about eleven o’clock
They were in no hurry to marry . They liked good society , but were not too keen about it . All this was the more remarkable , because everyone was well aware of the hopes and aims of their parents . It was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon when the prince rang the bell at General Epanchin 's door . The general lived on the first floor or flat of the house , as modest a lodging as his position permitted . A liveried servant opened the door , and the prince was obliged to enter into long explanations with this gentleman , who , from the first glance , looked at him and his bundle with grave suspicion . At last , however , on the repeated positive assurance that he really was Prince Muishkin , and must absolutely see the general on business , the bewildered domestic showed him into a little ante-chamber leading to a waiting-room that adjoined the general 's study , there handing him over to another servant , whose duty it was to be in this ante-chamber all the morning , and announce visitors to the general .