eight o'clock
They had not been long in London when they took a large house in Grafton Street , letting out rooms to comrades . They also kept on the ground floor a small _ depôt _ of foreign revolutionary literature , and received for a consideration the correspondence of the refugees . Combrisson , who worked as a carpenter and joiner , had the reputation of being a good comrade , and always set down to his wife 's account all actions not strictly in accordance with the principles of solidarity , such as turning out comrades who did not pay their rent , refusing small loans and subscriptions , and such like . By eight o'clock I was in Grafton Street . As I turned down the corner which leads from the Tottenham Court Road , I became aware that I was being followed . A young man with a sandy moustache , a celestial nose , and fishy blue eyes , got up to look like a counter-jumper on a holiday , whom I had long since learned to know as Detective Limpet , was walking a few steps behind me on the other side of the road . I stopped at Number 9 , my destination , and I saw Limpet likewise stop outside a public-house which stood opposite , and exchange a few words with a hulking brute leaning against the wall , characterised by a heavy jaw , lowering brows , and a strong Irish brogue , in whom I recognised Detective O'Brien .