ten o'clock
Laughter is a very good thing , but a seemly gravity is no less good . As might be expected of curs , they barked all the louder when there was no one to stand up to them ; and within a week , after numerous insulting proposals made to honour that horde of lying informers that had done so much mischief already , and of preferring such men as Dr. Tonge to high positions in the Church , once more that Exclusion Bill of theirs came forward . The Commons passed it , as might be expected , since my Lord Shaftesbury had packed that House with his own nominees . I was in Whitehall on the night that it was debated in the Lords -- four days later -- and up to ten o'clock His Majesty had not returned from the House ; for he was present at that debate -- a very unusual thing with him . I went up and down for a little while outside His Majesty 's lodgings ; and about half-past ten I saw Mr. Chiffinch coming . `` His Majesty is not back yet , '' he said ; and presently he proposed that we should go to the House ourselves . * * * * * From the little gallery whither he conducted me , I had a very good view of the House , and , yet more , of one of the strangest sights ever seen there .