midnight
It was the pride of the management to keep the hotel spotless , and as it was always full , to give a wing bodily over to the painters and decorators would mean a considerable loss of revenue . Consequently all the work of renovation was done during the night . The insides of the bedrooms were completely redecorated within the space of twenty-four hours . All corridors and common-rooms were done between midnight and the hot-water hour , special quick-drying materials being used ; but most important of all was the silence of the workers . `` The bloomin ' miracles , '' Bindle called the little army that transformed the place in the course of a few hours . When first told of the system he had been incredulous , and on applying for a job to the foreman in charge he remarked : `` I 've ` eard tell of dumb dawgs , mebbe it 's true , and dumb waiters ; but dumb painters -- I wo n't believe it -- it ai n't natural . '' The foreman had eyed him deliberately ; then in a contemptuous tone , remarked : `` If you get this job you 've got to go without winkin ' or breathin ' in case you make a noise .