five o'clock
This liquor was generally drunk by Wood and Billings , who applauded it greatly ; and many times , in passing through the back-parlour , -- which he had to traverse in order to reach the stair , Hayes had cast a tender eye towards the drink ; of which , had he dared , he would have partaken . On the 1st of March , in the year 1726 , Mr. Hayes had gathered together almost the whole sum with which he intended to decamp ; and having on that very day recovered the amount of a bill which he thought almost hopeless , he returned home in tolerable good-humour ; and feeling , so near was his period of departure , something like security . Nobody had attempted the least violence on him : besides , he was armed with pistols , had his money in bills in a belt about his person , and really reasoned with himself that there was no danger for him to apprehend . He entered the house about dusk , at five o'clock . Mrs. Hayes was absent with Mr. Billings ; only Mr. Wood was smoking , according to his wont , in the little back-parlour ; and as Mr. Hayes passed , the old gentleman addressed him in a friendly voice , and , wondering that he had been such a stranger , invited him to sit and take a glass of wine . There was a light and a foreman in the shop ; Mr. Hayes gave his injunctions to that person , and saw no objection to Mr. Wood 's invitation . The conversation , at first a little stiff between the two gentlemen , began speedily to grow more easy and confidential : and so particularly bland and good-humoured was Mr. , or Doctor Wood , that his companion was quite caught , and softened by the charm of his manner ; and the pair became as good friends as in the former days of their intercourse .