midnight
Potapitch , you must come with me . Lift up the chair , and carry me along . '' I failed to find Mr. Astley , and returned home . It was now growing late -- it was past midnight , but I subsequently learnt from Potapitch how the Grandmother 's day had ended . She had lost all the money which , earlier in the day , I had got for her paper securities -- a sum amounting to about ten thousand roubles . This she did under the direction of the Pole whom , that afternoon , she had dowered with two ten-gulden pieces . But before his arrival on the scene , she had commanded Potapitch to stake for her ; until at length she had told him also to go about his business .