He remembered wandering through dimly lit streets, past gaunt, black-shadowed archways and evil-looking houses.

Women with hoarse voices and harsh laughter had called after him.

Drunkards had reeled by, cursing and chattering to themselves like monstrous apes.

He had seen grotesque children huddled upon door-steps, and heard shrieks and oaths from gloomy courts.
As the dawn was just breaking, he found himself close to Covent Garden.
The darkness lifted, and, flushed with faint fires, the sky hollowed itself into a perfect pearl.

Huge carts filled with nodding lilies rumbled slowly down the polished empty street.