three o'clock in the morning
For he had seen Desmond grow up from infancy to manhood , and had prepared him for the Sacraments . His downfall had been a calamity ; his return to the Faith would mean a triumph over the powers of evil . Thus did the car rush through the night , its bright headlights picking out the road in front of it ; blackness around ; the horn now sounding its deep note as they dashed past a township , while Father Healy was praying for the sick man in Melbourne . It was three o'clock in the morning when the car entered the sleeping city , where darkness and quiet held possession . Here and there a light shone from a window , telling its tale of sickness ; now and again they passed a night wanderer or policeman ; but Melbourne lay in placid sleep , reinvigorating itself for the busy day . In the flat Denis Quirk was sitting in an armchair anxiously expecting the sound of the motor . His quick ears heard it as it came up Collins Street , and he was at the door to admit Father Healy .