ten
o'clock
They were not old friends , and the effect of Richard 's greeting was to lead the man of lamps to think him drunk . `` Got his load early ! '' quoth the one of lamps . He tippled himself , and was versed in cup proprieties , which forbade drunkenness prior to ten o'clock . Richard continued down the street . It was as if he were translated , and had quitted earth to walk the clouds . And to think that not two hours before he had come swinging along this identical thoroughfare , never dreaming of the heaven of those loving arms into which he was walking !