six o'clock
He is probably still living , and those who desire his acquaintance will find him creeping round some gambling table , and trying to look as though he had in his pocket ample means to secure those hoards of money which men are so listlessly raking about . From our view he has now vanished . It was a bitter February morning , when two cabs stood packing themselves at No. 5 , Paradise Row , Millbank . It was hardly yet six o'clock , and Paradise Row was dark as Erebus ; that solitary gas-light sticking out from the wall of the prison only made darkness visible ; the tallow candles which were brought in and out with every article that was stuffed under a seat , or into a corner , would get themselves blown out ; and the sleet which was falling fast made the wicks wet , so that they could with difficulty be relighted . But at last the cabs were packed with luggage , and into one got Gertrude with her husband , her baby , and her mother ; and into the other Charley handed Linda , then Alley , and lastly , the youthful maiden , who humbly begged his pardon as she stepped up to the vehicle ; and then , having given due directions to the driver , he not without difficulty squeezed himself into the remaining space . Such journeys as these are always made at a slow pace . Cabmen know very well who must go fast , and who may go slow .