nearly three o'clock
`` Surely you have , if he 's behaving foolishly , to his own harm . But what do you call terrific work ? '' `` All day long , and goodness knows how much of the night . Somebody told us his light had been seen burning once at nearly three o'clock . '' `` Is he at it now ? '' asked Irene , with a comical look towards the ceiling . They explained Otway 's absence .