about nine
o’clock
And his departure certainly was sudden . Though Ivan had said the day before -LRB- to Katerina Ivanovna , Alyosha , and Smerdyakov -RRB- that he was leaving next day , yet he remembered that he had no thought of departure when he went to bed , or , at least , had not dreamed that his first act in the morning would be to pack his trunk . At last his trunk and bag were ready . It was about nine o'clock when Marfa Ignatyevna came in with her usual inquiry , `` Where will your honor take your tea , in your own room or downstairs ? '' He looked almost cheerful , but there was about him , about his words and gestures , something hurried and scattered . Greeting his father affably , and even inquiring specially after his health , though he did not wait to hear his answer to the end , he announced that he was starting off in an hour to return to Moscow for good , and begged him to send for the horses . His father heard this announcement with no sign of surprise , and forgot in an unmannerly way to show regret at losing him .