one in the morning
Meanwhile , he thrust Akulina 's letter into his pocket , reflecting that as it was a forgery it would be best that the Count should not have it , lest he should be again misled by the contents . He sat down and waited . Nothing happened . The clocks chimed the quarters up to one in the morning , a quarter-past , half-past -- Schmidt was growing sleepy . The Count breathed regularly and lay in his bed without moving . Then , at last , the Cossack rose , looked at his friend once more , blew out the lamp , felt his way to the door and left the room . As he walked home through the quiet streets he swore that he would take vengeance upon Akulina , by producing the letter and reading it in her husband 's presence , and before the assembled establishment , before the Count made his appearance .