eight o'clock
While he dressed himself in the hired suit , which was too large here , too small there , he laid a plan of action for the evening . Since it had to be gone through with , it must be carried off in a highhanded way . He would do what he could to make her presence in the hall seem natural ; he would be attentive , without devoting himself wholly to her ; and he would induce her to leave early . He called for her at eight o'clock . The landlady said that Fraulein was not quite ready , and told him to wait in the passage . But the door of the room was ajar , and Louise herself called to him to come in . It was comparatively dark ; for she had the lamp behind the screen , where he heard her moving about .