seven o'clock
Neither had he any feelings , for all his organs of receptivity had grown dulled . At night mice could be heard ; while through the empty , columned hall out of which his room opened , rats scurried , flopping about and tumbling down from the armchairs and tables . But the old man did not hear them . Vasilisa Vasena came every morning at seven o'clock ; she was a country-woman of about thirty seven , strong , healthy , red-faced , reminiscent of a July day in her floridness and vigorous health . She used to say quietly : `` Good morning to you , Ippolyte Ippolytovich . '' And he would give a base `` Eh ? '' in a voice like a worn-out gramophone record .