nine o'clock
Our relations were quiet and peaceful , and we never had any misunderstanding . As a rule he did not notice my presence , and when he talked to me there was no expression of irony on his face -- he evidently did not look upon me as a human being . I only once saw him angry . One day -- it was a week after I had entered his service -- he came back from some dinner at nine o'clock ; his face looked ill-humoured and exhausted . When I followed him into his study to light the candles , he said to me : `` There 's a nasty smell in the flat . '' `` No , the air is fresh , '' I answered . `` I tell you , there 's a bad smell , '' he answered irritably .