the hour of four o'clock
As he said this the over-taxed man fell asleep ; at the same moment a heavy gust of wind drove the door in altogether , and dashed it down on his head . Fortunately , being somewhat charred , the panel that struck his helmet was driven out , so that Joe came by no greater damage than the fright , which caused his heart to bound into his throat , for he really believed that the ghost had got him at last ! Relieving himself of the door , which he laid on the floor lest it should play him the same prank over again , Joe Corney once more settled himself in the easy-chair and resolved to give his mind to meditation . Just then the City clocks pealed forth the hour of four o'clock . This is perhaps the quietest hour of the twenty-four in London . Before this most of the latest revellers have gone home , and few of the early risers are moving . There was one active mind at work at that hour , however -- namely , that of Gorman -- who , after recovering from the blow given him by Dale , went to his own home on the banks of the Thames , in the unaristocratic locality of London Bridge .