ten o’clock
It was between eight and nine miles to the station . Dr. B. O. Mozelweiser 's hydropathic establishment worked on New Year 's Day exactly as on ordinary days ; the only difference was that the porter , Andrey Hrisanfitch , had on a uniform with new braiding , his boots had an extra polish , and he greeted every visitor with `` A Happy New Year to you ! '' It was the morning ; Andrey Hrisanfitch was standing at the door , reading the newspaper . Just at ten o'clock there arrived a general , one of the habitual visitors , and directly after him the postman ; Andrey Hrisanfitch helped the general off with his great-coat , and said : `` A Happy New Year to your Excellency ! '' `` Thank you , my good fellow ; the same to you . '' And at the top of the stairs the general asked , nodding towards the door -LRB- he asked the same question every day and always forgot the answer -RRB- : `` And what is there in that room ? '' `` The massage room , your Excellency . ''