twelve
o’clock
No , you shall never part me . Do what you plase with me , still I 'll be close to your heart , like your own shadow : knock me down if you will , and wilcome , ten times a day , and I 'll be up again like a ninepin : only let me sarve your honour ; I 'll ask no wages nor take none . '' There was no withstanding all this ; and whether our hero 's good-nature deceived him we shall not determine , but he thought it most prudent , as he could not get rid of Terence , to take him into his service , to let him into his secret , to make him swear that he would never utter the name of Phelim O'Mooney during the remainder of this day . Terence heard the secret of the bet with joy , entered into the jest with all the readiness of an Irishman , and with equal joy and readiness swore by the hind leg of the holy lamb that he would never mention , even to his own dog , the name of Phelim O'Mooney , Esq. , good or bad , till past twelve o'clock ; and further , that he would , till the clock should strike that hour , call his master Sir John Bull , and nothing else , to all men , women , and children , upon the floor of God 's creation . Satisfied with the fulness of this oath , O'Mooney resolved to return to town with his man Terence M'Dermod . He , however , contrived , before he got there , to make a practical bull , by which he was detected a fifth time . He got into the coach which was driving _ from _ London instead of that which was driving _ to _ London , and he would have been carried rapidly to Oxford , had not his man Terence , after they had proceeded a mile and a half on the wrong road , put his head down from the top of the coach , crying , as he looked in at the window , `` Master , Sir John Bull , are you there ?