about eight o'clock in the morning
What misery was his , as he walked slowly homeward , with much the same feelings -LRB- now that the fumes of the brandy had somewhat evaporated , and the reaction of excitement was coming on , aggravated by a recollection of the desperate check he had received -RRB- as those of a sick and troubled man , who , suddenly roused out of a delicious dream , drops into wretched reality , as it were out of a fairyland , which , with all its dear innumerable delights , is melting overhead into thin air -- disappearing , _ forever _ ! Closet Court had never looked so odious to him as it did on his return from this memorable interview . Dreadfully distressed and harassed , he flung himself on his bed for a moment , directly he had shut his door , intending presently to rise and undress ; but Sleep , having got him prostrate , secured her victory . She waved her black wand over him , and -- he awoke not completely till about eight o'clock in the morning . A second long-drawn sigh was preparing to follow its predecessor , when he heard the clock strike eight , and sprang off the bed in a fright ; for he ought to have been at the shop an hour before . Dashing a little water into his face , and scarce staying to wipe it off , he ran down-stairs , through the court , and along the street , never stopping till he had found his way into -- almost the very arms of the dreaded Mr. Tag-rag ; who , rarely making his appearance till about half-past nine , had , as the deuce would have it , happened to come down an hour and a half earlier than usual on that particular morning , the only one out of several hundreds on which Titmouse had been more than ten minutes beyond his time . `` Yours ve-ry respectfully , Mr. Titmouse -- Thomas Tag-rag ! ''