three o'clock at night
It was only on these occasions that I could gauge the full sweetness of a flunkey 's life . Standing for four or five hours at the door , watching that no one 's glass should be empty , changing the ash-trays , running to the table to pick up the chalk or a card when it was dropped , and , above all , standing , waiting , being attentive without venturing to speak , to cough , to smile -- is harder , I assure you , is harder than the hardest of field labour . I have stood on watch at sea for four hours at a stretch on stormy winter nights , and to my thinking it is an infinitely easier duty . They used to play cards till two , sometimes till three o'clock at night , and then , stretching , they would go into the dining-room to supper , or , as Orlov said , for a snack of something . At supper there was conversation . It usually began by Orlov 's speaking with laughing eyes of some acquaintance , of some book he had lately been reading , of a new appointment or Government scheme . Kukushkin , always ingratiating , would fall into his tone , and what followed was to me , in my mood at that time , a revolting exhibition .