midnight
he added again , after a peal of thunder . `` Here they come , fast , fierce , and furious ! '' It was the rush and roar of rain that he typified , and it stopped him , for no voice could be heard in it . A memorable storm of thunder and lightning broke with that sweep of water , and there was not a moment 's interval in crash , and fire , and rain , until after the moon rose at midnight . The great bell of Saint Paul 's was striking one in the cleared air , when Mr. Lorry , escorted by Jerry , high-booted and bearing a lantern , set forth on his return-passage to Clerkenwell . There were solitary patches of road on the way between Soho and Clerkenwell , and Mr. Lorry , mindful of foot-pads , always retained Jerry for this service : though it was usually performed a good two hours earlier . `` What a night it has been !