six o’clock
Throughout Nozdrev 's maunderings Chichikov had been rubbing his eyes to ascertain whether or not he was dreaming . What with the charge of being a forger , the accusation of having schemed an abduction , the death of the Public Prosecutor -LRB- whatever might have been its cause -RRB- , and the advent of a new Governor-General , he felt utterly dismayed . `` Things having come to their present pass , '' he reflected , `` I had better not linger here -- I had better be off at once . '' Getting rid of Nozdrev as soon as he could , he sent for Selifan , and ordered him to be up at daybreak , in order to clean the britchka and to have everything ready for a start at six o'clock . Yet , though Selifan replied , `` Very well , Paul Ivanovitch , '' he hesitated awhile by the door . Next , Chichikov bid Petrushka get out the dusty portmanteau from under the bed , and then set to work to cram into it , pell-mell , socks , shirts , collars -LRB- both clean and dirty -RRB- , boot trees , a calendar , and a variety of other articles . Everything went into the receptacle just as it came to hand , since his one object was to obviate any possible delay in the morning 's departure .