a quarter before eight
But , it 's curious that that once was in eighteen thirty ; and that as our bore was walking down the street you have just mentioned , at the hour you have just mentioned -- half-past seven -- or twenty minutes to eight . No ! Let him be correct ! -- exactly a quarter before eight by the palace clock -- he met a fresh-coloured , grey-haired , good-humoured looking gentleman , with a brown umbrella , who , as he passed him , touched his hat and said , ` Fine morning , sir , fine morning ! ' -- William the Fourth ! Ask our bore whether he has seen Mr. Barry 's new Houses of Parliament , and he will reply that he has not yet inspected them minutely , but , that you remind him that it was his singular fortune to be the last man to see the old Houses of Parliament before the fire broke out . It happened in this way .