half past five o'clock
A chill of fear struck through the man 's frame as he looked at her . Yes , there she lay , and in her hold were safely stowed 160,000 pounds in gold , marked lead and copper . Wylie had no luggage nor effects to detain him on board ; he landed , and , having bestowed his three companions in a sailors ' boarding-house , he was hastening to the shipping agents of Wardlaw & Son to announce his arrival and the fate of the _ Proserpine . _ He had reached their offices in Water Street before he recollected that it was barely half past five o'clock , and , though broad daylight on that July morning , merchants ' offices are not open at that hour . The sight of the _ Shannon _ had so bewildered him that he had not noticed that the shops were all shut , the streets deserted . Then a thought occurred to him -- why not be a bearer of his own news ? He did not require to turn the idea twice over , but resolved , for many reasons , to adopt it .