eight o'clock
He drank his wine at dinner like a glutton , who had only a short time allowed him , and wished during that time to swallow as much as possible ; and he tried to hurry his companion in the same manner . But the doctor did n't choose to have wine forced down his throat ; he wished to enjoy himself , and remonstrated against Barry 's violent hospitality . At last , dinner was over ; the things were taken away , they both drew their chairs over the fire , and began the business of the evening -- the making and consumption of punch . Barry had determined to begin upon the subject which lay so near his heart , at eight o'clock . He had thought it better to fix an exact hour , and had calculated that the whole matter might be completed before Colligan went over to the inn . He kept continually looking at his watch , and gulping down his drink , and thinking over and over again how he would begin the conversation . `` You 're very comfortable here , Lynch , '' said the doctor , stretching his long legs before the fire , and putting his dirty boots upon the fender .