twelve
o'clock
He would not even swear he had not taken five ; -- nor even six , so conscientious a bailiff was he ; but he was nearly sure he had n't , and would swear positively he had not swallowed seven . Whereupon Mr. O'Laugher most ill-naturedly put down his morning dram at three quarters of a pint , and asked the unhappy bailiff whether that quantity was not sufficient to make him see a crop of oats in an empty field . It was going badly with the landlord and bailiff , and well with the energetic , night-working , fraudulent tenant ; -- and would have gone well with him , had he not determined to make assurance doubly sure . A young man had been dining out , and had returned home at twelve o'clock on the night of the supposed miraculous reaping ; he had at that hour walked home along the lane which skirted the field , and had seen no men -- heard no noise -- nor perceived either reapers , cars , horses , or any signs of work ; yet he had passed the very gate of the field through which the corn must have come out , had it come out at all . Such was the effect of this young gentleman 's evidence , when he was handed over to Mr. Allewinde by Mr. O'Laugher , with a courteous inquiry of his brother whether he wished to ask that gentleman any questions . Mr. Allewinde said that he would ask him a few questions , and the young gentleman began to tremble . `` Mr. Green , I think your name is , '' began Mr. Allewinde .