three o'clock
She fixed her eyes on the high moon and said as if in prayer , `` Ellen ... . Ellen ... '' There sounded , in the recesses of the house , the ping of an electric bell . She looked at the clock by her bedside . It was three o'clock . She said to herself , with that air of irony which people to whom many strange things have happened assume when they fear that yet another is approaching , so that they shall not flatter Fate by their perturbation , `` It 's late for anyone to call . '' But the ping sounded again ; and then the thud of blows upon the door . She cried out , `` Ah , yes ! ''