five
o'clock
All four were sentenced to be hung , and the judge warmly complimented the four boys upon their conduct in the matter . The next morning , Bob returned to his work in the city . For the next three months , his existence was a regular one . On arriving in the cellar , he took off his jacket and put on a large apron , that completely covered him ; and from that time until five o'clock he worked with the other boys : bottling , packing , storing the bottles away in the bins , or taking them down as required . He learned , from the foreman , something of the localities from which the wine came , their value and prices ; but had not begun to distinguish them by taste , or bouquet . Mr. Bale , the foreman said , had given strict orders that he was not to begin tasting , at present . Three days before Christmas , one of the clerks brought him down word that Mr. Bale wished to see him in the office , at five o'clock .