ten o'clock in the evening
On leaving the anteroom , turn to the left , and walk straight on until you reach the Countess 's bedroom . In the bedroom , behind a screen , you will find two doors : the one on the right leads to a cabinet , which the Countess never enters ; the one on the left leads to a corridor , at the end of which is a little winding staircase ; this leads to my room . '' Hermann trembled like a tiger as he waited for the appointed time to arrive . At ten o'clock in the evening he was already in front of the Countess 's house . The weather was terrible ; the wind blew with great violence , the sleety snow fell in large flakes , the lamps emitted a feeble light , the streets were deserted ; from time to time a sledge drawn by a sorry-looking hack , passed by on the lookout for a belated passenger . Hermann was enveloped in a thick overcoat , and felt neither wind nor snow . At last the Countess 's carriage drew up .