twelve o’clock
He wanted to take leave of the host ; but they would not let him go , saying that he must not fail to drink a glass of champagne in honour of his new garment . In the course of an hour , supper , consisting of vegetable salad , cold veal , pastry , confectioner 's pies , and champagne , was served . They made Akakiy Akakievitch drink two glasses of champagne , after which he felt things grow livelier . Still , he could not forget that it was twelve o'clock , and that he should have been at home long ago . In order that the host might not think of some excuse for detaining him , he stole out of the room quickly , sought out , in the ante-room , his cloak , which , to his sorrow , he found lying on the floor , brushed it , picked off every speck upon it , put it on his shoulders , and descended the stairs to the street . In the street all was still bright . Some petty shops , those permanent clubs of servants and all sorts of folk , were open .