about eleven at night
Having found the society of our fair countrywoman and her friends very agreeable , we -- that is , Lindsay and myself -- became frequent visitors ; drinking tea with her and her fellow-servants at least two or three times a week . While this was going on , a detachment of the new recruits , of whom Lindsay was one , was suddenly ordered to Chatham . I missed my comrade much after his departure ; but as I had by this time established an intimacy with Susan and her fellow-servants on my own account , I still continued visiting there , and drinking tea occasionally as formerly . It was on one of these occasions , and about ten days after Lindsay had left London , that as I was leaving Mr. Wallscourt 's house at a pretty late hour -- I think about eleven at night -- I was suddenly collared by two men , just as I had ascended the area stair , and was about to step out on the pavement . `` What 's this for ? '' said I , turning first to the one and then to the other of my captors . `` We 'll tell you that presently , '' replied one of the men , who had by this time begun to grope about my person , as if searching for something .