about a quarter to six
She had had highwaymen pointed out to her in Drury Lane and Dyott Street and knew that the majority were boasting , bragging fellows and cowards at heart . But there were others of a different quality who did their robberies with quite a gentlemanly air . They took the way through Whitton Park . As the housekeeper said , the journey was cross-country so far as roads were concerned , but Stephen knew the short cuts and they reached the long , straggling , mean-looking Hounslow High Street -- the future town was at that time little more than a street -- at about a quarter to six . They entered the `` George '' -- a house of greater pretensions than the rest -- and Lavinia found she was in plenty of time for the London coach . `` She 'll be late , '' said the landlord . `` A chap as just come in says he rode past her t ` other side o ' the heath an ' she was stuck fast on a nasty bit o ' boggy road and one o ' the leaders -- a jibber -- would n't stir a step for whip or curses . ''