nine o’clock
That , through life , I have been rather put upon and disappointed in a general way . That I am at present a bachelor of between fifty-nine and sixty years of age , living on a limited income in the form of a quarterly allowance , to which I see that John our esteemed host wishes me to make no further allusion . The supposition as to my present pursuits and habits is to the following effect . I live in a lodging in the Clapham Road -- a very clean back room , in a very respectable house -- where I am expected not to be at home in the day-time , unless poorly ; and which I usually leave in the morning at nine o'clock , on pretence of going to business . I take my breakfast -- my roll and butter , and my half-pint of coffee -- at the old-established coffee-shop near Westminster Bridge ; and then I go into the City -- I do n't know why -- and sit in Garraway 's Coffee House , and on ' Change , and walk about , and look into a few offices and counting-houses where some of my relations or acquaintance are so good as to tolerate me , and where I stand by the fire if the weather happens to be cold . I get through the day in this way until five o'clock , and then I dine : at a cost , on the average , of one and threepence . Having still a little money to spend on my evening 's entertainment , I look into the old-established coffee-shop as I go home , and take my cup of tea , and perhaps my bit of toast .