nine
o’clock
All our endeavors , therefore , to seem easy and unconcerned were in vain ; a restless anxiety to seem interested about things and persons we were totally indifferent to , pervaded all our essays at conversation . By degrees , we grew weary of the parts we were acting , and each relapsed into a moody silence , thinking over his plans and projects , and totally forgetting the existence of the other . The decanter was passed across the table without speaking , a half nod intimated the bottle was standing ; and except an occasional malediction upon an intractable cigar , nothing was heard . Such was the agreeable occupation we were engaged in , when , towards nine o'clock , the door opened , and the great Maurice himself stood before us . `` Pleasant fellows , upon my conscience , and jovial over their liquor ! Confound your smoking ! That may do very well in a bivouac .