three in the morning
To and fro , to and fro , the dying man continued his direful walk . At one moment he paused and said with a ghastly smile , `` This dying is an old story . It has been going on every day for six thousand years , and yet we find it as terrible as ever . '' Toward three in the morning he threw open the shutters . The windows were still dark ; it seemed as if the dawn were far away . `` It is coming , '' he said calmly . `` I knew it must come soon .