twelve o’clock
Then there was his other self , in the distance , doing things , entering stuff in a ledger , and he watched that far-off him carefully to see he made no mistake . But the ache and strain of it could not go on much longer . He worked incessantly . Still it was only twelve o'clock . As if he had nailed his clothing against the desk , he stood there and worked , forcing every stroke out of himself . It was a quarter to one ; he could clear away . Then he ran downstairs .