eight o'clock
He reached home toward evening , perhaps at about eight o'clock -- how , and by what particular way he never recollected -- but , speedily undressing , he lay down on the couch , trembling like a beaten horse , and , drawing his overcoat over him , he fell immediately into a deep sleep . He awoke in a high fever and delirious . Some days later he came to himself , rose and went out . It was eight o'clock , and the sun had disappeared . The heat was as intolerable as before , but he inhaled the dusty , fetid , infected town air with greediness . And now his head began to spin round , and a wild expression of energy crept into his inflamed eyes and pale , meager , wan face . He did not know , did not even think , what he was going to do ; he only knew that all was to be finished `` to-day , '' at one blow , immediately , or he would never return home , because he had no desire to live thus .