four o'clock
The soft spring air seemed to awake , as though it had itself been sleeping through the still night and must busy itself now in sending the sweet breezes upon their errands to the flowers . `` I always thought it would come in spring , '' thought the Count , as he listened to the pleasant sounds , and then held one of his yellow hands up to the window to feel the freshness that was without . He wondered how long it would be before Fischelowitz would come and tell the truth of the Gigerl 's story . By his knowledge of the time of daybreak , he guessed that it was not yet much past four o'clock , and he doubted whether Fischelowitz would come before eight . The tobacconist was a kind man , but a comfortable one , loving his rest and his breakfast and his ease at all times . Moreover , as the Count knew better than any one else , Akulina would be rejoiced to hear of the misadventure which had befallen her enemy and would in no way hurry her husband upon his mission of justice . She would doubtless consume an unusual amount of time in the preparation of his coffee , she would presumably tell him that the milkman had not appeared punctually , and would probably assert that there were as yet no rolls to be had .