one o'clock
Peter was sorry to observe on a closer view that his tail-coat was frayed and his collar not very clean . He gave Herr Gottfried a languid bow and passed through the shop into the room beyond . `` Guten Tag , Herr Signer , '' said Herr Gottfried with deference , but the gentleman had already disappeared . Then , after a time , one o'clock struck and Peter understood that if he would place himself under Herr Gottfried 's protection he should be led to an establishment where for a small sum meat-pies were to be had ... all this very novel and delightful , and Peter laid down `` The Experiences of the Reverend James Scott , '' which were not at present very thrilling and followed his guide into the street . Peter was still wondering where Herr Gottfried had put his blue slippers and whence had come the large flat boots and the brown and faded squash hat when he was suddenly in a little dark street with the houses hanging forward as though they were listening and any number of clothes dangling from the window sills and waving about as though their owners were still inside them and kicking vigorously . Although the street was dark it was full of noise , and a blaze of light at the other end of it proclaimed more civilised quarters -LRB- Trafalgar Square in fact -RRB- at no great distance . `` Gerade aus , '' said Herr Gottfried and pushed open a swinging door .