a hero of our time-第24节

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glance　at　me。

Late　in　the　evening；　that　is　to　say；　about　eleven　o'clock；　I　went　for　a　walk　in　the　lilac　avenue　of　the　boulevard。　　The　town　was　sleeping；　lights　were　gleaming　in　only　a　few　windows。　　On　three　sides　loomed　the　black　ridges　of　the　cliffs；　the　spurs　of　Mount　Mashuk；　upon　the　summit　of　which　an　ominous　cloud　was　lying。　　The　moon　was　rising　in　the　east；　in　the　distance；　the　snow…clad　moun…　tains　glistened　like　a　fringe　of　silver。　　The　calls　of　the　sentries　mingled　at　intervals　with　the　roar　of　the　hot　springs　let　flow　for　the　night。　　At　times　the　loud　clattering　of　a　horse　rang　out　along　the　street；　accompanied　by　the　creaking　of　a　Nagai　wagon　and　the　plaintive　burden　of　a　Tartar　song。

I　sat　down　upon　a　bench　and　fell　into　a　reverie。　。　。　　I　felt　the　necessity　of　pouring　forth　my　thoughts　in　friendly　conversation。　。　。　　But　with　whom？　。　。　。

〃What　is　Vera　doing　now？〃　I　wondered。

I　would　have　given　much　to　press　her　hand　at　that　moment。

All　at　once　I　heard　rapid　and　irregular　steps。　。　。　　Grushnitski；　no　doubt！　。　。　。　　So　it　was！

〃Where　have　you　come　from？〃

〃From　Princess　Ligovski's；〃　he　said　very　importantly。　　〃How　well　Mary　does　sing！〃　。　。　。

〃Do　you　know？〃　I　said　to　him。　　〃I　wager　that　she　does　not　know　that　you　are　a　cadet。　　She　thinks　you　are　an　officer　reduced　to　the　ranks〃　。　。　。

〃Maybe　so。　　What　is　that　to　me！〃　。　。　。　he　said　absently。

〃No；　I　am　only　saying　so〃　。　。　。

〃But；　do　you　know　that　you　have　made　her　terribly　angry　to…day？　　She　considered　it　an　un…　heard…of　piece　of　insolence。　　It　was　only　with　difficulty　that　I　was　able　to　convince　her　that　you　are　so　well　bred　and　know　society　so　well　that　you　could　not　have　had　any　intention　of　insulting　her。　She　says　that　you　have　an　impudent　glance；　and　that　you　have　certainly　a　very　high　opinion　of　yourself。〃

〃She　is　not　mistaken。　。　。　　But　do　you　not　want　to　defend　her？〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　have　not　yet　the　right　to　do　so〃　。　。　。

〃Oho！〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃evidently　he　has　hopes　already。〃

〃However；　it　is　the　worse　for　you；〃　con…　tinued　Grushnitski；　〃it　will　be　difficult　for　you　to　make　their　acquaintance　now；　and　what　a　pity！　　It　is　one　of　the　most　agreeable　houses　I　know〃　。　。　。

I　smiled　inwardly。

〃The　most　agreeable　house　to　me　now　is　my　own；〃　I　said；　with　a　yawn；　and　I　got　up　to　go。

〃Confess；　though；　you　repent？〃　。　。　。

〃What　nonsense！　　If　I　like　I　will　be　at　Princess　Ligovski's　to…morrow　evening！〃　。　。　。

〃We　shall　see〃　。　。　。

〃I　will　even　begin　to　pay　my　addresses　to　Princess　Mary；　if　you　would　like　me　to〃　。　。　。

〃Yes；　if　she　is　willing　to　speak　to　you〃　。　。　。

〃I　am　only　awaiting　the　moment　when　she　will　be　bored　by　your　conversation。　。　。　　Good…　bye〃　。　。　。

〃Well；　I　am　going　for　a　stroll；　I　could　not　go　to　sleep　now　for　anything。　。　。　　Look　here；　let　us　go　to　the　restaurant　instead；　there　is　card…　playing　going　on　there。　。　。　　What　I　need　now　is　violent　sensations〃　。　。　。

〃I　hope　you　will　lose〃　。　。　。

I　went　home。



CHAPTER　IV

21st　May。

NEARLY　a　week　has　passed；　and　I　have　not　yet　made　the　Ligovskis'　acquaintance。　　I　am　awaiting　a　convenient　opportunity。　　Grushnitski　follows　Princess　Mary　everywhere　like　a　shadow。　Their　conversations　are　interminable；　but；　when　will　she　be　tired　of　him？　。　。　。　　Her　mother　pays　no　attention；　because　he　is　not　a　man　who　is　in　a　position　to　marry。　　Behold　the　logic　of　mothers！　　I　have　caught　two　or　three　tender　glances　　this　must　be　put　a　stop　to。

Yesterday；　for　the　first　time；　Vera　made　her　appearance　at　the　well。　。　。　　She　has　never　gone　out　of　doors　since　we　met　in　the　grotto。　　We　let　down　our　tumblers　at　the　same　time；　and　as　she　bent　forward　she　whispered　to　me：

〃You　are　not　going　to　make　the　Ligovskis'　acquaintance？　。　。　。　　It　is　only　there　that　we　can　meet〃　。　。　。

A　reproach！　。　。　。　　How　tiresome！　　But　I　have　deserved　it。　。　。

By　the　way；　there　is　a　subscription　ball　to…　morrow　in　the　saloon　of　the　restaurant；　and　I　will　dance　the　mazurka　with　Princess　Mary。



CHAPTER　V

29th　May。

THE　saloon　of　the　restaurant　was　converted　into　the　assembly　room　of　a　Nobles'　Club。　The　company　met　at　nine　o'clock。　　Princess　Ligovski　and　her　daughter　were　amongst　the　latest　to　make　their　appearance。　　Several　of　the　ladies　looked　at　Princess　Mary　with　envy　and　malevolence；　because　she　dresses　with　taste。　Those　who　look　upon　themselves　as　the　aris…　tocracy　of　the　place　concealed　their　envy　and　attached　themselves　to　her　train。　　What　else　could　be　expected？　　Wherever　there　is　a　gathering　of　women；　the　company　is　immediately　divided　into　a　higher　and　a　lower　circle。

Beneath　the　window；　amongst　a　crowd　of　people；　stood　Grushnitski；　pressing　his　face　to　the　pane　and　never　taking　his　eyes　off　his　divinity。　As　she　passed　by；　she　gave　him　a　hardly　per…　ceptible　nod。　　He　beamed　like　the　sun。　。　。　The　first　dance　was　a　polonaise；　after　which　the　musicians　struck　up　a　waltz。　　Spurs　began　to　jingle；　and　skirts　to　rise　and　whirl。

I　was　standing　behind　a　certain　stout　lady　who　was　overshadowed　by　rose…coloured　feathers。　The　magnificence　of　her　dress　reminded　me　of　the　times　of　the　farthingale；　and　the　motley　hue　of　her　by　no　means　smooth　skin；　of　the　happy　epoch　of　the　black　taffeta　patch。　　An　immense　wart　on　her　neck　was　covered　by　a　clasp。　　She　was　saying　to　her　cavalier；　a　captain　of　dragoons：

〃That　young　Princess　Ligovski　is　a　most　intolerable　creature！　　Just　fancy；　she　jostled　against　me　and　did　not　apologise；　but　even　turned　round　and　stared　at　me　through　her　lorgn…　ette！　。　。　。　　C'est　impayable！　。　。　。　　And　what　has　she　to　be　proud　of？　　It　is　time　somebody　gave　her　a　lesson〃　。　。　。

〃That　will　be　easy　enough；〃　replied　the　obliging　captain；　and　he　directed　his　steps　to　the　other　room。

I　went　up　to　Princess　Mary　immediately；　and；　availing　myself　of　the　local　customs　which　allowed　one　to　dance　with　a　stranger；　I　invited　her　to　waltz　with　me。

She　was　scarcely　able　to　keep　from　smiling　and　letting　her　triumph　be　seen；　but　quickly　enough　she　succeeded　in　assuming　an　air　of　perfect　indifference　and　even　severity。　　Carelessly　she　let　her　hand　fall　upon　my　shoulder；　inclined　her　head　slightly　to　one　side；　and　we　began　to　dance。　　I　have　never　known　a　waist　more　voluptuous　and　supple！　Her　fresh　breath　touched　my　face；　at　times　a　lock　of　hair；　becoming　separated　from　its　com…　panions　in　the　eddy　of　the　waltz；　glided　over　my　burning　cheek。　。　。

I　made　three　turns　of　the　ballroom　（she　waltzes　surprisingly　well）。　　She　was　out　of　breath；　her　eyes　were　dulled；　her　half…open　lips　were　scarcely　able　to　whisper　the　indispensable：　〃merci；　monsieur。〃

After　a　few　moments'　silence　I　said　to　her；　assuming　a　very　humble　air：

〃I　have　heard；　Princess；　that　although　quite　unacquainted　with　you；　I　have　already　had　the　misfortune　to　incur　your　displeasure　。　。　。　that　you　have　considered　me　insolent。　　Can　that　possibly　true？〃

〃Would　you　like　to　confirm　me　in　that　opinion　now？〃　she　answered；　with　an　ironical　little　grimace　　very　becoming；　however；　to　her　mobile　countenance。

〃If　I　had　the　audacity　to　insult　you　in　any　way；　then　allow　me　to　have　the　still　greater　audacity　to　beg　your　pardon。　。　。　　And；　indeed；　I　should　very　much　like　to　prove　to　you　that　you　are　mistaken　in　regard　to　me〃　。　。　。

〃You　will　find　that　a　rather　difficult　task〃　。　。　。

〃But　why？〃　。　。　。

〃Because　you　never　visit　us　and；　most　likely；　there　will　not　be　many　more　of　these　balls。〃

〃That　means；〃　I　thought；　〃that　their　doors　are　closed　to　me　for　ever。〃

〃You　know；　Princess；〃　I　said　to　her；　with　a　certain　amount　of　vexation；　〃one　should　never　spurn　a　penitent　criminal：　in　his　despair　he　may　become　twice　as　much　a　criminal　as　before　。　。　。　and　then〃　。　。　。

Sudden　laughter　and　whispering　from　the　people　around　us　caused　me　to　turn　my　head　and　to　interrupt　my　phrase。　　A　few　paces　away　from　me　stood　a　group　of　men；　amongst　them　the　captain　of　dragoons；　who　had　manifested　inten…　tions　hostile　to　the　charming　Princess。　　He　was　particularly　well　pleased　with　something　or　other；　and　was　rubbing　his　hands；　laughing　and　ex…　changing　meaning　glances　with　his　companions。　All　at　once　a　gentleman　in　an　evening…dress　coat　and　with　long　moustaches　and　a　red　face　separated　himself　from　the　crowd　and　directed　his　uncertain　steps　straight　towards　Princess　Mary。　　He　was　drunk。　　Coming　to　a　halt　opposite　the　em…　barrassed　Princess　and　placing　his　hands　behind　his　back；　he　fixed　his　dull　grey　eyes　upon　her；　and　said　in　a　hoarse　treble：

〃Permettez　。　。　。　but　what　is　the　good　of　that　sort　of　thing　here。　。　。　　All　I　need　say　is：　I　en…　gage　you　for　the　mazurka〃　。　。　。

〃Very　well！〃　she　replied　in　a　trembling　voice；　throwing　a　beseeching　glance　around。　　Alas！　　Her　mother　was　a　long　way　off；　and　not　one　of　the　cavaliers　of　her　acquaintance　was　near。　　A　certain　aide…de…camp　apparently　saw　the　whole　scene；　but　he　concealed　himself　behind　the　crowd　in　order　not　to　be　mixed　up　in　the　affair。

〃What？〃　said　the　drunken　gentleman；　wink…　ing　to　the　captain　of　dragoons；　who　was　encourag…　ing　him　by　signs。　　〃Do　you　not　wish　to　dance　then？　。　。　。　　All　the　same　I　again　have　the　honour　to　engage　you　for　the　mazurka。　。　。　　You　think；　perhaps；　that　I　am　drunk！　　That　is　all　right！　。　。　。　I　can　dance　all　the　easier；　I　assure　you〃　。　。　。

I　saw　that　she　was