midnight
At this unexpected recognition of his nativity , for Mr. O'Leary never suspected he could be discovered by his accent ; he looked across the table , and caught my eye at once . `` Oh , I 'm safe now ! stand by me , Mr. Lorrequer , and we 'll clear the room . '' So saying , and without any further provocation , he upset the croupier , chair and all , with one sudden jerk upon the floor , and giving a tremendous kick to the casette , sent all the five-franc pieces flying over him ; he then jumped upon the table , and brandishing his black-thorn through the ormolu lustre , scattered the wax-lights on all sides , accompanying the exploit by a yell that would have called up all Connemara at midnight , if it had only been heard there ; in an instant , the gens d'armes , always sufficiently near to be called in if required , came pouring into the room , and supposing the whole affair had been a preconcerted thing to obtain possession of the money in the bank , commenced capturing different members of the company who appeared , by enjoying the confusion , to be favouring and assisting it . My cousin Guy was one of the first so treated -- a proceeding to which he responded by an appeal rather in favour with most Englishmen , and at once knocked down the gen d'arme ; this was the signal for a general engagement , and accordingly , before an explanation could possibly be attempted , a most terrific combat ensued . The Frenchmen in the room siding with the gen d'armerie , and making common cause against the English ; who , although greatly inferior in number , possessed considerable advantage , from long habit in street-rows and boxing encounters . As for myself , I had the good fortune to be pitted against a very pursy and unwieldy Frenchman , who sacre 'd to admiration , but never put in a single blow at me ; while , therefore , I amused myself practising what old Cribb called `` the one , two , '' upon his fat carcase , I had abundant time and opportunity to watch all that was doing about me , and truly a more ludicrous affair I never beheld .