Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           Hehadtogotobusiness:whyshouldotherpeoplestopinbedmerelybecauseitwasdarkandfoggy! 

           AtlengthhereachedHolborn. Notashutterwasdown!notabuswasabout!Therewerethreemeninsight,oneofwhomwasapoliceman;amarket-cartfullofcabbages,andadilapidatedlookingcab. Georgepulledouthiswatchandlookedatit:itwasfiveminutestonine!Hestoodstillandcountedhispulse. Hestoopeddownandfelthislegs. Then,withhiswatchstillinhishand,hewentuptothepoliceman,andaskedhimifheknewwhatthetimewas. 

           "What’sthetime?"saidtheman,eyeingGeorgeupanddownwithevidentsuspicion;"why,ifyoulistenyouwillhearitstrike." 

           Georgelistened,andaneighbouringclockimmediatelyobliged. 

           "Butit’sonlygonethree!"saidGeorgeinaninjuredtone,whenithadfinished. 

           "Well,andhowmanydidyouwantittogo?"repliedtheconstable. 

           "Why,nine,"saidGeorge,showinghiswatch. 

           "Doyouknowwhereyoulive?"saidtheguardianofpublicorder,severely. 

           Georgethought,andgavetheaddress. 

           "Oh!that’swhereitis,isit?"repliedtheman;"well,youtakemyadviceandgotherequietly,andtakethatwatchofyourswithyou;anddon’tlet’shaveanymoreofit." 

           AndGeorgewenthomeagain,musingashewalkedalong,andlethimselfin.