But this noise was too continuous, too insistent, too imperative to be ignored.

There was some active intelligence behind that ceaseless sound; and some stress or need behind the intelligence.

I was not altogether selfish, and at the thought of someone's need I was, without premeditation, out of bed.
Instinctively I looked at my watch.

It was just three o'clock; there was a faint edging of grey round the green blind which darkened my room.

It was evident that the knocking and ringing were at the door of our own house; and it was evident, too, that there was no one awake to answer the call.