About 11 o'clock
But , when I hinted that I was in possession of such information as might lead to the accomplishment of their object , they took at once at the bait , and agreed that , not only they , but their wives and families , should be supplied from my stores . Fancy waistcoats , watch-chains , twelve-bladed knives , razors , snuff-boxes , and pocket-books , were immediately secured , and handsomely paid for ; and Neptune and I -LRB- for I verily believe he understood the whole transaction -RRB- had the pleasure of making a very considerable profit , by gaining at least 100 per cent . upon the whole concern . About 11 o'clock -- for they were now impatient to secure their prize -- we advanced , seven strong -LRB- exclusive of Neptune -RRB- , upon the old tower of Hermitage . But our approach had been anticipated , and the bird was flown . Some friendly imp , one of the family where we had so recently been convened , had probably given the necessary intimation to the illicit distillers ; and , after much searching , and some curious discoveries of dark passages , and dungeons half filled with rubbish , we found a cask or two of recently distilled spirit , with a few vats or tubs which had not been removed . It was manifest , however , from what we had discovered , that my information had been correct , and that , though flown , the bird would not be at any great distance .