than on that exciting occasion ; and , confident of his man , had backed his favorite pretty freely . Towards eleven o'clock , he found the room very close -- and it was not to be wondered at , when you considered the dreadful quantity of hard ale , harder port-wine , and poisonous gin and water , which the little wretch had swallowed since sitting down to dinner . About the hour I have named , however , he , Sir Pumpkin Puppy , and one or two others , all with cigars in their mouths , sallied forth to walk about town , in search of sport . I have hardly patience to write it -- but positively they had not proceeded half-way down the Haymarket when they got into a downright '' _ row _ ; '' and , egged on by his companions , and especially inwardly impelled by the devil himself , the miserable Titmouse , after grossly insulting a little one-eyed , one-legged , bald-headed old waterman attached to the coach-stand there , challenged him to fight , and forthwith flung away his cigar , and threw himself into boxing attitude , amid the jeers and laughter of the spectators -- who , however , formed a sort of ring in a trice . At it they went , _ instanter _ .