one o'clock
Of course I did not accede to it -- why should I ? I was the commander of the fort , and intended to keep these three very sandwiches for the use of myself and my dear Belinda . `` Ladies , '' said I , `` there are in this fort one hundred and twenty - six souls , and this is all the food which is to last us during the siege . Meat there is none -- of drink there is a tolerable quantity ; and at one o'clock punctually , a glass of wine and one olive shall be served out to each woman : the men will receive two glasses , and an olive and a fig -- and this must be your food during the siege . Lord Lake can not be absent more than three days ; and if he be -- why , still there is a chance -- why do I say a chance ? -- a CERTAINTY of escaping from the hands of these ruffians . '' `` Oh , name it , name it , dear Captain Gahagan ! ''