nearly midnight
He was speaking to one of my shipmates concerning America ; and from something that dropped , I was led to imagine that he contemplated a voyage to my country . Charmed with his appearance , and all eagerness to enjoy the society of this incontrovertible son of a gentleman -- a kind of pleasure so long debarred me -- I smoothed down the skirts of my jacket , and at once accosted him ; declaring who I was , and that nothing would afford me greater delight than to be of the least service , in imparting any information concerning America that he needed . He glanced from my face to my jacket , and from my jacket to my face , and at length , with a pleased but somewhat puzzled expression , begged me to accompany him on a walk . We rambled about St. George 's Pier until nearly midnight ; but before we parted , with uncommon frankness , he told me many strange things respecting his history . According to his own account , Harry Bolton was a native of Bury St. Edmunds , a borough of Suffolk , not very far from London , where he was early left an orphan , under the charge of an only aunt . Between his aunt and himself , his mother had divided her fortune ; and young Harry thus fell heir to a portion of about five thousand pounds . Being of a roving mind , as he approached his majority he grew restless of the retirement of a country place ; especially as he had no profession or business of any kind to engage his attention .