nine o'clock in the morning
It seemed that he had got himself into a worse scrape than he could estimate . He wasted no time in examining his prison with an eye to the possibility of an escape , but it became very quickly evident that he was securely trapped . From the windows he could not see even a water-pipe within hail , and the door was unburstably ponderous . Besides , a gentleman attired either in pajamas or evening dress will naturally shrink from flight across country at nine o'clock in the morning . It seemed to the Count that he was as well in bed as anywhere else , and upon this opinion he acted . In about an hour 's time the door was cautiously unlocked , and a tray , containing some breakfast , laid upon the floor ; but at the same time he was permitted to see that a cordon of grooms and keepers guarded against his flight . He showed a wonderful appetite , all circumstances considered , smoked a couple of cigars , and at last decided upon getting up and donning his evening clothes .