three
o'clock
The daily paper lay on a stool at his hand . He took it up and tried to read , but the print swam into thin , black smudges . He dashed the paper to the ground , and gave himself up to his madness . After a while he remembered his appointment with Katherine at three o'clock . He glanced at his watch . It was a quarter to the hour , and , beyond a cleaning yesterday afternoon , no preparations were made . In an automatic way he unlocked some cases and drew out his treasures , wiped the sword-blades tenderly with chamois leather , and laid them on the long , baize-covered table .