Three o'clock in the morning
I remember last year -- '' He pushed a large pearl pin more deeply into his speckled tie and began a story that proved chiefly how luxuriously he traveled . His eyes tried to draw the whole end of the table into his circle , but while the Armenian listened politely , with smiles and bows , Dr. Stahl turned to the Irishman again . It Vas the year of Halley 's comet and he began talking interestingly about it . '' ... Three o'clock in the morning -- any morning , yes -- is the best time , '' the doctor concluded , `` and I 'll have you called . You must see it through my telescope . End of this week , say , after we leave Catania and turn eastwards ... '' And at this instant , following a roar of laughter from the Captain 's table , came one of those abrupt pauses that sometimes catch an entire room at once . All voices hushed .