about three
o'clock in the afternoon
`` You 're a marvellous prudent person , Mr. Quirk , '' said Gammon , in a somewhat fierce whisper , as they walked along , `` I suppose you would have gone on to explain the little matter of Steggars , and so have had our briefs thrown at our heads '' -- `` Well , well , '' grunted Quirk , `` that _ was _ a slip ! '' Here they reached their inn . Titmouse was staying there ; and in Messrs. Quirk , Gammon , and Snap 's absence , he had got very drunk , and was quarrelling under the archway with `` Boots ; '' so they ordered him to bed , they themselves sitting up till a very late hour in the morning . The consultation at the Attorney-General 's had taken place about three o'clock in the afternoon , within an hour after his arrival ; and had been attended by Messrs. Sterling , Crystal , and Mansfield -- by Mr. Runnington , and Mr. Parkinson , and by Mr. Aubrey , whom the Attorney-General received with the most earnest expressions of sympathy and friendship ; listening to every question and every observation of his with the utmost deference . `` It would be both idle and unkind to disguise from you , Aubrey , '' said he , `` that our position is somewhat precarious . It depends entirely on the chance we may have of breaking down the plaintiff 's case ; for we have but a slender one of our own . I suppose they can bring proof of the death of Harry Dreddlington in his father 's lifetime ? ''