four o'clock
`` Other people are asleep while I ... I alone must work ! '' Shattered and exhausted he goes , with his head on one side , to the bedroom to wake his wife , and says in a languid voice : `` Nadya , get me some more tea ! I ... feel weak . '' He writes till four o'clock and would readily have written till six if his subject had not been exhausted . Coquetting and posing to himself and the inanimate objects about him , far from any indiscreet , critical eye , tyrannizing and domineering over the little anthill that fate has put in his power are the honey and the salt of his existence . And how different is this despot here at home from the humble , meek , dull-witted little man we are accustomed to see in the editor 's offices ! `` I am so exhausted that I am afraid I sha n't sleep ... '' he says as he gets into bed .