about two o'clock
But Mike was not done yet ; he swore that the well dressed personage should pay for his lodgings , and deliberately he stripped the man of his coat , vest and boots , after which summary proceeding he ejected him from the house , as he had the others . ` Suppose we take up our quarters in some other ` crib ' , ' whispered the boy to the stranger ; the latter assented , and they both arose to depart . The landlord invited them to remain and partake of ` something hot , ' but they declined this hospitality , and sallied forth into the street . It was now about two o'clock , and snowing heavily . The stranger , placing himself under the guidance of the boy , followed him around into Orange street . Pausing before a steep cellar , exceedingly narrow , dark and deep , the young thief whispered -- ` This is the _ forty-foot cave _ -- the entrance into the _ dark vaults _ . -LSB- 1 -RSB- You have been down , I suppose ? '