eight in the
morning
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 . The immediate consequence of these spiteful fictions would be that Fischelowitz would dress himself very leisurely , swallowing the smoke of several cigarettes in the meanwhile , and that he would hardly be clothed , fed and out of the house before eight in the morning , instead of being on the way to the shop at seven as was his usual practice . But the Count was not at all disturbed by this . The persons whose coming he expected were not of the class who pay visits at eight o'clock . It was as pleasant to sit still and think of the glorious things in the future , as to do anything else , until the great moment came .