two o’clock
But no preparations whatsoever had been made for the guest 's reception , for on some wooden trestles in the centre of the dining-room a couple of peasants were engaged in whitewashing the ceiling and drawling out an endless song as they splashed their stuff about the floor . Hastily bidding peasants and trestles to be gone , Nozdrev departed to another room with further instructions . Indeed , so audible was the sound of his voice as he ordered dinner that Chichikov -- who was beginning to feel hungry once more -- was enabled to gather that it would be at least five o'clock before a meal of any kind would be available . On his return , Nozdrev invited his companions to inspect his establishment -- even though as early as two o'clock he had to announce that nothing more was to be seen . The tour began with a view of the stables , where the party saw two mares -LRB- the one a grey , and the other a roan -RRB- and a colt ; which latter animal , though far from showy , Nozdrev declared to have cost him ten thousand roubles . `` You NEVER paid ten thousand roubles for the brute ! '' exclaimed the brother-in-law .