a hero of our time-第26章

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rustle　the　tops　of　the　poplars　which　surrounded　the　restaurant。　　People　were　crowd…　ing　at　the　windows。　　I　went　down　the　mountain　and；　turning　in　under　the　gate；　I　hastened　my　pace。　　Suddenly　it　seemed　to　me　that　somebody　was　following　my　steps。　　I　stopped　and　looked　round。　　It　was　impossible　to　make　out　anything　in　the　darkness。　　However；　out　of　caution；　I　walked　round　the　house；　as　if　taking　a　stroll。　Passing　Princess　Mary's　windows；　I　again　heard　steps　behind　me；　a　man　wrapped　in　a　cloak　ran　by　me。　　That　rendered　me　uneasy；　but　I　crept　up　to　the　flight　of　steps；　and　hastily　mounted　the　dark　staircase。　　A　door　opened；　and　a　little　hand　seized　mine。　。　。

〃Nobody　has　seen　you？〃　said　Vera　in　a　whisper；　clinging　to　me。

〃Nobody。〃

〃Now　do　you　believe　that　I　love　you？　　Oh！　I　have　long　hesitated；　long　tortured　myself。　。　。　But　you　can　do　anything　you　like　with　me。〃

Her　heart　was　beating　violently；　her　hands　were　cold　as　ice。　　She　broke　out　into　complaints　and　jealous　reproaches。　　She　demanded　that　I　should　confess　everything　to　her；　saying　that　she　would　bear　my　faithlessness　with　submission；　because　her　sole　desire　was　that　I　should　be　happy。　　I　did　not　quite　believe　that；　but　I　calmed　her　with　oaths；　promises　and　so　on。

〃So　you　will　not　marry　Mary？　　You　do　not　love　her？　。　。　。　　But　she　thinks。　。　。　　Do　you　know；　she　is　madly　in　love　with　you；　poor　girl！〃　。　。　。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。　　　　　。　　　　　。　　　　　。　　　　　。

About　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　I　opened　the　window　and；　tying　two　shawls　together；　I　let　my…　self　down　from　the　upper　balcony　to　the　lower；　holding　on　by　the　pillar。　　A　light　was　still　burn…　ing　in　Princess　Mary's　room。　　Something　drew　me　towards　that　window。　　The　curtain　was　not　quite　drawn；　and　I　was　able　to　cast　a　curious　glance　into　the　interior　of　the　room。　　Mary　was　sitting　on　her　bed；　her　hands　crossed　upon　her　knees；　her　thick　hair　was　gathered　up　under　a　lace…frilled　nightcap；　her　white　shoulders　were　covered　by　a　large　crimson　kerchief；　and　her　little　feet　were　hidden　in　a　pair　of　many…coloured　Persian　slippers。　　She　was　sitting　quite　still；　her　head　sunk　upon　her　breast；　on　a　little　table　in　front　of　her　was　an　open　book；　but　her　eyes；　fixed　and　full　of　inexpressible　grief；　seemed　for　the　hundredth　time　to　be　skimming　the　same　page　whilst　her　thoughts　were　far　away。

At　that　moment　somebody　stirred　behind　a　shrub。　　I　leaped　from　the　balcony　on　to　the　sward。　　An　invisible　hand　seized　me　by　the　shoulder。

〃Aha！〃　said　a　rough　voice：　〃caught！　。　。　。　I'll　teach　you　to　be　entering　princesses'　rooms　at　night！〃

〃Hold　him　fast！〃　exclaimed　another；　spring…　ing　out　from　a　corner。

It　was　Grushnitski　and　the　captain　of　dragoons。

I　struck　the　latter　on　the　head　with　my　fist；　knocked　him　off　his　feet；　and　darted　into　the　bushes。　　All　the　paths　of　the　garden　which　covered　the　slope　opposite　our　houses　were　known　to　me。

〃Thieves；　guard！〃　。　。　。　they　cried。

A　gunshot　rang　out；　a　smoking　wad　fell　almost　at　my　feet。

Within　a　minute　I　was　in　my　own　room；　undressed　and　in　bed。　　My　manservant　had　only　just　locked　the　door　when　Grushnitski　and　the　captain　began　knocking　for　admission。

〃Pechorin！　　Are　you　asleep？　　Are　you　there？〃　。　。　。　cried　the　captain。

〃I　am　in　bed；〃　I　answered　angrily。

〃Get　up！　　Thieves！　。　。　。　　Circassians！〃　。　。　。

〃I　have　a　cold；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　am　afraid　of　catching　a　chill。〃

They　went　away。　　I　had　gained　no　useful　pur…　pose　by　answering　them：　they　would　have　been　looking　for　me　in　the　garden　for　another　hour　or　so。

Meanwhile　the　alarm　became　terrific。　　A　Cossack　galloped　up　from　the　fortress。　　The　com…　motion　was　general；　Circassians　were　looked　for　in　every　shrub　　and　of　course　none　were　found。　Probably；　however；　a　good　many　people　were　left　with　the　firm　conviction　that；　if　only　more　courage　and　despatch　had　been　shown　by　the　garrison；　at　least　a　score　of　brigands　would　have　failed　to　get　away　with　their　lives。



CHAPTER　XVIII

27th　June。

THIS　morning；　at　the　well；　the　sole　topic　of　conversation　was　the　nocturnal　attack　by　the　Circassians。　　I　drank　the　appointed　number　of　glasses　of　Narzan　water；　and；　after　sauntering　a　few　times　about　the　long　linden　avenue；　I　met　Vera's　husband；　who　had　just　arrived　from　Pyati…　gorsk。　　He　took　my　arm　and　we　went　to　the　restaurant　for　breakfast。　　He　was　dreadfully　un…　easy　about　his　wife。

〃What　a　terrible　fright　she　had　last　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Of　course；　it　was　bound　to　happen　just　at　the　very　time　when　I　was　absent。〃

We　sat　down　to　breakfast　near　the　door　leading　into　a　corner…room　in　which　about　a　dozen　young　men　were　sitting。　　Grushnitski　was　amongst　them。　For　the　second　time　destiny　provided　me　with　the　opportunity　of　overhearing　a　conversation　which　was　to　decide　his　fate。　　He　did　not　see　me；　and；　consequently；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　suspect　him　of　design；　but　that　only　magnified　his　fault　in　my　eyes。

〃Is　it　possible；　though；　that　they　were　really　Circassians？〃　somebody　said。　　〃Did　anyone　see　them？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth；〃　answered　Grushnitski：　〃only　please　do　not　betray　me。　　This　is　how　it　was：　yesterday；　a　certain　man；　whose　name　I　will　not　tell　you；　came　up　to　me　and　told　me　that；　at　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening；　he　had　seen　somebody　creeping　into　the　Ligovskis'　house。　　I　must　observe　that　Princess　Ligovski　was　here；　and　Princess　Mary　at　home。　　So　he　and　I　set　off　to　wait　beneath　the　windows　and　waylay　the　lucky　man。〃

I　confess　I　was　frightened；　although　my　com…　panion　was　very　busily　engaged　with　his　break…　fast：　he　might　have　heard　things　which　he　would　have　found　rather　displeasing；　if　Grushnitski　had　happened　to　guess　the　truth；　but；　blinded　by　jealousy；　the　latter　did　not　even　suspect　it。

〃So；　do　you　see？〃　Grushnitski　continued。　〃We　set　off；　taking　with　us　a　gun；　loaded　with　blank　cartridge；　so　as　just　to　give　him　a　fright。　We　waited　in　the　garden　till　two　o'clock。　　At　length　　goodness　knows；　indeed；　where　he　ap…　peared　from；　but　he　must　have　come　out　by　the　glass　door　which　is　behind　the　pillar；　it　was　not　out　of　the　window　that　he　came；　because　the　window　had　remained　unopened　　at　length；　I　say；　we　saw　someone　getting　down　from　the　balcony。　。　。　　What　do　you　think　of　Princess　Mary　　eh？　　Well；　I　admit；　it　is　hardly　what　you　might　expect　from　Moscow　ladies！　　After　that　what　can　you　believe？　　We　were　going　to　seize　him；　but　he　broke　away　and　darted　like　a　hare　into　the　shrubs。　　Thereupon　I　fired　at　him。〃

There　was　a　general　murmur　of　incredulity。

〃You　do　not　believe　it？〃　he　continued。　　〃I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　as　a　gentleman　that　it　is　all　perfectly　true；　and；　in　proof；　I　will　tell　you　the　man's　name　if　you　like。〃

〃Tell　us；　tell　us；　who　was　he？〃　came　from　all　sides。

〃Pechorin；〃　answered　Grushnitski。

At　that　moment　he　raised　his　eyes　　I　was　stand…　ing　in　the　doorway　opposite　to　him。　　He　grew　terribly　red。　　I　went　up　to　him　and　said；　slowly　and　distinctly：

〃I　am　very　sorry　that　I　did　not　come　in　before　you　had　given　your　word　of　honour　in　confirma…　tion　of　a　most　abominable　calumny：　my　presence　would　have　saved　you　from　that　further　act　of　baseness。〃

Grushnitski　jumped　up　from　his　seat　and　seemed　about　to　fly　into　a　passion。

〃I　beg　you；〃　I　continued　in　the　same　tone：　〃I　beg　you　at　once　to　retract　what　you　have　said；　you　know　very　well　that　it　is　all　an　inven…　tion。　　I　do　not　think　that　a　woman's　indifference　to　your　brilliant　merits　should　deserve　so　terrible　a　revenge。　　Bethink　you　well：　if　you　maintain　your　present　attitude；　you　will　lose　the　right　to　the　name　of　gentleman　and　will　risk　your　life。〃

Grushnitski　stood　before　me　in　violent　agita…　tion；　his　eyes　cast　down。　　But　the　struggle　be…　tween　his　conscience　and　his　vanity　was　of　short　duration。　　The　captain　of　dragoons；　who　was　sit…　ting　beside　him；　nudged　him　with　his　elbow。　Grushnitski　started；　and　answered　rapidly；　with…　out　raising　his　eyes：

〃My　dear　sir；　what　I　say；　I　mean；　and　I　am　prepared　to　repeat。　。　。　　I　am　not　afraid　of　your　menaces　and　am　ready　for　anything。〃

〃The　latter　you　have　already　proved；〃　I　an…　swered　coldly；　and；　taking　the　captain　of　dra…　goons　by　the　arm；　I　left　the　room。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　asked　the　captain。

〃You　are　Grushnitski's　friend　and　will　no　doubt　be　his　second？〃

The　captain　bowed　very　gravely。

〃You　have　guessed　rightly；〃　he　answered。

〃Moreover；　I　am　bound　to　be　his　second；　because　the　insult　offered　to　him　touches　myself　also。　　I　was　with　him　last　night；〃　he　added；　straightening　up　his　stooping　figure。

〃Ah！　　So　it　was　you　whose　head　I　struck　so　clumsily？〃　。　。　。

He　turned　yellow　in　the　face；　then　blue；　sup…　pressed　rage　was　portrayed　upon　his　counte…　nance。

〃I　shall　have　the　honour　to　send　my　second　to　you　to…day；〃　I　added；　bowing　adieu　to　him　very　politely；　without　appearing　to　have　noticed　his　fury。

On　the　restaurant…steps　I　met　Vera's　husband。　Apparently　he　had　been　waiting　for　me。

He　seized　my　hand　with　a　feeling　akin　to　rapture。

〃Noble　young　man！〃　he　said；　with　tears　in　his　eyes。　　〃I　have　heard　everything。　　What　a　scoun…　drel！　　Ingrate！　。　。　。　　Just　fancy　such　people　being　admitted　into　a　decent　household　after　this！　　Thank　God　I　have　no　daughters！　　But　she　for　whom　you　are　risking　your　life　will　reward　you。　　Be　assured　of　my　constant　discretion；〃　he　continued。　　〃I　have　been　young　myself　and　have　served　in　the　army：　I　know　that　these　affairs　must　take　their　course。　　Good…bye。〃

Poor　fellow！　　He　is　glad　that　he　has　no　daughters！　。　。　。

I　went　straight　to　Werner；　found　him　at　home；　and　told　him　the　whole　story　　my　relations　with　Vera　and　Princess　Mary；　and　the　conversation　which　I　had　overheard　and　from　which　I　had　learned　the　intention　of　these　gentlemen　to　make　a　fool　of　me　by　causing　me　to　fight　a　duel　with　blank　cartridges。　　But；　now；　the　affair　had　gone　beyond　the　bounds　of　jest；　they　probably　had　not　expected　that　it　would　turn　out　like　this。

The　doctor　consented　to　be　my　second；　I　gave　him　a　few　directions　with　regard　to　the　condi…　tions　of　the　duel。　　He　was　to　insist　upon　the　affair　being　managed　with　all　possible　secrecy；　be…　cause；　although　I　am　prepared；　at　any　moment；　to　face　death；　I　am　not　in　the　least　disposed　to　spoil　for　all　time　my　future　in　this　world。

After　that　I　went　home。　　In　an　hour's　time　the　doctor　returned　from　his　expedition。

〃There　is　indeed　a　conspiracy　against　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　found　the　captain　of　dragoons　at　Grush…　nitski's；　together　with　another　gentleman　whose　surname　I　do　not　remember。　　I　stopped　a　moment　in　the　ante…room；　in　order　to　take　off　my　goloshes。　They　were　squabbling　and　making　a　terrible　up…　roar。　　'On　no　account　will　I　agree；'　Grushnitski　was　saying：　'he　has　insulted　me　publicly；　it　was　quite　a　different　thing　before'　。　。　。

〃'What　does　it　matter　to　you？'　answered　the　captain。　　'I　will　take　it　all　upon　myself。　　I　have　been　second　in　five　duels；　and　I　should　think　I　know　how　to　arrange　the　affair。　　I　have　thought　it　all　out。　　Just　let　me　alone；　please。　　It　is　not　a　bad　thing　to　give　people　a　bit　of　a　fright。　　And　why　expose　yourself　to　danger　if　it　is　possible　to　avoid　it？'　。　。　。

〃At　that　moment　I　entered　the　room。　　They　suddenly　fell　silent。　　Our　negotiations　were　some…　what　protracted。　　At　length　we　decided　the　matter　as　follows：　about　five　versts　from　here　there　is　a　hollow