nine o'clock in the morning
At last he entered the cabinet , felt behind the tapestry for the door , and then began to descend the dark staircase , filled with strange emotions . `` Down this very staircase , '' thought he , `` perhaps coming from the very same room , and at this very same hour sixty years ago , there may have glided , in an embroidered coat , with his hair dressed a l'oiseau royal , and pressing to his heart his three-cornered hat , some young gallant who has long been mouldering in the grave , but the heart of his aged mistress has only today ceased to beat . '' At the bottom of the staircase Hermann found a door , which he opened with a key , and then traversed a corridor which conducted him into the street . Three days after the fatal night , at nine o'clock in the morning , Hermann repaired to the Convent of ----- , where the last honors were to be paid to the mortal remains of the old Countess . Although feeling no remorse , he could not altogether stifle the voice of conscience , which said to him : `` You are the murderer of the old woman ! '' In spite of his entertaining very little religious belief , he was exceedingly superstitions ; and believing that the dead Countess might exercise an evil influence on his life , he resolved to be present at her obsequies in order to implore her pardon . The church was full .