Eleven o'clock
`` It 's better to go ! '' he exclaimed at last , after long hours of conflicting meditation . It was getting late in the evening . Eleven o'clock had struck , and he thought he would go to bed . He was very tired and worn out , and decided to put off further questions till the next day . After all , there was no hurry . He knew the worst now ; the blow had been struck , and only the dull , unending pain was with him -- and would be till the hour came when he should free himself from it .