nine o'clock
I started up , bewildered and freezing . I seized my parcel and commenced to walk . I went faster and faster in order to get warm , slapped my arms , chafed my legs -- which by now I could hardly feel under me -- and thus reached the watch-house of the fire brigade . It was nine o'clock ; I had been asleep for several hours . Whatever shall I do with myself ? I must go to some place . I stand there and stare up at the watch-house , and query if it would not be possible to succeed in getting into one of the passages if I were to watch for a moment when the watchman 's back was turned .