about midnight
There is little to be done , and that little mere form . The tedious hours remain , and no one can settle his mind to anything . It is not a holiday , for every one is serious ; it is not business , for no one can attend to it ; it is not a contest , for there is no canvassing ; nor an election , for there is no poll . It is a day of lounging without an object , and luncheons without an appetite ; of hopes and fears ; confidence and dejection ; bravado bets and secret hedging ; and , about midnight , of furious suppers of grilled bones , brandy-and-water , and recklessness . The president and vice-president of the Conservative Association , the secretary and the four solicitors who were agents , had impressed upon Mr. Rigby that it was of the utmost importance , and must produce a great moral effect , if he obtain the show of hands . With his powers of eloquence and their secret organisation , they flattered themselves it might be done . With this view , Rigby inflicted a speech of more than two hours ' duration on the electors , who bore it very kindly , as the mob likes , above all things , that the ceremonies of nomination-day should not be cut short : moreover , there is nothing that the mob likes so much as a speech .