about ten o’clock
He was a little shaky , took hold of the rail of his chair , and as he sat down broke his pipe . Some slight applause followed ; but the majority were either against him , or thought it better to be silent . The discussion continued irregularly , and Zachariah noticed that about half-a-dozen of those present took no part in it . At about ten o'clock the chairman declared the meeting at an end ; and it was quite time he did so , for the smoke and the drink had done their work . As Zachariah came out , a man stood by his side whom he had scarcely noticed during the evening . He was evidently a shoemaker . There was a smell of leather about him , and his hands and face were grimy .