six o'clock
At Chelsea they admired the grand palace for the reception of old soldiers , and then -- for the tide was turning now -- floated back to Westminster . So long were they in going round the Abbey , and examining the tombs of the kings , that it was getting dark when they started eastward again , up past the Palace of Whitehall , and then along the Strand . Already the distance between the city and Westminster was connected with houses , and the junction of the two cities had fairly taken place . Dim oil lamps were lighted here and there as they went along , foot passengers bore lanterns to enable them to pick their way across rough places , and link men carried torches in front of sedan chairs , in which ladies were being taken to fashionable entertainments , which then commenced at six o'clock . All this was new and amusing to the boys ; and having gone into a tavern near the Abbey , and partaken of some refreshment , they were not pressed for time ; and it was near eight before they seriously thought of proceeding towards the city . When a few hundred yards from Temple Bar , they heard a shouting and a scream down one of the streets leading to the river . The street was deserted , but down at the farther end they could see the flash of sword blades , in the light of an oil lamp .