about twelve o'clock
About a week had now elapsed since the abusive contest between Jemmy Branigan and the pedlar ; the coroner was beginning to recover , and Charley Hanlon 's aunt had disappeared altogether from the neighborhood . Previous to her departure , however , she , her nephew , and the pedlar , had several close , and apparently interesting conferences , into which their parish priest , the Rev. Anthony Devlin , was ultimately admitted . It was clear , indeed , that whatever secret the pedlar communicated , had inspired both Hanlon and his aunt with fresh energy in their attempts to discover the murderer of their relative ; and there could be little doubt that the woman 's disappearance from the scene of its perpetration was in some way connected with the steps they were taking to bring everything connected with it to light . Travers , already acquainted with the committal of old Dalton , as he was with all the circumstances of his decline and eviction from his farm , was sitting in his office , about twelve o'clock , when our friend , the pedlar , bearing a folded paper in his hand , presented himself , with a request that he might be favored with a private interview . This , without any difficulty , was granted , and the following dialogue took place between them : -- `` Well , my good friend , '' said the agent ; `` what is the nature of this private business of yours ? '' `` Why , plase your honor , it 's a petition in favor of ould Condy Dalton . '' `` A petition !