eleven o'clock
Again , Potapitch told me that there were three occasions on which she really began to win ; but that , led on by false hopes , she was unable to tear herself away at the right moment . Every gambler knows how a person may sit a day and a night at cards without ever casting a glance to right or to left . Meanwhile , that day some other very important events were passing in our hotel . As early as eleven o'clock -- that is to say , before the Grandmother had quitted her rooms -- the General and De Griers decided upon their last stroke . In other words , on learning that the old lady had changed her mind about departing , and was bent on setting out for the Casino again , the whole of our gang -LRB- Polina only excepted -RRB- proceeded en masse to her rooms , for the purpose of finally and frankly treating with her . But the General , quaking and greatly apprehensive as to his possible future , overdid things . After half an hour 's prayers and entreaties , coupled with a full confession of his debts , and even of his passion for Mlle. Blanche -LRB- yes , he had quite lost his head -RRB- , he suddenly adopted a tone of menace , and started to rage at the old lady -- exclaiming that she was sullying the family honour , that she was making a public scandal of herself , and that she was smirching the fair name of Russia .