three o’clock in the morning
At midnight the wine-shop closed , and Michel having nowhere to go for the four hours that still remained until daybreak , Pierre offered him a bed of straw in the stable . Michel accepted . The two friends went back arm-in-arm ; Pierre staggering , Michel pretending to stagger . At three o'clock in the morning the servant of the hotel awakened Michel . The traveller wanted his horse . Michel , pretending that he must be off to see to his game , also rose . His toilet was not long in making ; he had only to shake the straw from his hair , game-bag , and blouse , after which he took leave of his friend Pierre and hid himself at the corner of the street .