2 A.M.
He recognized that another day in a great city was fairly on , and that the thousands were in motion while he lay listless . He forgot the sounds and thought about himself . He acknowledged , though with a certain lenience of judgment , the absurdity of being where he was . He should have shown more resolve , he admitted , at 2 A.M. , and have gone to his lodgings , a mile or so away . But he had been doing good work the night before ; that , at least , should , he felt , be counted to his credit . Payne had come on from Washington with a duty of moment to perform , and had called upon Markham to assist him . Years had passed since they had worked together and it was a pleasure to renew the combination .