seven o'clock
Oh , God ! '' he sobbed as he rocked from side to side in his agony . Poons crept softly out of the room and closed the door gently after him . It was past seven o'clock that evening when Poons returned to Von Barwig 's apartment on his way to the Gewandhaus concert . His old overcoat buttoned tightly over his well-worn dress suit covered a palpitating heart ; for Poons was afraid . A few minutes before , when he had kissed his motherly wife good-bye and told her to take good , extra good care of their little son August , she had noticed that his hand was trembling . And when he tried to account for his nervous condition by reminding her that Anton Von Barwig 's new symphony was to be played that night and that a member of the Royal family was to be present on the occasion , she had shaken her head gravely , accusing him of being a foolish , timid old boy .