six o'clock
Would the bailiffs remain or depart ? Would they recognize the deep hatred of the villagers under all the chaff and fun , or would they take it as a huge joke ? The same questioning agitated their own minds ; but they decided to go for two reasons , viz. , -LRB- 1 -RRB- that , fresh from the conflict , they could give a more lurid description of their adventure , and obtain larger compensation ; and -LRB- 2 -RRB- that whilst Jem Deady was scraping , with no gentle hand , the oil and lampblack from their faces , that he had placed there the evening before , he told them , confidentially , to put a hundred miles between themselves and the villagers that night , if they did not care to leave their measures for a coffin . And so , at six o'clock a car was hired , and amidst a farewell volley of sarcastic cheers and uncomplimentary epithets , they drove to catch the night-mail to Dublin . Father Letheby promptly took possession , and found nothing wrong , except the odor of some stale tobacco smoke . * * * * * Next day was All Souls ' , and it was with whitened lips , and with disappointment writ in every one of his fine features , that he came up after Mass to ask had I received any letter . Alas , no !