about midnight
Here the conference ended . Nekhludoff repeated his offer , telling the peasants to consult the wish of the community , before giving their answer . The peasants said that they would do so , took leave of Nekhludoff and departed in a state of excitement . For a long time their loud voices were heard , and finally died away about midnight . * * * * * The peasants did not work the following day , but discussed their master 's proposition . The community was divided into two factions . One declared the proposition profitable and safe ; the other saw in the proposition a plot which it feared the more because it could not understand it .