about nine o’clock
`` We are only laughing at the prince 's beautiful bows , mamma , '' said Adelaida . `` Sometimes he bows just like a meal-sack , but to-day he was like -- like Evgenie Pavlovitch ! '' `` It is the _ heart _ which is the best teacher of refinement and dignity , not the dancing-master , '' said her mother , sententiously , and departed upstairs to her own room , not so much as glancing at Aglaya . When the prince reached home , about nine o'clock , he found Vera Lebedeff and the maid on the verandah . They were both busy trying to tidy up the place after last night 's disorderly party . `` Thank goodness , we 've just managed to finish it before you came in ! '' said Vera , joyfully .