two o’clock in the morning
This was , however , a mere conjecture , and I did not dare affirm it as a fact . The Russian officer came back with a brace of pistols , after having been absent about half an hour . We saw him load them with powder and ball . It was almost two o'clock in the morning when the sorcerer came and announced that all was prepared . Before we entered the room he desired us to take off our shoes , and to appear in our shirts , stockings , and under-garments . He bolted the doors after us as before . We found in the middle of the room a large , black circle , drawn with charcoal , the space within which was capable of containing us all very easily .