a hero of our time-第21节

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ore　sensible。　　From　that　moment　we　singled　each　other　out　amongst　the　crowd。　　We　used　frequently　to　meet　and　discuss　abstract　subjects　in　a　very　serious　manner；　until　each　observed　that　the　other　was　throwing　dust　in　his　eyes。　　Then；　looking　significantly　at　each　other　　as；　according　to　Cicero；　the　Roman　augurs　used　to　do　　we　would　burst　out　laughing　heartily　and；　having　had　our　laugh；　we　would　separate；　well　content　with　our　evening。

I　was　lying　on　a　couch；　my　eyes　fixed　upon　the　ceiling　and　my　hands　clasped　behind　my　head；　when　Werner　entered　my　room。　　He　sat　down　in　an　easy　chair；　placed　his　cane　in　a　corner；　yawned；　and　announced　that　it　was　getting　hot　out　of　doors。　　I　replied　that　the　flies　were　bothering　me　　and　we　both　fell　silent。

〃Observe；　my　dear　doctor；〃　I　said；　〃that；　but　for　fools；　the　world　would　be　a　very　dull　place。　Look！　　Here　are　you　and　I；　both　sensible　men！　We　know　beforehand　that　it　is　possible　to　dispute　ad　infinitum　about　everything　　and　so　we　do　not　dispute。　　Each　of　us　knows　almost　all　the　other's　secret　thoughts：　to　us　a　single　word　is　a　whole　history；　we　see　the　grain　of　every　one　of　our　feelings　through　a　threefold　husk。　　What　is　sad；　we　laugh　at；　what　is　laughable；　we　grieve　at；　but；　to　tell　the　truth；　we　are　fairly　indifferent；　generally　speaking；　to　everything　except　our…　selves。　　Consequently；　there　can　be　no　inter…　change　of　feelings　and　thoughts　between　us；　each　of　us　knows　all　he　cares　to　know　about　the　other；　and　that　knowledge　is　all　he　wants。　　One　expedient　remains　　to　tell　the　news。　　So　tell　me　some　news。〃

Fatigued　by　this　lengthy　speech；　I　closed　my　eyes　and　yawned。　　The　doctor　answered　after　thinking　awhile：

〃There　is　an　idea；　all　the　same；　in　that　non…　sense　of　yours。〃

〃Two；〃　I　replied。

〃Tell　me　one；　and　I　will　tell　you　the　other。〃

〃Very　well；　begin！〃　I　said；　continuing　to　examine　the　ceiling　and　smiling　inwardly。

〃You　are　anxious　for　information　about　some　of　the　new…comers　here；　and　I　can　guess　who　it　is；　because　they；　for　their　part；　have　already　been　inquiring　about　you。〃

〃Doctor！　　Decidedly　it　is　impossible　for　us　to　hold　a　conversation！　　We　read　into　each　other's　soul。〃

〃Now　the　other　idea？〃　。　。　。

〃Here　it　is：　I　wanted　to　make　you　relate　something；　for　the　following　reasons：　firstly；　listening　is　less　fatiguing　than　talking；　secondly；　the　listener　cannot　commit　himself；　thirdly；　he　can　learn　another's　secret；　fourthly；　sensible　people；　such　as　you；　prefer　listeners　to　speakers。　Now　to　business；　what　did　Princess　Ligovski　tell　you　about　me？〃

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　it　was　Princess　Ligovski　。　。　。　and　not　Princess　Mary？〃　。　。　。

〃Quite　sure。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　Princess　Mary　inquired　about　Grush…　nitski。〃

〃You　are　gifted　with　a　fine　imagination！　Princess　Mary　said　that　she　was　convinced　that　the　young　man　in　the　soldier's　cloak　had　been　reduced　to　the　ranks　on　account　of　a　duel〃　。　。　。

〃I　hope　you　left　her　cherishing　that　pleasant　delusion〃　。　。　。

〃Of　course〃　。　。　。

〃A　plot！〃　I　exclaimed　in　rapture。　　〃We　will　make　it　our　business　to　see　to　the　denouement　of　this　little　comedy。　　It　is　obvious　that　fate　is　taking　care　that　I　shall　not　be　bored！〃

〃I　have　a　presentiment；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃that　poor　Grushnitski　will　be　your　victim。〃

〃Proceed；　doctor。〃

〃Princess　Ligovski　said　that　your　face　was　familiar　to　her。　　I　observed　that　she　had　probably　met　you　in　Petersburg　　somewhere　in　society。　。　。　I　told　her　your　name。　　She　knew　it　well。　　It　appears　that　your　history　created　a　great　stir　there。　。　。　She　began　to　tell　us　of　your　adventures；　most　likely　supplementing　the　gossip　of　society　with　observations　of　her　own。　。　。　　Her　daughter　listened　with　curiosity。　　In　her　imagination　you　have　be…　come　the　hero　of　a　novel　in　a　new　style。　。　。　　I　did　not　contradict　Princess　Ligovski；　although　I　knew　that　she　was　talking　nonsense。〃

〃Worthy　friend！〃　I　said；　extending　my　hand　to　him。

The　doctor　pressed　it　feelingly　and　continued：

〃If　you　like　I　will　present　you〃　。　。　。

〃Good　heavens！〃　I　said；　clapping　my　hands。　〃Are　heroes　ever　presented？　　In　no　other　way　do　they　make　the　acquaintance　of　their　beloved　than　by　saving　her　from　certain　death！〃　。　。　。

〃And　you　really　wish　to　court　Princess　Mary？〃

〃Not　at　all；　far　from　it！　。　。　。　　Doctor；　I　triumph　at　last！　　You　do　not　understand　me！　。　。　。　It　vexes　me；　however；〃　I　continued　after　a　moment's　silence。　　〃I　never　reveal　my　secrets　myself；　but　I　am　exceedingly　fond　of　their　being　guessed；　because　in　that　way　I　can　always　disavow　them　upon　occasion。　　However；　you　must　describe　both　mother　and　daughter　to　me。　　What　sort　of　people　are　they？〃

〃In　the　first　place；　Princess　Ligovski　is　a　woman　of　forty…five；〃　answered　Werner。　　〃She　has　a　splendid　digestion；　but　her　blood　is　out　of　order　　there　are　red　spots　on　her　cheeks。　　She　has　spent　the　latter　half　of　her　life　in　Moscow；　and　has　grown　stout　from　leading　an　inactive　life　there。　　She　loves　spicy　stories；　and　sometimes　says　improper　things　herself　when　her　daughter　is　out　of　the　room。　　She　has　declared　to　me　that　her　daughter　is　as　innocent　as　a　dove。　　What　does　that　matter　to　me？　。　。　。　　I　was　going　to　answer　that　she　might　be　at　her　ease；　because　I　would　never　tell　anyone。　　Princess　Ligovski　is　taking　the　cure　for　her　rheumatism；　and　the　daughter；　for　goodness　knows　what。　　I　have　ordered　each　of　them　to　drink　two　tumblers　a　day　of　sulphurous　water；　and　to　bathe　twice　a　week　in　the　diluted　bath。　　Princess　Ligovski　is　apparently　unac…　customed　to　giving　orders。　　She　cherishes　respect　for　the　intelligence　and　attainments　of　her　daughter；　who　has　read　Byron　in　English　and　knows　algebra：　in　Moscow；　evidently；　the　ladies　have　entered　upon　the　paths　of　erudition　　and　a　good　thing；　too！　　The　men　here　are　generally　so　unamiable；　that；　for　a　clever　woman；　it　must　be　intolerable　to　flirt　with　them。　　Princess　Ligovski　is　very　fond　of　young　people；　Princess　Mary　looks　on　them　with　a　certain　contempt　　a　Moscow　habit！　　In　Moscow　they　cherish　only　wits　of　not　less　than　forty。〃

〃You　have　been　in　Moscow；　doctor？〃

〃Yes；　I　had　a　practice　there。〃

〃Continue。〃

〃But　I　think　I　have　told　everything。　。　。　No；　there　is　something　else：　Princess　Mary；　it　seems；　loves　to　discuss　emotions；　passions；　etcetera。　She　was　in　Petersburg　for　one　winter；　and　disliked　it　　especially　the　society：　no　doubt　she　was　coldly　received。〃

〃You　have　not　seen　anyone　with　them　to…　day？〃

〃On　the　contrary；　there　was　an　aide…de…camp；　a　stiff　guardsman；　and　a　lady　　one　of　the　latest　arrivals；　a　relation　of　Princess　Ligovski　on　the　husband's　side　　very　pretty；　but　apparently　very　ill。　。　。　　Have　you　not　met　her　at　the　well？　She　is　of　medium　height；　fair；　with　regular　features；　she　has　the　complexion　of　a　con…　sumptive；　and　there　is　a　little　black　mole　on　her　right　cheek。　　I　was　struck　by　the　expressiveness　of　her　face。〃

〃A　mole！〃　I　muttered　through　my　teeth。　〃Is　it　possible？〃

The　doctor　looked　at　me；　and；　laying　his　hand　on　my　heart；　said　triumphantly：

〃You　know　her！〃

My　heart　was；　in　fact；　beating　more　violently　than　usual。

〃It　is　your　turn；　now；　to　triumph；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　rely　on　you：　you　will　not　betray　me。　I　have　not　seen　her　yet；　but　I　am　convinced　that　I　recognise　from　your　portrait　a　woman　whom　I　loved　in　the　old　days。　。　。　　Do　not　speak　a　word　to　her　about　me；　if　she　asks　any　questions；　give　a　bad　report　of　me。〃

〃Be　it　so！〃　said　Werner；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

When　he　had　departed；　my　heart　was　com…　pressed　with　terrible　grief。　　Has　destiny　brought　us　together　again　in　the　Caucasus；　or　has　she　come　hither　on　purpose；　knowing　that　she　would　meet　me？　。　。　。　　And　how　shall　we　meet？　。　。　。　　And　then；　is　it　she？　。　。　。　　My　presentiments　have　never　deceived　me。　　There　is　not　a　man　in　the　world　over　whom　the　past　has　acquired　such　a　power　as　over　me。　　Every　recollection　of　bygone　grief　or　joy　strikes　my　soul　with　morbid　effect；　and　draws　forth　ever　the　same　sounds。　。　。　　I　am　stupidly　constituted：　I　forget　nothing　　no…　thing！

After　dinner；　about　six　o'clock；　I　went　on　to　the　boulevard。　　It　was　crowded。　　The　two　princesses　were　sitting　on　a　bench；　surrounded　by　young　men；　who　were　vying　with　each　other　in　paying　them　attention。　　I　took　up　my　position　on　another　bench　at　a　little　distance　off；　stopped　two　Dragoon　officers　whom　I　knew；　and　proceeded　to　tell　them　something。　　Evidently　it　was　amusing；　because　they　began　to　laugh　loudly　like　a　couple　of　mad…　men。　　Some　of　those　who　were　surrounding　Princess　Mary　were　attracted　to　my　side　by　curiosity；　and　gradually　all　of　them　left　her　and　joined　my　circle。　　I　did　not　stop　talking；　my　anecdotes　were　clever　to　the　point　of　absurdity；　my　jests　at　the　expense　of　the　queer　people　passing　by；　malicious　to　the　point　of　frenzy。　　I　continued　to　entertain　the　public　till　sunset。　Princess　Mary　passed　by　me　a　few　times；　arm…in…　arm　with　her　mother；　and　accompanied　by　a　certain　lame　old　man。　　A　few　times　her　glance　as　it　fell　upon　me　expressed　vexation；　while　en…　deavouring　to　express　indifference。　。　。

〃What　has　he　been　telling　you？〃　she　in…　quired　of　one　of　the　young　men；　who　had　gone　back　to　her　out　of　politeness。　　〃No　doubt　a　most　interesting　story　　his　own　exploits　in　battle？〃　。　。　。

This　was　said　rather　loudly；　and　probably　with　th