seven o’clock in the morning
Schmucke , left alone in the room , smiled to himself like a madman free at last to gratify a desire like the longing of pregnancy . He flung himself down beside Pons , and yet again he held his friend in a long , close embrace . At midnight the priest came back and scolded him , and Schmucke returned to his prayers . At daybreak the priest went , and at seven o'clock in the morning the doctor came to see Schmucke , and spoke kindly and tried hard to persuade him to eat , but the German refused . `` If you do not eat now you will feel very hungry when you come back , '' the doctor told him , `` for you must go to the mayor 's office and take a witness with you , so that the registrar may issue a certificate of death . '' `` _ I _ must go ! '' cried Schmucke in frightened tones .