four o'clock in the morning
In the lower ranges of humour William Adolphus sometimes understood one . I declined his offer of company over a cigar , but bade him good-night with a mild gratitude ; he desired to be pleasant to us all , and the realization of his ambition presented difficulties . I was very tired and fell into a deep sleep almost the moment I was in bed . At four o'clock in the morning I awoke . My fatigue seemed gone ; I did not think of sleeping again . The events of the day before came back to me with an extraordinary vividness of impression , the outcome of nerves strained to an unhealthy sensitiveness . It would have needed but a little self-delusion , a little yielding to the current of my thoughts , to make me see Hammerfeldt by my bed .