four o'clock
Unfortunately , this long-sought happiness was to endure but for a day . The very next afternoon after the just described , all the prisoners were assembled in the main hall . It was the last of December , and night comes quickly in winter . It was only four o'clock , and already the gathering twilight warned the prisoners that the hour for returning to their cells was fast approaching . Suddenly there was a movement in the crowd . The prisoners nearest the door pushed against those who were further away , and soon they found themselves ranged along the wall , while a large vacant space was left in the centre of the room . A man had just entered .