three in the morning
Fandor hailed a taxi , and ordered the chauffeur to drive to the Place Pigalle . As he was shutting the door , he observed an old beggar , who evidently was afraid to ask for alms . Fandor threw him a coin as the taxi started . It was three in the morning , and the Place Pigalle was crowded with carriages , porters and a constant ebb and flow of all sorts of people . The journalist and his companion emerged some time later from one of the best known restaurants , both drunk , especially the stranger , who could scarcely keep his feet . `` Look here , we must go ... go ... '' `` Go to bed , '' interrupted Fandor . `` No .