four o’clock in the morning
It was four o'clock in the morning when George Dupont closed the door and came down the steps to the street . The first faint streaks of dawn were in the sky , and he noticed this with annoyance , because he knew that his hair was in disarray and his whole aspect disorderly ; yet he dared not take a cab , because he feared to attract attention at home . When he reached the sidewalk , he glanced about him to make sure that no one had seen him leave the house , then started down the street , his eyes upon the sidewalk before him . George had the feeling of the morning after .