two o'clock in the afternoon
The tramp remained crawling on his knees in the mud , looking for the notes which were blown about by the wind and soaking in the puddles , and for an hour after his spasmodic cries of `` Ech ! ech ! '' were still to be heard in the darkness . THE NEXT DAY , at two o'clock in the afternoon , the duel took place as arranged . Things were hastened forward by Gaganov 's obstinate desire to fight at all costs . He did not understand his adversary 's conduct , and was in a fury . For a whole month he had been insulting him with impunity , and had so far been unable to make him lose patience .