nine o’clock
All his companions were very fond of him , excepting myself . He had several times during those years come up to me and tried to make friends ; but I had always turned sulkily away and refused to have anything to do with him . I had not seen him for a whole year now ; he was at the university . When , at nine o'clock , or so , this evening , I arrived and was shown up to him with great ceremony , he first received me with astonishment , and not too affably , but he soon cheered up , and suddenly gazed intently at me and burst out laughing . ``` Why , what on earth can have possessed you to come and see _ me _ , Terentieff ? ' he cried , with his usual pleasant , sometimes audacious , but never offensive familiarity , which I liked in reality , but for which I also detested him . ` Why what 's the matter ? '