four in the morning
`` What if it be _ I _ that haunt _ him _ , and not he me , after all ? '' he thought . However , Velchaninoff ate up his dinner , and then drove off to pounce upon the town councillor at the latter 's house , if he could . The councillor was not in ; and he was informed that he would scarcely be at home before three or four in the morning , because he had gone to a `` name 's - day party . '' Velchaninoff felt that this was too bad ! In his rage he determined to follow and hunt the fellow up at the party : he actually took a droshky , and started off with that wild idea ; but luckily he thought better of it on the way , got out of the vehicle and walked away towards the `` Great Theatre , '' near which he lived . He felt that he must have motion ; also he _ must _ absolutely sleep well this coming night : in order to sleep he must be tired ; so he walked all the way home -- a fairly long walk , and arrived there about half-past ten , as tired as he could wish .