about seven o'clock
Much in the same plight , also , were Messrs. Bloodsuck , Mudflint , and Woodlouse , for whom Messrs. Quirk , Gammon , and Snap were defending similar actions ; and who were worried out of their lives by daily letters from their terror-stricken clients , as to the state , progress , and prospects of the several causes in which they were so deeply interested . All these actions were being pressed forward by the plaintiffs with a view to trial at the ensuing York assizes ; had been made , by the plaintiffs , special juries ; and , infinitely to Gammon 's vexation and alarm , he had found , on hurrying to retain Mr. Subtle , that he , Mr. Sterling , and Mr. Crystal , had been already retained for the plaintiffs ! Lastly , he was dreadfully teased by an action of seduction , which had , a few days before , been brought against Mr. Titmouse ; and which Gammon , finding it to be a very bad case , was making great efforts to compromise . To each and every of these matters , he gave the attention that was due -- and , about seven o'clock , having finished his labors for the day , repaired , a good deal exhausted , to his chambers at Thavies ' Inn . After a slight repast , he proceeded to draw up confidential '' _ instructions _ '' for Mr. Frankpledge , to frame the deeds necessary to carry into effect his contemplated arrangement with Titmouse . That did not take him long ; and having sealed up his packet , and addressed it , he threw himself down on the sofa , and gave himself up to anxious meditation , for he was aware that he was now , as it were , touching the very crisis of his fortunes . Again , again , and again he recurred to the incident of the day -- the destruction of his documents by Titmouse ; and cursed his own inconceivable stupidity , even aloud .