midnight
It was still dark , on a drizzling morning in January , as we reached the Capital ; the lamps shone faintly through the foggy , wet atmosphere ; and the gloom was deepened as we entered the narrow streets at the west of the city . A few glimmering lights from five-stories high , showed where some early riser was awaking to his daily toil ; while here and there , some rough-coated policeman stood at the corner of a street to be rained on ; except these , no sign of living thing appeared ; and I own the whole aspect was a sad damper to the ardor of that enthusiasm which had often pictured the great metropolis as some gorgeous fairy-land . The carriage stopped twice , to set down two of the travellers , in obscure dingy streets , and then I heard Mr. Lyndsay say , `` To the College ; '' and on we went through a long labyrinth of narrow lanes and thoroughfares , which gradually widened out into more spacious streets , and at length arrived at a great building , whose massive gates slowly opened to receive , and then solemnly closed after us . We now stood in a spacious quadrangle , silent and noiseless as a church at midnight . Mr. Lyndsay hastily descended , and ordering me to carry in some of the baggage , I followed him into a large scantily furnished room , beyond which was a bedchamber , of like accommodation . `` This is my home , Con , '' said he , with a melancholy attempt at a smile ; `` and here , '' said he , leading me to a small one-windowed room on the opposite side , `` here is yours . '' A bed , of that humble kind called a stretcher , placed against one wall , and a large chest for holding coals against the other , a bottomless chair , and a shoe-brush with very scanty bristles , constituted the entire furniture .