Sometimes later I heard footsteps on the porch and I came up out of
my slumbers. It was Meehan coming home, at last, I figured. Just for
the hell of it, I opened my eyes and glanced at the luminous dial of
my watch. Ten minutes to five. Meehan had really made a night of it, I
thought. I settled back on my pillow and screwed my eyes tight shut.
The door of my room began slowly to open.