nine o’clock
The gloomy meal was ended ; the parties separated , all of them , as it would seem , relieved by the termination of those mock festivities which , while they brought no gayity to the heart , imposed a necessity of seeming mirthful and at ease , when they were in truth disturbed by dark thoughts of the past , and terrible forebodings of the future . As soon as his guests had departed and the traitor was left alone , he arose from his seat , according to his custom , and began to pace the room with vehement and rapid strides , gesticulating wildly , and muttering sentences , the terrible oaths and blasphemies of which were alone audible . Just at this time a prolonged flourish of trumpets from without , announced the changing of the watch . It was nine o'clock . `` Ha ! the third hour ! '' already , he exclaimed , starting as he heard the wild blast , `` and Chærea not yet returned from Antonius .