five o'clock
Papa conducted his mysterious operations in the City -- a stirring place in those days , when war was raging all over Europe , and empires were being staked ; when the `` Courier '' newspaper had tens of thousands of subscribers ; when one day brought you a battle of Vittoria , another a burning of Moscow , or a newsman 's horn blowing down Russell Square about dinner-time , announced such a fact as -- `` Battle of Leipsic -- six hundred thousand men engaged -- total defeat of the French -- two hundred thousand killed . '' Old Sedley once or twice came home with a very grave face ; and no wonder , when such news as this was agitating all the hearts and all the Stocks of Europe . Meanwhile matters went on in Russell Square , Bloomsbury , just as if matters in Europe were not in the least disorganised . The retreat from Leipsic made no difference in the number of meals Mr. Sambo took in the servants ' hall ; the allies poured into France , and the dinner-bell rang at five o'clock just as usual . I do n't think poor Amelia cared anything about Brienne and Montmirail , or was fairly interested in the war until the abdication of the Emperor ; when she clapped her hands and said prayers -- oh , how grateful ! and flung herself into George Osborne 's arms with all her soul , to the astonishment of everybody who witnessed that ebullition of sentiment . The fact is , peace was declared , Europe was going to be at rest ; the Corsican was overthrown , and Lieutenant Osborne 's regiment would not be ordered on service .