two in the morning
When I saw him in this state , I saw that for the poor man 's sake , as well as for the public safety , what I had to do for the time was to compose his mind . Therefore , setting aside all question of reality or unreality between us , I represented to him that whoever thoroughly discharged his duty must do well , and that at least it was his comfort that he understood his duty , though he did not understand these confounding Appearances . In this effort I succeeded far better than in the attempt to reason him out of his conviction . He became calm ; the occupations incidental to his post as the night advanced began to make larger demands on his attention : and I left him at two in the morning . I had offered to stay through the night , but he would not hear of it . That I more than once looked back at the red light as I ascended the pathway , that I did not like the red light , and that I should have slept but poorly if my bed had been under it , I see no reason to conceal . Nor did I like the two sequences of the accident and the dead girl .