eleven o'clock
Lydia Constantinovna had arrived with Mintz the day before at dusk ; Ivanov was not at home . They had gone for a walk in the evening , returning only at two o'clock when dawn was just about to break , and a cold mist hung over the earth like a soft grey veil . They were met by barking dogs which were quickly silenced by the lash of Ignat 's whip . Ivanov had come home earlier , at eleven o'clock , and sat by his study window alone , listening to the gentle sounds of night and the ceaseless hootings of the owls in the park . Lydia Constantinovna did not come to him , nor did he go in to her . It was in the daytime that Ivanov first saw the artist . Mintz was sitting in the park on a dried turf-bench , and gazing intently at the river .