four o'clock
he thought . It was half past six and the hands were quietly moving forwards , it was even later than half past , more like quarter to seven . Had the alarm clock not rung ? He could see from the bed that it had been set for four o'clock as it should have been ; it certainly must have rung . Yes , but was it possible to quietly sleep through that furniture-rattling noise ? True , he had not slept peacefully , but probably all the more deeply because of that . What should he do now ?