按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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