four o'clock in the morning
Giovanni had never believed himself in love before . He had known one or two women who had attracted him strongly ; but he had soon found out that he had no real sympathy with them , that though they amused him they had no charm for him -- most of all , that he could not imagine himself tied to any one of them for life without conceiving the situation horrible in the extreme . To his independent nature the idea of such ties was repugnant : he knew himself too courteous to break through the civilities of life with a wife he did not love ; but he knew also that in marrying a woman who was indifferent to him , he would be engaging to play a part for life in the most fearful of all plays -- the part of a man who strives to bear bravely the galling of a chain he is too honourable to break . It was four o'clock in the morning when Giovanni went to bed ; and even then he slept little , for his dreams were disturbed . Once he thought he stood upon a green lawn with a sword in his hand , and the blood upon its point , his opponent lying at his feet . Again , he thought he was alone in a vast drawing-room , and a dark woman came and spoke gently to him , saying , `` Marry her for my sake . '' He awoke with a groan .