twelve
o'clock
Measures must be taken instantly , you see , for 't is of old standing , and not a day to be lost , and there 's why Mr. Lowe is so urgent to get your statement in white and black . ' ` And sworn to , ' added Mr. Lowe . ` I 'll swear it , ' said Sturk , in the same sad tones . And Mrs. Sturk came in , and Toole gave leave for chicken broth at twelve o'clock , about two table-spoonsful , and the same at half-past one , when he hoped to be back again . And on the lobby he gave her , with a cheery countenance , all the ambiguous comfort he could . And Lowe asked Mrs. Sturk for more pens and paper , and himself went down to give his man a direction at the door , and on the way , in the hall , Toole looking this way and that , to see they were n't observed , beckoned him into the front parlour , and , said he , in a low key -- ` The pulse is up a bit , not very much , but still I do n't like it -- and very hard , you see -- and what we 've to dread , you know 's inflammation ; and he 's so shocking low , my dear Sir , we must let him have wine and other things , or we 'll lose him that way ; and you see it 's a mighty unpleasant case . ' And coming into the hall , in a loud confident voice he cried -- ` And I 'll be here again by half-past one o'clock . '