noon
He was to come away in an hour or two to attend me to Hammersmith , and I was to wait about for him . It appeared to me that the eggs from which young Insurers were hatched were incubated in dust and heat , like the eggs of ostriches , judging from the places to which those incipient giants repaired on a Monday morning . Nor did the counting-house where Herbert assisted , show in my eyes as at all a good Observatory ; being a back second floor up a yard , of a grimy presence in all particulars , and with a look into another back second floor , rather than a look out . I waited about until it was noon , and I went upon ` Change , and I saw fluey men sitting there under the bills about shipping , whom I took to be great merchants , though I could n't understand why they should all be out of spirits . When Herbert came , we went and had lunch at a celebrated house which I then quite venerated , but now believe to have been the most abject superstition in Europe , and where I could not help noticing , even then , that there was much more gravy on the tablecloths and knives and waiters ' clothes , than in the steaks . This collation disposed of at a moderate price -LRB- considering the grease , which was not charged for -RRB- , we went back to Barnard 's Inn and got my little portmanteau , and then took coach for Hammersmith . We arrived there at two or three o'clock in the afternoon , and had very little way to walk to Mr. Pocket 's house .