about ten o'clock
Then the General returned to the room he had quitted , spread out the document in front of him , sat down over it , supported his head in his hands , and for a long , long time struggled with oppressive and wearying thoughts . `` Who is at home here ? '' inquired a strong sonorous voice at the door of the headsman 's dwelling , and immediately afterwards a shape huddled up in a grey mantle passed through the kitchen door . By the hearth were sitting Ivan and the woman of the house , it was a dark tempestuous night outside ; it might have been about ten o'clock and every door was closed . The youth and the woman gazed stupidly at the stranger and said nothing . `` Who is at home here ? '' repeated he , drawing nearer to the fire , in whose flickering light his smooth handsome young face seemed transparent with its sharply defined eyebrows , soft but masterful lips and courageous eagle eyes which gazed fixedly before them .