one in the morning
Here poor Smoothpate made a violent walloping in a vain attempt to disentangle himself . We could now hear shouts of laughter within , and a voice that I was sure belonged to Mr Smoothpate , begging to be released from the pillory he had placed himself in by removing a board in the wooden partition , and sliding it up , and then thrusting his caput from without into the interior of the house , to the no small amazement of the brown fiddler and his daughter who inhabited the same , and who had immediately secured their prize by slipping the displaced board down again , wedging it firmly on the back of his neck , as if he had been fitted for the guillotine , thus nailing him fast , unless he had bolted , and left his head in pawn . We now entered , and perceived it was really Don Alonzo 's flushed but very handsome countenance that was grinning at us from where it was fixed , like a large peony rose stuck against the wall . After a hearty laugh we relieved him , and being now joined by Percales , who came up in his gig , with Mr Smoothpate 's following in his wake , we embarked for an airing at half-past one in the morning -- Smoothpate and Percales , Longtram and Tom Cringle . Amongst other exploits , we broke into a proscribed conventicle of drunken negroes -- but I am rather ashamed of this part of the transaction , and intended to have held my tongue , had Aaron managed his , although it was notorious as the haunt of all the thieves and slight ladies of the place ; here we found parson Charley , a celebrated black preacher , three parts drunk , extorting , as Mawworm says , a number of devotees , male and female , all very tipsy , in a most blasphemous fashion , the table being covered with rummers of punch , and fragments of pies and cold meat ; but this did not render our conduct more excusable , I will acknowledge . Finally , as a trophy , Percales , who was a wickeder little chap than I took him for , with Longtram 's help , unshipped the bell of the conventicle from the little belfry , and fastening it below Smoothpate 's gig , we dashed back to Mr Shingle 's with it clanging at every jolt . In our progress the horse took fright , and ran away , and no wonder .