Midnight
In Liza 's apartment a candle was burning behind the white blind , and in Marfa Timofeevna 's bed-room glowed the red flame of the small lamp hanging in front of the sacred picture , on the gilded cover of which it was reflected in steady light . Down below , the door leading on to the balcony gaped wide open . Lavretsky sat down on a wooden bench , rested his head on his hand , and began looking at that door , and at Liza 's window . Midnight sounded in the town ; in the house a little clock feebly struck twelve . The watchman beat the hour with quick strokes on his board . Lavretsky thought of nothing , expected nothing . It was pleasant to him to feel himself near Liza , to sit in her garden , and on the bench where she also often sat .