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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4344-0.txt b/4344-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b85e14 --- /dev/null +++ b/4344-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3851 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marie, by Alexander Pushkin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marie + +Author: Alexander Pushkin + +Release Date: August, 2003 [Etext# 4344] +Posting Date: January 11, 2010 +Last Updated: November 18, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + + + + +Produced by Hanh Vu and Douglas Levy + + + + + +MARIE + +A Story of Russian Love + +By Alexander Pushkin + + +Translated by Marie H. de Zielinska + + + + +CONTENTS. + + I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + II. THE GUIDE. + III. THE FORTRESS. + IV. THE DUEL. + V. LOVE. + VI. POUGATCHEFF. + VII. THE ASSAULT. + VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + IX. THE SEPARATION. + X. THE SIEGE. + XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + XII. MARIE. + XIII. THE ARREST. + XIV. THE SENTENCE. + + + + +TRANSLATOR’S NOTE. + + +Alexander Pushkin, the most distinguished poet of Russia, was born at +Saint Petersburg, 1799. When only twenty-one years of age he entered +the civil service in the department of foreign affairs. Lord Byron’s +writings and efforts for Greek independence exercised great influence +over Pushkin, whose “Ode to Liberty” cost him his freedom. He was exiled +to Bessarabia [A region of Moldova and western Ukraine] from 1820 to +1825, whence he returned at the accession of the new emperor, Nicholas, +who made him historiographer of Peter the Great. Pushkin’s friends +now looked upon him as a traitor to the cause of liberty. It is not +improbable that an enforced residence at the mouth of the Danube +somewhat cooled his patriotic enthusiasm. Every Autumn, his favorite +season for literary production, he usually passed at his country seat +in the province Pekoff. Here from 1825 to 1829 he published “Pultowa,” + “Boris Godunoff,” “Eugene Onegin,” and “Ruslaw and Ludmila,” a tale +in verse, after the Manner of Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso.” This is +considered as the first great poetical work in the Russian language, +though the critics of the day attacked it, because it was beyond their +grasp; but the public devoured it. + +In 1831 Pushkin married, and soon after appeared his charming novel, +“Marie,” a picture of garrison life on the Russian plains. Peter and +Marie of this Northern story are as pure as their native snows, and +whilst listening to the recital, we inhale the odor of the steppe, and +catch glimpses of the semi-barbarous Kalmouk and the Cossack of the Don. + +A duel with his brother-in-law terminated the life of Pushkin in the +splendor of his talent. The emperor munificently endowed the poet’s +family, and ordered a superb edition of all his works to be published at +the expense of the crown. His death was mourned by his countrymen as a +national calamity. M. H. de Z. + +Chicago, Nov. 1, 1876. + + + + + +MARIE. + + + + +I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + + +My father, Andrew Peter Grineff, having served in his youth under Count +Munich, left the army in 17--, with the grade of First Major. From that +time he lived on his estate in the Principality of Simbirsk, where he +married Avoditia, daughter of a poor noble in the neighborhood. Of +nine children, the issue of this marriage, I was the only survivor. My +brothers and sisters died in childhood. + +Through the favor of a near relative of ours, Prince B---, himself +a Major in the Guards, I was enrolled Sergeant of the Guards in the +regiment of Semenofski. It was understood that I was on furlough till my +education should be finished. From my fifth year I was confided to the +care of an old servant Saveliitch, whose steadiness promoted him to the +rank of my personal attendant. Thanks to his care, when I was twelve +years of age I knew how to read and write, and could make a correct +estimate of the points of a hunting dog. + +At this time, to complete my education, my father engaged upon a salary +a Frenchman, M. Beaupre, who was brought from Moscow with one year’s +provision of wine and oil from Provence. His arrival of course +displeased Saveliitch. + +Beaupre had been in his own country a valet, in Prussia a soldier, then +he came to Russia to be a tutor, not knowing very well what the word +meant in our language. He was a good fellow, astonishingly gay and +absent-minded. His chief foible was a passion for the fair sex. Nor was +he, to use his own expression, an enemy to the bottle--that is to say, +_a la Russe_, he loved drink. But as at home wine was offered only at +table, and then in small glasses, and as, moreover, on these occasions, +the servants passed by the pedagogue, Beaupre soon accustomed himself +to Russian brandy, and, in time, preferred it, as a better tonic, to +the wines of his native country. We became great friends, and although +according to contract he was engaged to teach me French, German, and +_all the sciences_, yet he was content that I should teach him to +chatter Russian. But as each of us minded his own business, our +friendship was constant, and I desired no mentor. However, destiny very +soon separated us, in consequence of an event which I will relate. + +Our laundress, a fat girl all scarred by small-pox, and our dairymaid, +who was blind of an eye, agreed, one fine day, to throw themselves at my +mother’s feet and accuse the Frenchman of trifling with their innocence +and inexperience! + +My mother would have no jesting upon this point, and she in turn +complained to my father, who, like a man of business, promptly ordered +“that dog of a Frenchman” into his presence. The servant informed him +meekly that Beaupre was at the moment engaged in giving me a lesson. + +My father rushed to my room. Beaupre was sleeping upon his bed the sleep +of innocence. I was deep in a most interesting occupation. They had +brought from Moscow, for me, a geographical map, which hung unused +against the wall; the width and strength of its paper had been to me +a standing temptation. I had determined to make a kite of it, and +profiting that morning by Beaupre’s sleep, I had set to work. My father +came in just as I was tying a tail to the Cape of Good Hope! Seeing +my work, he seized me by the ear and shook me soundly; then rushing to +Beaupre’s bed, awakened him without hesitating, pouring forth a volley +of abuse upon the head of the unfortunate Frenchman. In his confusion +Beaupre tried in vain to rise; the poor pedagogue was dead drunk! My +father caught him by the coat-collar and flung him out of the room. That +day he was dismissed, to the inexpressible delight of Saveliitch. + +Thus ended my education. I now lived in the family as the eldest son, +not of age whose career is yet to open; amusing myself teaching pigeons +to tumble on the roof, and playing leap-frog in the stable-yard with the +grooms. In this way I reached my sixteenth year. + +One Autumn day, my mother was preserving fruit with honey in the family +room, and I, smacking my lips, was looking at the liquid boiling; my +father, seated near the window, had just opened the _Court Almanac_ +which he received every year. This book had great influence over him; he +read it with extreme attention, and reading prodigiously stirred up his +bile. My mother, knowing by heart all his ways and oddities, used to try +to hide the miserable book, and often whole months would pass without a +sight of it. But, in revenge whenever he did happen to find it, he would +sit for hours with the book before his eyes. + +Well, my father was reading the _Court Almanac_, frequently shrugging +his shoulders, and murmuring: “‘General!’ Umph, he was a sergeant in +my company. ‘Knight of the Orders of Russia.’ Can it be so long since +we--?” + +Finally he flung the _Almanac_ away on the sofa and plunged into deep +thought; a proceeding that never presaged anything good. + +“Avoditia,” said he, brusquely, to my mother, “how old is Peter?” + +“His seventeenth precious year has just begun,” said my mother. “Peter +was born the year Aunt Anastasia lost her eye, and that was--” + +“Well, well,” said my father, “it is time he should join the army. It is +high time he should give up his nurse, leap-frog and pigeon training.” + +The thought of a separation so affected my poor mother that she let the +spoon fall into the preserving pan, and tears rained from her eyes. + +As for me, it is difficult to express my joy. The idea of army service +was mingled in my head with that of liberty, and the pleasures offered +by a great city like Saint Petersburg. I saw myself an officer in the +Guards, which, in my opinion was the height of felicity. + +As my father neither liked to change his plans, nor delay their +execution, the day of my departure was instantly fixed. That evening, +saying that he would give me a letter to my future chief, he called for +writing materials. + +“Do not forget, Andrew,” said my mother, “to salute for me Prince B. +Tell him that I depend upon his favor for my darling Peter.” + +“What nonsense,” said my father, frowning, “why should I write to Prince +B.?” + +“You have just said that you would write to Peter’s future chief.” + +“Well, what then?” + +“Prince B. is his chief. You know very well that Peter is enrolled in +the Semenofski regiment.” + +“Enrolled! what’s that to me? Enrolled or not enrolled, he shall not go +to Saint Petersburg. What would he learn there? Extravagance and folly. +No! let him serve in the army, let him smell powder, let him be a +soldier and not a do-nothing in the Guards; let him wear the straps of +his knapsack out. Where is the certificate of his birth and baptism?” + +My mother brought the certificate, which she kept in a little box with +my baptismal robe, and handed it to my father. He read it, placed it +before him on the table, and commenced his letter. + +I was devoured by curiosity. Where am I going, thought I, if not to +Saint Petersburg? I did not take my eyes from the pen which my father +moved slowly across the paper. + +At last, the letter finished, he put it and my certificate under the +same envelope, took off his spectacles, called me and said: + +“This letter is addressed to Andrew Karlovitch, my old friend and +comrade. You are going to Orenbourg to serve under orders.” + +All my brilliant dreams vanished. In place of the gay life of Saint +Petersburg, ennui awaited me in a wild and distant province of the +empire. Military life seemed now a calamity. + +The next morning a kibitka was at the door; my trunk was placed on it, +and also a case holding tea and a tea-service, with some napkins full +of rolls and pastry, the last sweet bits of the paternal home. Both my +parents gave me their solemn benediction. My father said, “Adieu, Peter. +Serve faithfully him to whom your oath is given; obey your chiefs; +neither seek favor, nor solicit service, but do not reject them; and +remember the proverb: ‘Take care of thy coat whilst it is new, and thy +honor whilst it is fresh.’” + +My darling mother, all in tears, told me to take care of my health; and +counseled Saveliitch to guard her child from danger. + +I was wrapped up in a short touloup lined with hare-skin, and over that +a pelisse lined fox-skin. I took my seat in the kibitka with Saveliitch, +and shedding bitter tears, set out for my destination. + +That night I arrived at Simbirsk, where I was to stay twenty-four hours, +in order that Saveliitch might make various purchases entrusted to him. +Early in the morning Saveliitch went to the shops, whilst I stayed in +the inn. Tired of gazing out of the window upon a dirty little street, +I rambled about the inn, and at last entered the billiard-room. I +found there a tall gentleman, some forty years of age, with heavy black +moustaches, in his dressing-gown, holding a cue and smoking his pipe. +He was playing with the marker, who was to drink a glass of brandy and +water if he gained, and if he lost was to pass, on all-fours, under the +billiard table. I watched them playing. The more they played the more +frequent became the promenades on all-fours, so that finally the marker +stayed under the table. The gentleman pronounced over him some energetic +expression, as a funeral oration, and then proposed that I should play +a game with him. I declared that I did not know how to play billiards. +That seemed strange to him. He looked at me with commiseration. + +However, we opened a conversation. I learned that his name was Ivan +Zourine; that he was a chief of a squadron of Hussars stationed then at +Simbirsk recruiting soldiers, and that his quarters were at my inn. He +invited me to mess with him, soldier-fashion, pot-luck. I accepted with +pleasure, and we sat down to dinner. Zourine drank deeply, and invited +me to drink also, saying that I must become accustomed to the service. +He told stories of garrison life which made me laugh till I held my +sides, and we rose from the table intimate friends. He then proposed +to teach me how to play billiards. “It is,” said he, “indispensable +for soldiers like ourselves. For example, suppose we arrive in a town, +what’s to be done? We can not always make sport of the Jews. As a last +resort there is the inn and the billiard-room; but to play billiards, +one must know how.” These reasons convinced me, and I set about learning +with enthusiasm. + +Zourine encouraged me in a loud tone; he was astonished at my rapid +progress, and after a few lesson he proposed to play for money, were it +only two kopecks, not for the gain, merely to avoid playing for nothing, +which was, according to him, a very bad habit. I agreed. Zourine ordered +punch, which he advised me to taste in order to become used to the +service, “for,” said he, “what kind of service would that be without +punch?” + +I took his advice, and we continued to play; the more I tasted of my +glass the bolder I grew. I made the balls fly over the cushions; I was +angry with the marker who was counting. Heaven knows why. I increased +the stake, and behaved, altogether, like a boy just cut free, for the +first time, from his mother’s apron-strings. The time passed quickly. At +last, Zourine glanced at the clock, laid down his cue, and said that I +had lost a hundred roubles to him. + +I was in great confusion, because my money was all in the hands of +Saveliitch. I began to mumble excuses, when Zourine exclaimed, “Oh! +well! Good God! I can wait till morning; don’t be distressed about +it. Now let us go to supper.” What could I do? I finished the day as +foolishly as I began it. + +Zourine never ceased pouring out drinks for me; advising me to become +accustomed to the service. Rising from table, I could scarcely stand. At +midnight Zourine brought me back to the inn. + +Saveliitch met us at the door, and uttered a cry of horror when he saw +the unmistakable signs of my “zeal for the service.” + +“What has happened to thee?” said he, in heart-broken accents; “where +have you been filling yourself like a sack? Oh! heavenly father! a +misfortune like this never came before.” + +“Silence! old owl,” said I, stammering, “I am sure you are drunk +yourself; go to bed, but first put me there.” + +I awoke next morning with a severe headache; the events of the evening +I recalled vaguely, but my recollections became vivid at the sight of +Saveliitch who came to me with a cup of tea. + +“You begin young, Peter Grineff,” said the old men, shaking his head. +“Eh! from whom do you inherit it? Neither your father nor grandfather +were drunkards. Your mother’s name can not be mentioned; she never +deigned to taste any thing but cider. Whose fault is it then? That +cursed Frenchman’s; he taught three fine things, that miserable +dog--that pagan--for thy teacher, as if his lordship, thy father, had +not people of his own.” + +I was ashamed before the old man; I turned my face away saying, “I +do not want any tea, go away, Saveliitch.” It was not easy to stop +Saveliitch, once he began to preach. + +“Now, Peter, you see what it is to play the fool. You have a headache, +you have no appetite, a drunkard is good for nothing. Here, take some of +this decoction of cucumber and honey, or half a glass of brandy to sober +you. What do you say to that?” + +At that instant a boy entered the room with a note for me from Zourine. +I unfolded it and read as follows: + +“Do me the favor, my dear Peter, to send me by my servant the hundred +roubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am horribly in want of money. +Your devoted. ZOURINE.” + +As I was perfectly in his power, I assumed an air of indifference, and +ordered Saveliitch to give a hundred roubles to the boy. + +“What? why?” said the old man, surprised. + +“I owe that sum,” said I, coolly. + +“You owe it? When had you time enough to contract such a debt?” said +he, with redoubled astonishment. “No, no, that’s impossible. Do what you +like, my lord, but I can not give the money.” + +I reflected that if in this decisive moment I did not oblige the +obstinate old fellow to obey me, it would be impossible in the future to +escape from his tutelage. Looking at him therefore, haughtily, I said, +“I am thy master; thou art my servant. The money is mine, and I lost +because I chose to lose it; I advise thee to obey when ordered, and not +assume the airs of a master.” + +My words affected Saveliitch so much that he clasped his hands and stood +bowed down mute and motionless. + +“What are you doing there like a post?” I cried out, angrily. + +Saveliitch was in tears. + +“Oh! my dear master Peter,” stammered he, with trembling voice, “do not +kill me with grief. Oh my light, listen to me, an old man; write to +that brigand that you were jesting, that we never had so much money. A +hundred roubles! God of goodness! Tell him thy parents strictly forbade +thee to play for any thing but nuts.” + +“Silence,” said I, with severity, “give the money or I’ll chase you out +of the room.” + +Saveliitch looked at me with agony, and went for the money. I pitied the +good old man, but I wanted to emancipate myself, and prove that I was no +longer a child. Saveliitch sent the money to Zourine, and then hastened +our departure from that cursed inn. + +I left Simbirsk with a troubled conscience; a secret remorse oppressed +me. I took no leave of my teacher, not dreaming that I should ever meet +him again. + + + + +II. THE GUIDE. + + +My reflections during the journey were not very agreeable. According to +the value of money at that time my loss was of some importance. I could +not but admit to myself that my conduct at the inn at Simbirsk had been +very silly, and I felt guilty toward Saveliitch. The old man was seated +on the front of the vehicle in dull silence; from time to time turning +his head and coughing a cough of ill humor. I had firmly resolved to +make friends with him, but I did not know which way to begin. At last I +said to him, “Come, come Saveliitch, let us put an end to this; I know I +was wrong; I was a fool yesterday, and offended you without cause, but +I promise to listen to you in future. Come, do not be angry, let us make +friends!” + +“Ah! My dear Peter,” said he with a sigh, “I am angry with myself. It’s +I who was wrong in every thing. How could I have left you alone at +the inn? How could it have been avoided? The devil had a hand in it! I +wanted to go and see the deacon’s wife, who is my god-mother, and as the +proverb says: ‘I left the house and fell into the prison.’” + +What a misfortune! what a misfortune! How can I appear before the eyes +of my masters? What will they say, when they shall hear that their child +is a drunkard and a gambler. To console dear old Saveliitch, I gave +him my word, that for the future I would not dispose of single kopeck +without his consent. Little by little he became calm, which did not, +however, prevent him from grumbling out, now and then shaking his head: +“A hundred roubles! It is easy to talk!” + +I drew near the place of my destination. Around me extended a desert, +sad and wild, broken be little hills and deep ravines, all covered with +snow. The sun was setting. + +My kibitka followed the narrow road, or rather trace, left by peasants’ +sledges. Suddenly my coachman, looking at a certain point and addressing +me, “My lord,” said he, taking off his cap, “do you not command us to +retrace our steps?” + +“What for?” + +“The weather is uncertain. There is some wind ahead; do you see it drive +the snow on the surface?” + +“What matter?” + +“And do you not see what is over yonder?” pointing with his whip to the +east. + +“I see nothing more than the white steppes and the clear sky.” + +“There! there! that little cloud!” + +I saw indeed upon the horizon a little white cloud that I had at first +taken for a distant hill. My coachman explained to me that this little +cloud foretold a _chasse-neige_--a snowdrift. I had heard of the +drifting snows of this region, and I know that at times, storms +swallowed up whole caravans. Saveliitch agreed with the coachman, and +advised our return. + +But to me the wind did not seem very strong. I hoped to arrive in time +for the next relay of horses. I gave orders, therefore, to redouble our +speed. The coachman put his horses to the gallop, and kept his eyes to +the east. + +The wind blew harder and harder. The little cloud soon became a great +white mass, rising heavily, growing, extending, and finally invading the +whole sky. A fine snow began to fall, which suddenly changed to immense +flakes. The wind whistled and howled. It was a _chasse-neige_--a +snowdrift. + +In an instant the somber sky was confounded with the sea of snow which +the wind raised up from the earth. Every thing was indistinguishable. + +“Woe, to us! my lord,” cried the coachman, “it is a whirlwind of snow!” + +I put my head out of the kibitka--darkness and storm. The wind blew with +an expression so ferocious that it seemed a living creature. + +The snow fell in large flakes upon us, covering us. The horses went at a +walking pace, but very soon stood still. + +“Why do you not go on?” I said to the coachman. + +“Go where?” he replied, as he got down from the kibitka. “God knows +where we are now! There is no road; all is darkness.” + +I began to scold him. Saveliitch took up his defense: + +“Why did you not listen to him,” said he, angrily; “you could have +returned, taken some tea and slept till morning; the storm would have +been over, and we could then have set out. Why this haste? as if you +were going to your wedding?” + +Saveliitch was right. What was to be done? The snow continued to fall; +it was heaped up around the kibitka; the horses stood motionless, now +and then shivering. The coachman walked around them adjusting their +harness, as if he had nothing else to do. + +Saveliitch grumbled. + +I strained my eyes in every direction, hoping to see signs of a +dwelling, or of a road, but I could only see the whirling of the +snow-drift. All at once I thought I saw some thing black. “Halloo! +coachman,” I cried out, “what is that black thing yonder?” + +The coachman looked attentively where I indicated. “God knows, my lord,” + he replied, re-mounting to his seat; “it is not a kibitka, nor a tree; +it seems to be moving. It must be a wolf or a man!” + +I ordered him to go in the direction of the unknown object which was +coming toward us. In two minutes we were on a line with it, and I +recognized a man. + +“Halloo! good man!” shouted my coachman; “tell us, do you know the +road?” + +“This is the road,” replied the man. “I am on solid ground, but what the +devil is the good of that.” + +“Listen, my good peasant,” said I; “do you know this country? Can you +lead us to a shelter for the night?” + +“This country! Thank God, I have been over it on foot and in carriage, +from one end to the other. But one can not help losing the road in this +weather. It is better to stop here and wait till the hurricane ceases: +then the sky will clear, and we can find the way by the stars.” + +His coolness gave me courage. I had decided to trust myself to the mercy +of God and pass the night on the steppe, when the traveler, seating +himself on the bench which was the coachman’s seat, said to the driver: + +“Thank God, a dwelling is near. Turn to the right and go on.” + +“Why should I turn to the right?” said the coachman, sulkily, “where do +you see a road?” + +“Must I say to you these horses, as well as the harness, belong to +another? then use the whip without respite.” + +I thought my coachman’s view rational. + +“Why do you believe,” said I to the new-comer, “that a dwelling is not +far off?” + +“The wind blows from that quarter,” said he, “and I have smelled +smoke--proof that a dwelling is near.” + +His sagacity, the delicacy of his sense of smell, filled me with +admiration; I ordered my coachman to go wherever the other wished. The +horses walked heavily through the deep snow. The kibitka advanced but +slowly, now raised on a hillock, now descending into a hollow, swaying +from side like a boat on a stormy sea. + +Saveliitch, falling over on me every instant, moaned. I pulled down the +hood of the kibitka, wrapped myself up in my pelisse, and fell asleep, +rocked by the swaying of the vehicle, and lulled by the chant of the +tempest. + +The horses stopped. Saveliitch was holding my hand. + +“Come out, my lord,” said he, “we have arrived.” + +“Where have we arrived?” said I, rubbing my eyes. + +“At the shelter. God has helped us; we have stumbled right upon +the hedge of the dwelling. Come out, my lord, quick; come and warm +yourself.” + +I descended from the kibitka; the hurricane had not ceased, but it had +moderated; sight was useless, it was so dark. The master of the house +met us at the door, holding a lantern under the flaps of his long coat, +the Cossack cafetan. He led us into a small, though no untidy room, +lighted by a pine torch. In the centre hung a carabine and a high +Cossack cap. + +Our host, a Cossack from the river Iaik, was a peasant of some sixty +years, still fresh and green. + +Saveliitch brought in the case containing my tea-service; he asked for +fire to make me a few cups of tea, of which I never had greater need. +The host hastened to serve us. + +“Where is our guide?” I asked of Saveliitch. + +“Here, your lordship,” replied a voice from above. I raised my eyes to +the loft, and saw a black beard and two sparkling black eyes. + +“Well, are you cold?” + +“How could I help being cold in this little cafetan full of holes. +What’s the use of concealment? I had a touloup, but I left it yesterday +in pledge with the liquor-seller; then the cold did not seem so great.” + +At this moment our host entered with the portable furnace and boiler, +the Russian _Somovar_. I offered our guide a cup of tea. Down he came +at once. As he stood in the glare of the pine torch his appearance was +remarkable. A man about forty years of age, medium height, slight but +with broad shoulders. His black beard was turning grey; large, quick, +restless eyes, gave him an expression full of cunning, and yet not at +all disagreeable. He was dressed in wide Tartar pantaloons and an old +jacket. His hair was cut evenly round. + +I offered him a cup of tea. He tasted it and made a grimace. + +“Do me the favor, my lord, to order me a glass of brandy; tea is not the +Cossack’s drink.” + +I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a +closet a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full in +the face, said: + +“Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought +you?” + +My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the +well-know proverb: “‘The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed; +the grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.’ And you? how are all +yours?” + +“How are we?” said the host, and continuing in proverbs: “‘They began to +ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest’s wife forbade it. The priest +went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.’” + +“Be silent, uncle,” said the vagabond. + +“‘When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there +shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy +hatchet behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.’” + +“To your lordship’s health.” Taking the glass, he made the sign of the +cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted me and +remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this thief’s +slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they spoke of +the affairs of the army of the Iaik, which had just been reduced to +obedience after the revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened and glanced +suspiciously from host to guide. + +The species of inn where we were sheltered was in the very heart of the +steppes, far from the road and every inhabited spot, and looked very +much like a rendezvous of robbers. But to set off again on our journey +was impossible. The disgust of Saveliitch amused not a little; however, +he finally decided to mount upon the roof of the stove, the ordinary bed +of the Russian peasant. The warm bricks of the hot-air chamber of the +stove diffused a grateful heat, and soon the old man and the host, who +had laid himself on the floor, were snoring. I stretched myself upon +a bench, and slept like a dead. Awaking next morning quite late, I saw +that the hurricane was over. The sun shone out, the snow extended in the +distance like a sheet of dazzling white damask. The horses were already +at the door, harnessed. I paid our host, who asked so small a pittance +that even Saveliitch did not, as usual, haggle over the price. His +suspicions of the evening before had entirely disappeared. I called the +guide to thank him for the service he had done us, and told Saveliitch +to give him half a rouble. Saveliitch frowned. + +“Half a rouble,” said he; “What for? Because you yourself deigned to +bring him to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have not a +rouble to spare. If we begin by giving drink money to every one we shall +end by dying of hunger.” + +It was useless to argue with him; my money, according to my promise, was +entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to be able to +reward a man who had extricated me from danger, perhaps death. + +“Well,” said I, coolly, “if you will not give him half a rouble, give +one of my coats--he is too thinly clad; give him the hare-skin touloup.” + +“Have mercy on me! My dear Peter,” said Saveliitch, “what does he want +with your touloup? He will drink its price, the dog, at the first inn.” + +“That, my good old man, is none of your business,” said the vagabond; +“his lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a +coat from his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, but to +obey.” + +“You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are,” said Saveliitch, +angrily; “you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason, +and there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart. You +can not even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders.” + +“Come,” said I, “do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly.” + +“Oh, Lord!” said the old man, moaning--“a touloup of hare-skin! Quite +new,--to give it to a drunkard in rags.” + +It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It +was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it +on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams. +Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the +threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present. +He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow: +“Thanks, my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your +goodness.” + +He went his way,--I set out on mine, paying no attention to the +sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as +well as the touloup of hare-skin. + +Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He was +a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn-out +uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his +speech betrayed a strong German accent. + +I gave him my father’s letter. + +Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. “Mein Gott,” said he, “it is +so short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a +fine fellow of a son he has. Ah! time! time!” He opened the letter and +began to run it over with a commentary of remarks. + +“‘Sir, I hope your Excellency,’--What is this; what is the meaning of +this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the way +to write to an old friend? Hum--‘Field-marshal Munich--little +Caroline--brother.’ Ah! then he remembers--‘Now to business. I send you +my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.’ + +“What does that mean?” said he, “that must be a Russian proverb.” + +“It means,” said I, with an air of innocence, “to treat a person mildly, +to give one liberty.” + +“Hum!” said he, reading, “‘and give him no liberty.’ No,” he continued, +“your proverb does not mean liberty. Well, my son,” said he, having +finished the letter, “every thing shall be done for you. You shall be an +officer in the ---- regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow to the +fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave +and honest man. There you will see service and learn discipline. You +have nothing to do here at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a +young man. Today I invite you to dine with me.” + +From bad to worse, thought I. What was the use of being a Sergeant in +the Guards almost from my mother’s womb? To what has it led? To the +regiment of ----, and an abandoned fortress on the frontier of the +steppes! + +I dined at the General’s in company with his old Aid-de-camp. Severe +German economy reigned at table, and I think the fear of having an +occasional guest the more had something to do with sending me to a +distant garrison. + +The next day I took my leave of the General and set out for Belogorsk. + + + + +III. THE FORTRESS. + + +The fortress of Belogorsk is situated forty versts from Orenbourg. The +route from this city is along the high banks of the river Iaik. The +stream was not yet frozen, and its lead-colored waters took a black tint +between banks whitened by the snow. Before me lay the Kirghis steppes. I +fell into a moody train of thought, for to me garrison life offered few +attractions. I tried to picture my future chief, Captain Mironoff. +I imagined a severe, morose old man, knowing nothing outside of the +service, ready to arrest me for the least slip. Dusk was falling; we +were advancing rapidly. + +“How far is it from here to the fortress?” said I to the coachman. + +“You can see it now,” he answered. + +I looked on all sides, expecting to see high bastions, a wall, and +a ditch. I saw nothing but a little village surrounded by a wooden +palisade. On one side stood some hay-stacks half covered with snow; on +the other a wind-mill, leaning to one side; the wings of the mill, made +of the heavy bark of the linden tree, hung idle. + +“Where is the fortress?” I asked, astonished. + +“There it is,” said the coachman, pointing to the village which we had +just entered. I saw near the gate an old iron cannon. The streets were +narrow and winding, and nearly all the huts were thatched with straw. +I ordered the coachman to drive to the Commandant’s, and almost +immediately my kibitka stopped before a wooden house built on an +eminence near the church, which was also of wood. From the front door +I entered the waiting-room. An old pensioner, seated on a table, was +sewing a blue piece on the elbow of a green uniform. I told him to +announce me. + +“Enter, my good sir,” said he, “our people are at home.” + +I entered a very neat room, furnished in the fashion of other days. On +one side stood a cabinet containing the silver. Against the wall hung +the diploma of an officer, with colored engravings arranged around its +frame; notably, the “Choice of the Betrothed,” the “Taking of Kurstrin,” + and the “Burial of the Cat by the Mice.” Near the window sat an old +woman in a mantilla, her head wrapped in a handkerchief. She was winding +a skein of thread held on the separated hands of a little old man, blind +of one eye, who was dressed like an officer. + +“What do you desire, my dear sir?” said the woman to me, without +interrupting her occupation. I told her that I had come to enter the +service, and that, according to rule, I hastened to present myself to +the captain. In saying this, I turned to the one-eyed old man, whom I +took for the commandant. The good lady interrupted the speech which I +had prepared in advance: + +“Ivan Mironoff is not at home; he is gone to visit Father Garasim; +but it is all the same; I am his wife. Deign to love us and have us in +favor! Take a seat, my dear sir.” She ordered a servant to send her the +Corporal. The little old man gazed at me curiously, with his only eye. + +“May I dare to ask,” said he, “in what regiment you have deigned to +serve?” + +I satisfied him on that point. + +“And may I dare to ask why you changed from the Guards to our garrison?” + +I replied that it was by the orders of authority. + +“Probably for actions little becoming an officer of the Guards?” resumed +the persistent questioner. + +“Will you stop your stupidities?” said the Captain’s wife to him. “You +see the young man is fatigued by the journey; he has something else to +do besides answering you. Hold your hands better! And you my dear sir,” + continued she, turning to me, “do not be too much afflicted that you are +thrust into our little town; you are not the first, and will not be the +last. Now, there is Alexis Chabrine, who has been transferred to us for +a term of four years for murder. God knows what provocation he had. He +and a lieutenant went outside the city with their swords, and before two +witnesses Alexis killed the lieutenant. Ah! misfortune has no master.” + +Just then the Corporal entered, a young and handsome Cossack. “Maxim,” + said the Captain’s wife, “give this officer a clean lodging.” + +“I obey, Basilia,” replied the Cossack; “shall I lodge him with Ivan +Pologoff?” + +“You are doting, Maxim, he has too little space now; besides, he is +my child’s godfather; and, moreover, he never forgets that we are his +chiefs. What is your name, my dear sir?” + +“Peter Grineff.” + +“Then conduct Peter Grineff to the quarters of Simeon Kieff. That rascal +let his horse into my vegetable garden. Is all right, Maxim?” + +“Thank God, all is quiet, except that Corporal Kourzoff quarreled with +the woman Augustina about a pail of warm water.” + +“Ignatius,” said the Captain’s wife to the one-eyed man, “judge between +the two--decide which one is guilty, and punish both. Go, Maxim, God be +with you. Peter Grineff, Maxim will conduct you to your lodgings.” + +I took my leave; the Corporal led me to a cabin placed on the high bank +near the river’s edge, at the end of the fortress. Half of the cabin was +occupied by the family of Simeon Kieff, the other was given up to me. +My half of the cabin was a large apartment divided by a partition. +Saveliitch began at once to install us, whilst I looked out of the +narrow window. Before me stretched the bleak and barren steppe; nearer +rose some cabins; at the threshold of one stood a woman with a bowl in +her hand calling the pigs to feed; no other objects met my sight, save +a few chickens scratching for stray kernels of corn in the street. And +this was the country to which I was condemned to pass my youth! I turned +from the window, seized by bitter sadness, and went to bed without +supper, notwithstanding the supplications of Saveliitch, who with +anguish cried aloud: “Oh! he will not deign to eat! O Lord! what will my +mistress say, if the child should fall ill!” + +The next morning I had scarcely begun to dress, when a young officer +entered my room. He was of small size, with irregular features, but his +sun-burned face had remarkable vivacity. “Pardon me,” said he in French, +“that I come so unceremoniously to make your acquaintance. I learned +yesterday of your arrival, and the desire of seeing at last a human +face so took possession of me that I could wait no longer. You will +understand this when you shall have lived here some time!” + +I easily guessed that he was the officer dismissed from the Guards for +the affair of the duel--Alexis Chabrine. He was very intelligent; his +conversation was sprightly and interesting. He described with impulse +and gayety the Commandant’s family, society, and in general the whole +country round. I was laughing heartily, when Ignatius, the same +old pensioner whom I had seen mending his uniform in the Captain’s +waiting-room, entered, and gave me an invitation to dinner from Basilia +Mironoff, the Captain’s wife. Alexis declared that he would accompany +me. + +Approaching the Commandant’s house we saw on the square some twenty +little old pensioners, with long queues and three-cornered hats. +These old men were drawn up in line of battle. Before them stood +the Commandant, a fresh and vigorous old man of high stature, in +dressing-gown and cotton cap. As soon as he saw us, he approached, +addressed me a few affable words, and then resumed his drill. We +were going to stay to see the manoeuvering, but he begged us to go on +immediately to the house, promising to join us at once; “for,” said he, +“there is really nothing to be seen here.” + +Basilia received us kindly, and with simplicity, treating me like an +old acquaintance. The pensioner and the maid Polacca were laying the +table-cloth. + +“What is the matter with my dear Ivan Mironoff, today, that he is so +long instructing his troops?” said the mistress. “Polacca, go and +bring him to dinner. And where is my child, Marie?” Scarcely had she +pronounced this name, than a young girl about sixteen entered the +room;--a rosy, round-faced girl, wearing her hair in smooth bandeaux +caught behind her ears, which were red with modesty and shyness. She did +not please me very much at the first glance; I was prejudiced against +her by Alexis, who had described the Captain’s daughter to me as a fool. +Marie seated herself in a corner and began to sew. The soup was brought +on the table. Basilia, not seeing her husband coming, sent the maid a +second time to call him. + +“Tell the master that his inspection can wait; the soup is cooling. +Thank God! the drills need not be lost; there will be time enough yet to +use his voice at his leisure.” + +The captain soon appeared with his one-eyed officer. + +“What’s this, my dear,” said Basilia; “the table has been served some +time, and no one could make you come.” + +“You see, Basilia, I was busy with the service, instructing my good +soldiers.” + +“Come, come, Ivan Mironoff, that’s boasting. The service does not suit +them, and as for you, you know nothing about it. You should have stayed +at home and prayed God, that suits you much better. My dear guests, to +table.” + +We took our places for dinner. Basilia was not silent a moment; she +overwhelmed me with questions: Who were my parents? Were they living? +Where did they reside? What was their fortune? When she learned that my +father owned three hundred serfs, she exclaimed: + +“You see there are some rich people in the world--and we, my dear sir, +in point of souls, we possess only the maid Polacca. Yet, thank God, we +live, somehow or other. We have but one care, that is Marie, a girl that +must be married off. And what fortune has she? The price of two baths +per annum. If only she could find a worthy husband. If not, there she +is, eternally a maid.” + +I glanced at Marie; she blushed, tears were dropping into her soup. I +pitied her, and hastened to change the conversation. “I have heard that +the Bashkirs intend to attack your fortress?” + +“Who said so,” replied Ivan Mironoff. + +“I heard it at Orenbourg.” + +“All nonsense,” said Ivan, “we have not heard the least word about it; +the Bashkirs are an intimidated people; and the Kirghis have also had +some good lessons. They dare not attack us, and if they should even +dream of it, I would give them so great a fright that they would not +move again for ten years.” + +“Do you not fear,” I continued, addressing Basilia, “to stay in a +fortress exposed to these dangers?” + +“A matter of habit, my dear,” she replied, “twenty years ago, when we +were transferred here from the regiment, you could not believe how I +feared the pagans. If I chanced to see their fur caps, if I heard their +shouts, believe me, my heart was ready to faint; but now I am so used +to this life, that if told that the brigands were prowling around us, I +would not stir from the fortress.” + +“Basilia is a very brave lady,” observed Alexis, gravely. “Ivan Mironoff +knows some thing about it.” + +“Oh, you see,” said Ivan, “she does not belong to the regiment of +poltroons.” + +“And Marie,” I asked of her mother “is she as bold as you?” + +“Marie?” said the lady. “No! Marie is a coward. Up to the present she +has not heard the report of a gun without trembling in every limb. +Two years ago Ivan had a pleasant fancy to fire off his cannon on my +birthday; the poor pigeon was so frightened that she almost went into +the next world. Since that day the miserable cannon has not spoken.” + +We rose from the table. The captain and his wife went to take their +siesta. I went with Alexis to his room, where we passed the evening +together. + + + + +IV. THE DUEL. + + +Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became not +only supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of the +family in the Commandant’s house. The husband and wife were excellent +people. Ivan Mironoff, from being the adopted child of the regiment, +rose to officer’s rank. He was a plain, simple, uneducated man, but +thoroughly good and loyal. His wife governed him, and that suited his +natural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the garrison, as she +did her household, and commanded through the fortress as she did in +her own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we became +better acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection and +intelligence. Little by little I became deeply attached to this good +family. + +I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not +oppress me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to +do, no guard to mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his own +amusement, the Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet succeeded +in teaching them which was the right flank and which the left. + +Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so +that a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and +essayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every day +I dined at the Commandant’s, where, as a general thing, I spent the +rest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife, +Accoulina, the greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I met +daily, yet gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual jokes upon +the Commandant’s family, and above all his biting remarks about Marie, +rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had no other +society than this family in the fortress, and I desired no other. All +predictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, and peace +reigned around us. + +I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. One +day I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is well +known that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek a +kindly audience. I copied my little song and took it to Alexis, the +only one in the fortress who could appreciate a poetical work. After +preluding a little, I drew my pages from my pocket and read my verses to +him. + +“How do you like that?” said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. To +my great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my writings, +declared frankly that my song was worth nothing. + +“What do you mean?” said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper out +of my hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every word, +tearing me up in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. I snatched +the paper from him, declaring that never again would I show him any of +my compositions. + +“We shall see,” said he, “if you can keep your word; poets need a +listener as Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. Who +is this Marie to whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it not be +Marie Mironoff?” + +“That is none of your business,” said I, frowning. “I want neither your +advice nor supposition.” + +“Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover,” continued Alexis, irritating me +more and more, “listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed do +not confine yourself to songs.” + +“What do you mean, sir? Explain!” + +“With pleasure,” he replied. “I mean that if you wish to form an +intimacy with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair of +earrings instead of your lackadaisical verses.” + +All my blood boiled. “Why have you this opinion of her?” I asked, with +much effort restraining my anger. + +“Because,” said he, “of my own experience.” + +“You lie, wretch,” I cried, with furry, “you lie, shamelessly.” + +Alexis was enraged. + +“That shall not pass so,” he said, grasping my hand. “You shall give me +satisfaction.” + +“When ever you like,” I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was +ready to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom +I found with a needle in his hand. According to orders from the +Commandant’s wife, he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried for +winter use. + +“Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends +you here?” + +In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him, +Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great +attention, opening wide his only eye. + +“You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I should +witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?” + +“Precisely.” + +“Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harsh +word can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, give +him the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, you +a third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if you +fight--well, if _you_ should kill _him_, God be with him! for I do not +like him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece of +business! Then who will pay for the broken pots?” + +The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution. + +“Do as you like,” said Ignatius, “but what’s the use of having me as a +witness? People fight--that’s nothing extraordinary--I have often been +quite close to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of color.” + +I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, or +could not understand me. “Follow your own fashion,” said he, “if I were +to meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan Mironoff, +according to rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress for the +commission of a criminal action--one contrary to the interests of the +crown.” + +I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. He +gave me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. As +usual I passed the evening at the Commandant’s, forcing myself to +be calm and gay, in order not to awaken suspicions and to avoid +questioning. I confess that I had not the coolness of which people boast +who have been in a similar position. I was disposed to tenderness. Marie +Mironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The idea that perhaps I saw +her for the last time, gave her a touching grace. + +Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation with +Ignatius. + +“What’s the good of seconds,” said he, dryly. “We can do without them.” + +We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o’clock. + +Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us. +“You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a +good quarrel.” + +“What! what! Ignatius,” said the Captain’s wife, who was playing +patience in a corner, “I do not quite understand?” + +Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confused +and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: “He approves of +peace.” + +“With whom had you quarreled?” said she. + +“With Peter Grineff--a few high words.” + +“Why?” + +“For a mere nothing--a song.” + +“Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened.” + +“Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang +his song for me. Then I chanted mine: + + + ‘Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.’ + + +As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every +one is at liberty to sing what he pleases.” + +The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood +his allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general. +The Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, and +advised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service, +and leading to nothing good. + +As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take +leave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried +its point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the +morning at six o’clock. + +The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting my +adversary, who did not fail to appear. “We may be surprised,” he +said; “be quick.” We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the +scabbards, when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from +behind a haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of the +Commandant. We obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius conducted +us in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity. We entered +the Commandant’s house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, and exclaimed +with emphasis: “They are taken!” + +Basilia ran toward us: “What does this mean? plotting an assassination +in our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, give +up your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you; +are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he was +transferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish; +and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour.” + +Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: “You see! +You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code.” + +Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not +help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said +to Basilia: “Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you take +useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to Ivan +Mironoff; it is his business.” + +“What! what! my dear sir,” said the lady, “are not man and wife the same +flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boys +instantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water, to expel this +stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on order +that they may repent before God and man.” + +Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The +tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to +embrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the +house, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us. + +“Are you not ashamed of yourself,” I said to him, “to have denounced us +to the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?” + +“As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all +from me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of +the Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did.” He went to his room; I +remained with Alexis. + +“Our affair can not end thus,” I remarked. + +“Certainly not,” replied Alexis. “You shall pay me with your blood for +your impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign +for a few days. Until then, adieu!” + +We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant’s, +and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and her +mother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Marie +reproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. “My +heart failed me,” she said, “when I heard you were going to fight with +swords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready to strangle each +other, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but even the honor and +happiness of those who-- I am sure you did not begin the quarrel? Alexis +was the aggressor?” + +“Why do you think so?” + +“Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not +displease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me.” + +“What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?” + +Marie blushed. “It seems,” said she, “that I please him.” + +“How do you know?” + +“Because he made me an offer of marriage.” + +“He made you an offer of marriage! When?” + +“Last year, two months before your arrival.” + +“You did not accept?” + +“Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of an +excellent family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that beneath +the crown, on my marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss him before +every one! No! no! not for any thing in the world.” + +Marie’s words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexis +in aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutual +inclination, and was trying to turn us from each other. The words which +had provoked our quarrel seemed to me the more infamous, as instead of +being a vulgar joke, it was deliberate calumny. The desire to punish +this shameless liar became so strong that I waited impatiently the +favorable moment. I had not long to wait. The next day, occupied +composing an elegy, biting my pen in the expectation of a rhyme, Alexis +knocked at my window. I put down my pen, took my sword, and went out of +the house. + +“Why defer?” said Alexis, “we are no longer watched, let us go down to +the river-side; there none will hinder us.” + +We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at +the water’s edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I in +the use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who had +been, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. Alexis did +not expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous a character. + +For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but +at last noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him +energetically, and almost drove him backward into the river, when +suddenly I heard my name pronounced in a high voice. Turning my head +rapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the path. As I turned +my head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right shoulder, +and I fell, unconscious. + + + + +V. LOVE. + + +When I came to myself, I neither knew what had happened nor where I was. +I felt very weak; the room was strange, there was Saveliitch standing +before me, a light in his hand, and some one arranging the bandages that +bound my chest and shoulder. Gradually I recalled my duel, and easily +divined that I had been wounded. The door at this instant moaned gently +on its hinges. + +“Well, how is he?” whispered a voice that made me start. + +“Still in the same state,” sighed Saveliitch, “now unconscious four +days.” I wanted to turn on my bed, but I had not the strength. “Where +am I?” said I, with effort, “who is here?” Marie approached, and bending +over me said, gently, “How do you feel?” + +“Thank God, I am well. Is that Marie? tell me--?” I could not finish. +Saveliitch uttered a cry of joy, his delight showing plainly in his +face. “He recovers! he recovers! Thanks to thee, O God! Peter, how you +frightened me!--four days! It is easy to talk--!” + +Marie interrupted him: “Do not, Saveliitch, speak too much to him; he is +still very weak.” She went out, shutting the door noiselessly. I must be +in the Commandant’s house, or Marie could not come to see me. I wished +to question Saveliitch, but the old man shook his head and put his +fingers in his ears. I closed my eyes from ill-humor--and fell asleep. + +Upon awaking, I called Saveliitch; instead of him, I saw before me +Marie, whose gentle voice greeted me. I seized her hand and bathed it +with my tears. Marie did not withdraw it, and suddenly I felt upon my +cheek the impression, humid and delicious, of her lips! A thrill shot +through my whole being. + +“Dear, good Marie, be my wife, and make me the happiest of men!” + +“In the name of heaven be calm,” she said, withdrawing her hand, “your +wound may reopen; for my sake be careful.” + +She left the room. I was in a daze. I felt life returning. “She will be +mine!” I kept repeating, “she loves me!” I grew better, hour by hour. +The barber of the regiment dressed my wounds, for there was no other +physician in the fortress, and thank God, he did not merely play the +doctor. Youth and nature completed the cure. + +The Commandant’s whole family surrounded me with care. Marie scarcely +ever left me. I need not say that I took the first favorable moment to +continue my interrupted declaration. This time Marie listened with more +patience. She frankly acknowledged her affection for me. And added +that her parents would be happy in her happiness; “but,” she continued, +“think well of it? Will there be no objection on the part of your +family?” + +I did not doubt my mother’s tenderness, but knowing my father’s +character, I foresaw that my love would not be received by him +favorably, and that in all probability he would treat it as one of my +youthful follies. This I avowed plainly to Marie, but nevertheless I +resolved to write to my father as eloquently as possible, and ask his +blessing on our marriage. I showed the letter to Marie, who thought +it so touching and convincing that she did not doubt of success, and +abandoned herself, with all the confidence of youth and love, to the +feelings of her heart. + +I made peace with Alexis in the first days of my convalescence. Ivan +Mironoff said, reproaching me for the duel: “You see, Peter, I ought +to put you under arrest, but indeed you have been well punished without +that. Alexis is, by my orders, under guard in the barn, and his sword is +under lock and key in Basilia’s keeping.” + +I was too happy to harbor spite, so I entreated for Alexis, and the kind +Commandant, with his wife’s permission, consented to set him at liberty. +Alexis came at once to see me. He expressed regret for all that had +happened, confessing that the fault was all his, and begged me to +forget the past. Being naturally incapable of revenge, I pardoned him, +forgiving both our quarrel and my wound. In his calumny I now saw the +irritation of wounded vanity and despised love. I generously forgave my +unfortunate rival. As soon as completely cured I returned to my lodging. +I awaited impatiently the reply to my letter, not daring to hope, yet +trying to stifle all sad presentiments. I had not yet had an explanation +with Basilia and her husband, but my suit could not surprise them. +Neither Marie nor I had concealed our feelings, and we were sure in +advance of their consent. + +At last, one pleasant day Saveliitch came to my room, letter in hand. +The address was written in my father’s hand. This sight prepared me for +something grave, for usually my mother wrote me, and he only added a few +lines at the end. Long I hesitated to break the seal. I read again and +again the solemn superscription: + + “To my Son, + Peter Grineff, + Principality of Orenbourg, + Fortress of Belogorsk.” + +I tried to discover by my father’s writing his mood of mind when he +wrote that letter. At last I broke that seal. I saw from the first lines +that our hopes were crushed! Here is the letter: + + +“MY SON PETER: We received the 15th of this month the letter in which +you ask our paternal benediction and consent to your marriage with +Mironoff’s daughter. Not only have I no intention of giving either my +consent or benediction, but I have a great mind to go to you and punish +you for your childish follies, notwithstanding your officer’s rank, +because you have proved that you are not worthy to bear the sword which +was given you for the defense of your country, and not for the purpose +of fighting a duel with a fool of your own stamp. I shall write +instantly to Andrew Karlovitch to transfer you from the fortress of +Belogorsk to some still more distant place. Upon hearing of your wound +your mother was taken ill, and is still confined to her bed. What will +become of you? I pray God to reform you, but can scarcely hope for so +much from his goodness. Your father, A.G.” + + +The harsh expressions which my father had not spared, wounded me sorely; +the contempt with which he treated Marie seemed to me as unjust as it +was undignified. Then the mere idea of being sent from this fortress +alarmed me; but above all, I grieved for my mother’s illness. Saveliitch +came in for a share of my indignation, not doubting but that he informed +my parents of the duel. After having paced up and down my little +chamber, I stopped suddenly before the old man and said: “It seems that +it is not enough that you caused my wound, and brought me almost to the +brink of the grave, but that you want to kill my mother too!” + +Saveliitch was as motionless as if lightning had struck him. “Have mercy +on me! my lord,” said he, “what do you deign to tell me? I caused your +wound? God sees that I was running to put my breast before you, to +receive the sword of Alexis. This cursed age of mine hindered me. But +what have I done to your mother?” + +“What have you done? Who charged you to write an accusation against me? +Were you taken into my service to play the spy on me?” + +“I write an accusation?” replied the old man, quite broken down, “O God! +King of heaven! Here, read what the master writes me, and you shall see +if I denounced thee.” At the same time he drew from his pocket a letter +which he gave me, and I read what follows: + +“Shame upon you, you old dog, that notwithstanding my strict orders +you wrote me nothing regarding my son, leaving to strangers the duty of +telling me of his follies. Is it thus you do your duty and fulfill your +master’s will? I shall send you to keep the pigs, for having concealed +the truth, and for your condescension to the young man. Upon receipt of +this letter inform me immediately of the state of his health, which is, +I hear, improving, and tell me precisely the place of his wound, and +whether he has well attended.” + +Evidently Saveliitch was not in the wrong, and I had offended him by my +suspicions and reproaches. I asked him to forgive me, but the old man +was inconsolable. “See to what I have lived!” he repeated; “see what +thanks I have merited from my masters for all my long services! I am an +old dog! I am a swine-herd, and more than all that, I caused your wound. +No, no, Peter, I am not in fault, it is the cursed Frenchman who taught +thee to play with these steel blades, and to stamp and dance, as if by +thrusting and dancing you could defend yourself from a bad man.” + +Now, then, who had taken the pains to accuse me to my father? The +General, Andrew Karlovitch? He did not trouble himself much about me; +moreover, Ivan Mironoff had not thought it worth while to report my duel +to him. My suspicions fell on Alexis. He only would find some advantage +in this information, the consequence of which might be my dismissal from +the fortress and separation from the Commandant’s family. I went to tell +every thing to Marie. She met me on the doorstep. + +“What has happened to you? how pale you are!” + +“All’s over,” I replied, handing her my father’s letter. + +It was her turn to blanch. Having read the letter she returned it, and +said in a trembling voice: “It was not my destiny. Your parents do not +wish me in their family; may the will of God be done! He knows better +than we what is best for us. There is nothing to be done in the matter, +Peter; you, at least, may be happy.” + +“It shall not be so,” I exclaimed, taking her hand. “You love me, I am +ready for any fate. Let us go and throw ourselves at your parents’ feet. +They are simple people; they are neither haughty nor cruel; they will +give us their benediction; we will marry; and in time, I am sure, we +will soften my father. My mother will intercede for us, and he will +pardon me.” + +“No, Peter, I will not marry you without the benediction of your +parents. You would not be happy without their blessing. Let us submit to +the will of God. If you meet another bride, if you love her, may God be +with you! I, Peter, I will pray for both of you.” Tears interrupted her, +and she went away; I wished to follow her into the house, but I was +not master of myself, and I went to my own quarters. I was plunged in +melancholy, when Saveliitch came to interrupt my reflections. + +“There, my lord,” said he, presenting me a sheet of paper all covered +with writing, “see if I am a spy on my master, and if I try to embroil +father and son.” + +I took the paper from his hand; it was his reply to my father’s letter. + +I could not help smiling at the old man’s letter. I was in no condition +to write to my father, and to calm my mother his letter seemed +sufficient. + +From that day, Marie scarcely spoke to me, and even tried to avoid me. +The Commandant’s house became insupportable, and I accustomed myself, +little by little, to remain alone in my room. At first Basilia reasoned +with me, but seeing my persistency she let me alone. I saw Ivan Mironoff +only when the service required it. I had but rare interviews with +Alexis, for whom my antipathy increased, because I thought I discovered +in him a secret enmity which confirmed my suspicions. Life became a +burden; I gave myself up to a melancholy which was fed by solitude and +inaction. Love burned on in silence and tortured me, more and more. +I lost all taste for reading and literature; I let myself become +completely depressed; and I feared that I should either become a lunatic +or rush into dissipation, when events occurred that had great influence +on my life and give a strong and healthy tone to my mind. + + + + +VI. POUGATCHEFF. + + +Before beginning the recital of the strange events of which I was +witness, I ought to say a few words about the situation of affairs +toward the end of the year 1773. The rich and vast province of Orenbourg +was inhabited by a number of tribes, half civilized, who had just +recognized the sovereignty of the Russian Czars. Their continual +revolts, their impatience of law and civilized life, their inconstancy +and cruelty, demanded on the part of the government a constant +watchfulness to reduce them to obedience. Fortresses had been erected in +favorable places, and Cossacks, the former possessors of the shores of +the Iaik, in many places formed a part of the garrisons. But these very +Cossacks, who should have guaranteed the peace and security of their +districts, were restless and dangerous subjects of the empire. In 1772 +a riot occurred in one of their chief towns. This riot was caused by the +severity of the measures employed by General Traubenberg to bring the +army to obedience. The only result of these measures was the barbarous +murder of Traubenberg, a change of Imperial officers, and in the end, by +force of grape and canister, the suppression of the riot. + +This happened shortly before my arrival at the fortress of Belogorsk. +Then all seemed quiet. But the authorities had too easily believed in +the feigned repentance of the rebels, who nursed their hate in silence, +and only awaited a propitious moment to recommence the struggle. + +I return to my story. Once evening, it was in the month of October, +1773, I was alone in the house, listening to the whistling of the Autumn +winds, and watching the clouds gliding rapidly before the moon. An +order came from the Commandant, calling me to his presence. I went +that instant. I found there Alexis, Ignatius and the Corporal of the +Cossacks, but neither the wife nor daughter of the Commandant. My chief +bade me good evening, had the door closed, and every one seated, except +the Corporal who remained standing; then he drew a paper from his pocket +and said to us: + +“Gentlemen, important news! Listen to what the General writes.” He put +on his spectacles and read: + +“To the Commandant of the Fortress of Belogorsk, Captain Mironoff. +_Confidential_. I hereby inform you that the deserter and turbulent +Cossack of the Don, Imiliane Pougatcheff, after having been guilty of +the unpardonable insolence of usurping the name of the deceased Emperor +Peter III, has assembled a troop of brigands, disturbed the villages of +the Iaik, and has even taken and destroyed several fortresses, at the +same time committing everywhere robberies and assassinations. Therefore, +upon the receipt of this, you will, Captain, bethink you of the measures +to be taken to repulse the said robber and usurper; and if possible, +in case he turn his arms against the fortress confided to your care, to +completely exterminate him.” + +“It is easy to talk,” said the Commandant, taking off his spectacles, +and folding the paper; “but we must use every precaution. The rascal +seems strong, and we have only 130 men, even adding the Cossacks, +upon whom there is no dependence, be it said without reproach to thee, +Maxim.” The Corporal of the Cossacks smiled. “Gentlemen, let us do our +part; be vigilant, post sentries, establish night patrols; in case of an +attack, shut the gates and call out the soldiers. Maxim, watch well your +Cossacks. It is necessary to examine the cannon and clean it; and above +all to keep the secret, that no one in the fortress should know any +thing before the time.” + +Having given his orders, Ivan Mironoff dismissed us. I went out with +Alexis, speculating on what we had heard. “What do you think of it? How +will this end?” I asked him. + +“God knows,” he replied, “we shall see. At present there is no danger.” + And he began, as if thinking, to hum a French air. + +Notwithstanding our precautions the news of the apparition of +Pougatcheff spread through the fortress. However great the respect of +Ivan Mironoff for his wife, he would not reveal to her for anything in +the world a military secret. When he had received the General’s letter +he very adroitly rid himself of Basilia by telling her that the Greek +priest had received from Orenbourg extraordinary news which he kept a +great mystery. Thereupon Basilia desired to pay a visit to Accouline, +the clergyman’s wife, and by Mironoff’s advice Marie went also. Master +of the situation, Ivan Mironoff locked up the maid in the kitchen and +assembled us. + +Basilia came home without news, and learned that during her absence a +council of war had been held, and that Polacca was imprisoned in +the kitchen. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and +overwhelmed him with questions. He was prepared for the attack, and +stoutly replied to his curious better-half: + +“You see, my dear, the women about the country have been using straw +to kindle their fires; now as that might be dangerous, I assembled my +officers, and gave them orders to prevent these women lighting fires +with anything but fagots and brushwood.” + +“And why did you lock up Polacca in the kitchen till my return?” Ivan +Mironoff had not foreseen that question, and muttered some incoherent +words. Basilia saw at once her husband’s perfidy, but knowing that +she could extract nothing from him at that moment, she ceased her +questioning, and spoke of the pickled cucumbers which Accouline knew +how to prepare in a superior fashion. That night Basilia never closed an +eye, unable to imagine what it was that her husband knew that she could +not share with him. + +The next day, returning from mass, she saw Ignatius cleaning the cannon, +taking out rags, pebbles, bits of wood, and all sorts of rubbish +which the small boys had stuffed there. “What means these warlike +preparations?” thought the Commandant’s wife? “Is an attack from the +Kirghis feared? Is it possible that Mironoff would hide from me so +mere a trifle?” She called Ignatius, determined to know the secret that +excited her woman’s curiosity. Basilia began by making some remarks +about household matters, like a judge who begins his interrogation with +questions foreign to the affair, in order to reassure the accused, and +throw him off his guard. Then having paused a moment she sighed and +shook her head, saying: “O God! what news! what news! What will become +of us?” + +“My dear lady,” said Ignatius, “the Lord is merciful; we have soldiers +and plenty of powder; I have cleaned the cannon. We may repulse this +Pougatcheff. If the Lord is with us, the wolf will eat no one here.” + +“Who is Pougatcheff?” asked the Commandant’s wife. + +Ignatius saw that he had gone too far, and he bit his tongue. But it was +too late. Basilia constrained him to tell her all, having given her word +to keep the secret. She kept her word, and indeed told no one except +Accoulina, whose cow was still on the steppe and might be carried off by +the brigands. Soon every one talked of Pougatcheff, the current reports +being very different. The Commandant sent out the Corporal to pick up +information about him in all the neighboring villages and little forts. +The Corporal returned after an absence of two days, and declared that +he had seen on the steppe, sixty versts from the fortress, a great many +fires, and that he had heard the Bashkirs say that an innumerable force +was advancing. He could not tell anything definitely, having been afraid +to venture farther. + +Great agitation was soon after this observed amongst the Cossacks of +our garrison. They assembled in groups in the streets, speaking in a +low tone amongst themselves, and dispersing as soon as they perceived +a dragoon or other Russian soldier. Orders were given to watch them. +Zoulac, a baptized Kalmouk, made a very grave revelation to the +Commandant. According to the Kalmouk, the Cossack made a false report; +for to his comrades the perfidious Corporal said that he had advanced to +the rebel camp, had been presented to their rebel chief, had kissed his +hand and conversed with him. The Commandant ordered the Corporal under +arrest, and replaced him by the Kalmouk. This change was received by +the Cossacks with visible discontent. They openly murmured and Ignatius, +when executing the Commandant’s order, heard them say, with his own +ears, “wait, garrison rat, wait!” + +The Commandant decided to examine the Corporal that same day, but he +had escaped, no doubt, by the aid of his brother Cossacks. Another +event increased the Captain’s uneasiness. A Bashkir was seized bearing +seditious letters. Upon this occasion, the Commandant decided to call +at once a council, and in order to do so, wished to send away his wife +under some specious pretext. But as Mironoff was the simplest and most +truthful of men, he could think of no other device than that already +employed. + +“You see, Basilia,” said he, coughing several times, “Father Garasim +has, it is said, been to the city--” + +“Silence! silence!” interrupted his wife; “you are going to call another +council and talk in my absence of Imiliane Pougatcheff, but this time +you can not deceive me.” + +The Captain stared; “Eh! well! my dear,” said he, “since you know all, +stay; we may as well speak before you.” + +“You cannot play the fox,” said his wife; “send for the officers.” + +We assembled again. The Commandant read, before his wife, Pougatcheff’s +proclamation, written by some half-educated Cossack. The brigand +declared to us his intention of marching directly upon our fortress, +inviting the Cossacks and soldiers to join him, and advising the +chiefs not to resist, threatening, in that case, extremest torture. The +proclamation was written in vulgar but energetic terms, and must have +produced an impression upon simple-minded people. + +“What a rascal!” exclaimed the Captain’s wife. “Just see what he +proposes. To go out and meet him and lay our flags at his feet. Ah! the +son of a dog! He does not know that we have been forty years in service, +and that, thank God, we have seen all sorts of military life. Is it +possible to find a Commandant cowardly enough to obey this robber?” + +“It ought not to be,” replied the Captain, “but it is said that the +villain has taken possession of several fortress.” + +“It appears he is quite strong,” said Alexis. + +“We shall instantly know his real force,” continued the Commandant; +“Basilia, give me the key of the garret. Ignatius, bring the Bashkir +here, and tell Zoulac to bring the rods.” + +“Wait a little, my dear,” said the Commandant’s wife, leaving her seat; +“let me take Marie out of the house, or else she will hear the screams +and be frightened. And, to tell the truth, I am, myself, not very +curious about such investigations. Until I see you again, adieu.” + +Torture was then so rooted in the customs of justice, that the humane +Ukase of Catherine II, who had ordered its abolition, remained long +without effect. It was thought that the confession of the accused was +indispensable to his condemnation, an idea not only unreasonable, but +contrary to the most simple good sense in matters of jurisprudence; for +if the denial of the accused is not accepted as proof of his innocence, +the confession which is torn from him by torture ought to serve still +less as proof of his guilt. Even now I sometimes hear old judges regret +the abolition of this barbarous custom. But in the time of our story no +one doubted the necessity of torture, neither the judges nor the accused +themselves. For this reason the Captain’s order did not astonish any +of us. Ignatius went for the Bashkir, and a few minutes later he +was brought to the waiting-room. The Commandant ordered him into the +council-room where we were. + +The Bashkir crossed the threshold with difficulty, for his feet were +shackled. He took off his high Cossack cap and stood near the door. I +looked at him and shuddered, involuntarily. Never shall I forget that +man; he seemed at least seventy years of age, and had neither nose nor +ears. His head was shaved; a few sparse gray hairs took the place of +beard. He was small of stature, thin and bent; but his Tartar eyes still +sparkled. + +“Eh! eh!” said the Commandant, who recognized by these terrible signs +one of the rebels punished in 1741. “You are an old wolf, I see; you +have already been caught in our snares. This is not your first offense, +for your head is so well planed off.” + +The old Bashkir was silent, and looked at the Commandant with an air of +complete imbecility. + +“Well! why are you silent?” continued the Captain; “do you not +understand Russian? Zoulac, ask him, in your tongue, who sent him into +our fortress.” + +The Kalmouk repeated in the Tartar language the Captain’s question. But +the Bashkir looked at him with the same expression and without answering +a word. + +“I will make you answer,” exclaimed the Captain, with a Tartar oath. +“Come, take off his striped dressing-gown, his fool’s garment, and +scourge him well.” + +Two pensioners commenced to remove the clothing from the shoulders of +the old man. Then, sore distress was vividly depicted on the face of +the unfortunate man. He looked on all sides, like a poor little animal +caught by children. But when one of the pensioners seized his hands to +turn them around his neck and lift up the old man on his shoulders; when +Zoulac took the rods and raised his hand to strike, then the Bashkir +uttered a low, but penetrating moan, and raising his head, opened his +mouth, where, in place of a tongue, moved a short stump! + +We were still debating, when Basilia rushed breathlessly into the room +with a terrified air. “What has happened to you?” asked the Commandant, +surprised. + +“Misfortune! misfortune!” replied she. “A fort was taken this morning; +Father Garasim’s boy has just returned. He saw how it was captured. +The Commandant and all the officers are hanged, all the soldiers made +prisoners, and the rebels are coming here.” + +This unexpected news made a deep impression on me, for I knew the +Commandant of that fortress. Two months ago, the young man, traveling +with his bride coming from Orenbourg, had paid a visit to Captain +Mironoff. The fort he commanded was only twenty-five versts from ours, +so that from hour to hour we might expect an attack from Pougatcheff. + +My imagination pictured the fate of Marie, and I trembled for her. + +“Listen, Captain Mironoff,” said I to the Commandant, “our duty is to +defend the fortress to our last breath; that is understood, but the +safety of the women must be thought of; send them to a more distant +fortress,--to Orenbourg, if the route be still open.” + +Mironoff turned to his wife. “You see my dear! indeed it would be well +to send you somewhere farther off until we shall have defeated the +rebels.” + +“What nonsense!” replied she. “Where is the fortress that balls have +not reached? In what respect is our fortress unsafe? Thank God, we have +lived here twenty and one years. We have seen Bashkirs and Kirghis; +Pougatcheff can not be worse than they.” + +“My dear, stay if you will, since your faith is so great in our +fortress. But what shall we do with Marie? It will be all well if we +can keep off the robber, or if help reach us in time. If the fortress, +however, be taken--” + +Basilia could only stammer a few words, and was silent, choked by her +feelings. + +“No, Basilia,” continued the Commandant, who remarked that his words +made a deep impression on his wife, perhaps for the first time in his +life, “it is not advisable that Marie stay here. Let us send her to +Orenbourg, to her god-mother’s. That is a well-manned fortress, with +stone walls and plenty of cannon. I would advise you to go there +yourself; think what might happen to you were your fortress to be taken +by assault.” + +“Well! well! let us send Marie away,” said the Captain’s wife, “but do +not dream of asking me to go, for I will do nothing of the kind. It is +not becoming, in my old age, to separate myself from thee and seek a +solitary grave in a strange place. We have lived together; let us die +together.” + +“You are right,” said the Commandant. “Go, and equip Marie; there is no +time to lose; tomorrow, at the dawn of day, she shall set out; she must +have a convoy, though indeed there is no one to spare. Where is she?” + +“She is at Accoulina’s,” said his wife. “She fainted upon hearing that +the fortress had been taken.” + +Basilia went to prepare for her daughter’s departure. The discussion +still continued at the Commandant’s, but I took no further part in +it. Marie reappeared at supper with eyes red from tears. We supped +in silence and rose from the table sooner than usual. Having bade the +family good night, each one sought his room. I forgot my sword, on +purpose, and went back for it; I anticipated finding Marie alone. In +truth she met me at the door and gave me my sword. + +“Adieu, Peter,” she said, weeping, “they send me to Orenbourg. Be happy. +Perhaps God will permit us to meet again; if not--” + +She burst into tears. I folded her in my arms. + +“Adieu, my angel!” I said, “adieu my cherished, my beloved; what ever +happens, be sure that my last thought, my last prayer, will be for +thee.” Leaning of my breast, Marie wept. I kissed her and rushed out. + + + + +VII. THE ASSAULT. + + +I could not sleep during the night, and did not even undress. I intended +to be at the fortress gates at day-dawn to see Marie set out, and bid +her a last adieu. I was completely changed. Excitement was less painful +than my former melancholy, for with the grief of separation there +mingled vague but secret hope, impatient expectation of danger, and a +high ambition. Night passed quickly. I was on the point of going out, +when my door opened, and the Corporal entered, saying that our Cossacks +had deserted the fortress during the night, forcing with them Zoulac, +the Christian Kalmouk, and that all around our ramparts, unknown people +were riding. The idea that Marie had not been able to get off, froze me +with terror. I gave, in haste, a few instructions to the Corporal, and +ran to the Commandant’s. + +Day was breaking. I was going down the street swiftly when I heard my +name called. I stopped. + +“Where are you going, dare I ask?” said Ignatius, catching up with me; +“the Captain is on the rampart and sends me for you. Pougatcheff is +here.” + +“Is Marie gone?” I said, shuddering. + +“She was not ready in time; communication with Orenbourg is cut off; the +fortress is surrounded. Peter, this is bad work.” + +We went to the rampart--a small height formed by nature and fortified +by a palisade. The garrison was there under arms. The cannon had been +dragged there the evening before. The Commandant was walking up and down +before his little troop--the approach of danger had restored to the old +warrior extraordinary vigor. On the steppe, not far from the fortress, +there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; but amongst +them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized by their caps and quivers. +The Commandant passed before the ranks of his small army and said to the +soldiers: “Come, boys, let us fight today for our mother the Empress, +and show the world that we are brave men and faithful to our oath.” + +The soldiers, with loud shouts, testified their good will. Alexis was +standing by me examining the enemy. The people on the steppe, seeing, no +doubt, some movement in our fort, collected in groups and spoke amongst +themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the cannon upon +them, he himself applying the light. The ball whistled over their heads +without doing them any harm. The horsemen dispersed at once, setting +off on a gallop, and the steppe became deserted. At this moment Basilia +appeared on the rampart, followed by Marie, who would not leave her. + +“Well,” said the Captain’s wife, “how is the battle going? Where is the +enemy?” + +“The enemy is not far off,” replied Ivan, “but if God wills it, all will +be well; and thou, Marie, art thou afraid?” + +“No, papa,” said Marie, “I am more afraid by myself in the house.” She +glanced at me, and tried to smile. I pressed my sword, remembering that +I had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her defense. +My heart was on fire. I fancied myself her knight, and longed to prove +myself worthy of her trust. I awaited the decisive moment impatiently. + +Suddenly coming from behind a hill, eight versts from the fortress, +appeared new groups of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe was covered +by men armed with lances and arrows. Amongst them, wearing a scarlet +cafetan, sword in hand, could be distinguished a man mounted on a white +horse. This was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded by his +followers, and very soon, probably by his orders, four men left the +crowd and galloped to our ramparts. We recognized among them our +traitors. One of them raised a sheet of paper above his cap and another +carried on the point of his lance Zoulac’s head, which he threw to us +over the palisade. The poor Kalmouk’s head rolled at the feet of the +Commandant. + +The traitors shouted to us: “Do not fire, come out and receive the Czar. +The Czar is here.” + +“Fire!” shouted the Captain as sole reply. + +The soldiers discharged their pieces. The Cossack who held the letter, +tottered and fell from his horse; the others fled. I glanced at Marie. +Petrified by horror at the sight of the Kalmouk’s head, dizzy from the +noise of the discharge, she seemed lifeless. The Commandant ordered the +Corporal to take the letter from the hand of the dead Cossack. Ignatius +sallied out and returned, leading by the bridle the man’s horse. He gave +the letter to Ivan, who read it in a low voice and tore it up. Meantime +the rebels were preparing for an attack. Very soon balls whistled about +our ears, and arrows fell around us, buried deep in the ground. + +“Basilia,” said the Captain, “women have nothing to do here; take away +Marie; you see the child is more dead than alive.” Basilia, whom the +sound of the balls had rendered more yielding, glanced at the steppe +where much movement was visible, and said: “Ivan, life and death are +from God; bless Marie; come, child, to thy father.” + +Pale and trembling, Marie came and knelt, bending low before him. The +old Commandant made three times the sign of the cross over her, then +raising, kissed her, and said in a broken voice: “Oh! my dear Marie! +pray to God, he will never abandon thee. If an honest man seek thee, may +God give you both love and goodness. Live together as we have lived; my +wife and I. Adieu! my dear Marie! Basilia, take her away quickly.” + +Marie put her arms around his neck and sobbed. The Captain’s wife, in +tears, said: “Embrace us also; adieu, Ivan; if ever I have crossed you, +forgive me.” + +“Adieu! adieu! my dear,” said the Commandant, kissing his old companion. +“Come! enough! go to the house, and if you have time dress Marie in her +best; let her wear a sarafan, embroidered in gold, as is our custom for +burial.” + +Ivan Mironoff returned to us, and fixed all his attention upon the +enemy. The rebels collected around their chief and suddenly began to +advance. “Be firm, boys,” said the Commandant, “the assault begins.” At +that instant savage war-cries were heard. The rebels were approaching +the fortress with their accustomed fleetness. Our cannon was charged +with grape and canister. The Commandant let them come within short +range, and again put a light to his piece. The shot struck in the midst +of the force, which scattered in every direction. Only their chief +remained in advance, and he, waving his sabre, seemed to be rallying +them. Their piercing shouts, which had ceased an instant, redoubled +again. “Now, children,” ordered the Captain, “open the gate, beat the +drum, and advance! Follow me, for a sortie!” + +The Captain, Ignatius and I were in an instant beyond the parapet. But +the frightened garrison had not moved from the square. “What are you +doing, my children?” shouted the Captain; “if we must die, let us die; +the imperial service demands it!” + +At this moment the rebels fell upon us, and forced the entrance to the +citadel. The drum was silent; the garrison threw down their arms. I had +been knocked down, but I rose and entered, pell-mell, with the crowds +into the fortress. I saw the Commandant wounded on the head, and closed +upon by a small troop of bandits, who demanded the keys. I was running +to his aid when several powerful Cossacks seized me and bound me with +their long sashes, crying out: “Wait there, traitor to the Czar, till we +know what to do with you.” + +We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants came out of their +houses offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. Suddenly, shouts +announced that the Czar was on the square, awaiting to receive the oaths +of the prisoners. + +Pougatcheff was seated in an arm-chair on the steps of the Commandant’s +house. He was robed in an elegant Cossack cafetan embroidered on the +seams. A high cap of martin-skin, ornamented with gold tassels, covered +his brow almost to his flashing eyes. His face seemed to me not unknown. +Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Father Garasim, pale and trembling, +stood, the cross in his hand, at the foot of the steps, and seemed to +supplicate in silence for the victims brought before him. + +On the square itself, a gallows was hastily erected. When we approached, +the Bashkirs opened a passage through the crowd and presented us to +Pougatcheff. The bells ceased; the deepest silence prevailed. “Which is +the Commandant?” asked the usurper. Our Corporal came out of the crowd +and pointed to Mironoff. Pougatcheff looked at the old man with a +terrible expression, and said to him: “How did you dare to oppose me, +your emperor?” + +The Commandant, weakened by his wound, collected all his energy, and +said, in a firm but faint voice: “You are not my emperor; you are a +usurper and a brigand.” + +Pougatcheff frowned and raised his white handkerchief. Immediately the +old Captain was seized by Cossacks and dragged to the gibbet. Astride +the cross-beam of the gallows, sat the mutilated Bashkirs who we had +questioned; he held a rope in his hand, and I saw, an instant after, +poor Ivan Mironoff suspended in the air. Then Ignatius was brought up +before Pougatcheff. + +“Take the oath to the emperor, Peter Fedorovitch.” + +“You are not our emperor,” replied the Lieutenant, repeating his +Captain’s words, “you are a brigand and a usurper.” + +Pougatcheff again made a signal with his handkerchief, and the kind +Ignatius hung beside his ancient chief. It was my turn. I looked boldly +at Pougatcheff, preparing to repeat the words of my brave comrades, when +to my inexpressible astonishment I saw Alexis amongst the rebels. He had +had time to cut his hair round, and exchange his uniform for a Cossack +cafetan. He approached Pougatcheff and whispered to him. “Let him be +hung,” said Pougatcheff, not deigning to look at me. A rope was put +around my neck. I uttered a prayer to God in a low voice, expressing +sincere repentance for my sins, and imploring him to save all those dear +to my heart. I was led beneath the gibbet. A shout was heard, “Stop! +Stop!” The executioners paused. I looked. Saveliitch was kneeling at +Pougatcheff’s feet. “O my lord and master,” said my dear old serf, “what +do you want with that nobleman’s child? Set him free, you will get a +good ransom for his life; but for an example, and to frighten the rest, +command that I, an old man, shall be hung.” + +Pougatcheff made a sign. They unbound me at once. “Our emperor pardons +you,” they said. At the moment I did not know that my deliverance was a +cause for joy or for sorrow. My mind was too confused. I was taken again +before the usurper and made to kneel at his feet. Pougatcheff offered me +his muscular hand. “Kiss his hand! Kiss his hand!” cried out all +around me. But I would have preferred the most atrocious torture to a +degradation so infamous. “My dear Peter,” whispered Saveliitch, who was +standing behind me, “do not play the obstinate; what does it cost? Kiss +the brigand’s hand.” + +I did not move. Pougatcheff drew back his hand: “His lordship is +stupefied with joy; raise him up,” said he. I was at liberty. Then I +witnessed the continuation of the infamous comedy. + +The inhabitants began to take the oath. They went one by one to kiss the +cross and salute the usurper. After them came the garrison soldiers. +The company’s tailor, armed with his great blunt-pointed shears, cut off +their queues; they shook their heads and kissed the hand of Pougatcheff, +who declared them pardoned and received into his troops. This lasted for +nearly three hours. At last Pougatcheff rose from his arm-chair and went +down the steps, followed by his chiefs. A white horse richly caparisoned +was led to him; tow Cossacks helped him into the saddle. He signified +to Father Garasim that he would dine with him. At this moment wild +heart-rending shrieks from a woman filled the air. Basilia, without her +mantle, her hair in disorder, was dragged out on the steps; one the +brigands had on her mantle; the others were carrying away her chests, +her linen, and other household goods. “O good men,” she cried, “let +me go, take me to Ivan Mironoff.” Suddenly she saw the gibbet and +recognized her husband. “Wretches,” she cried, “What have you done? O my +light, Ivan! Brave soldier! no Prussian ball, nor Turkish sabre killed +thee, but a vile condemned deserter.” + +“Silence that old sorceress,” said Pougatcheff. + +A young Cossack struck her with his sabre on the head. She fell dead at +the foot of the steps. Pougatcheff rode off, all the people following. + + + + +VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + + +I stood in the vacant square, unable to collect my thoughts, disturbed +by so many terrible emotions. Uncertainty about Marie’s fate tortured +me. Where is she? Is she concealed? Is her retreat safe? I went to the +Commandant’s house. It was in frightful disorder; the chairs, tables, +presses had been burned up and the dishes were in fragments. I rushed up +the little stairs leading to Marie’s room, which I entered for the +first time in my life. A lamp still burned before the shrine which +had enclosed the sacred objects revered by all true believers. The +clothes-press was empty, the bed broke up. The robbers had not taken the +little mirror hanging between the door and the window. What had become +of the mistress of this simple, virginal abode? A terrible thought +flashed through my mind. Marie in hands of the brigands! My heart was +torn, and I cried aloud: “Marie! Marie!” I heard a rustle. Polacca, +quite pale, came from her hiding-place behind the clothes-press. + +“Ah! Peter,” said she, clasping her hands, “what a day! what horrors!” + +“Marie?” I asked impatiently, “Marie--where is she?” + +“The young lady is alive,” said the maid, “concealed at Accoulina’s, at +the house of the Greek priest.” + +“Great God!” I cried, with terror, “Pougatcheff is there!” + +I rushed out of the room, made a bound into the street and ran wildly +to the priest’s house. It was ringing with songs, shouts and laughter. +Pougatcheff was at table there with his men. Polacca had followed me; +I sent her in to call out Accoulina secretly. Accoulina came into the +waiting-room, an empty bottle in her hand. + +“In the name of heaven, where is Marie?” I asked with agitation. + +“The little dove is lying on my bed behind the partition. Oh! Peter, +what danger we have just escaped! The rascal had scarcely seated himself +at table than the poor thing moaned. I thought I should die of fright. +He heard her. ‘Who is moaning in your room, old woman?’ ‘My niece, +Czar.’ ‘Let me see your niece, old woman.’ I saluted him humbly; ‘My +niece, Czar, has not strength to come before your grace.’ ‘Then I will +go and see her.’ And will you believe it, he drew the curtains and +looked at our dove, with his hawk’s eyes! The child did not recognize +him. Poor Ivan Mironoff! Basilia! Why was Ignatius taken, and you +spared? What do you think of Alexis? He has cut his hair and now hobnobs +with them in there. When I spoke of my sick niece he looked at me as if +he would run me through with his knife. But he said nothing, and we must +be thankful for that.” + +The drunken shouts of the guests, and the voice of Father Garasim now +resounded together; the brigands wanted more wine, and Accoulina was +needed. “Go back to your house, Peter,” said she, “woe to you, if you +fall into his hands!” + +She went to serve her guests; I, somewhat quieted, returned to my room. +Crossing the square, I saw some Bashkirs stealing the boots from the +bodies of the dead. I restrained my useless anger. The brigands had been +through the fortress and had pillaged the officers’ houses. + +I reached my lodging. Saveliitch met me at the threshold. “Thank God!” + he cried. “Ah! master, the rascals have taken everything; but what +matter, since they did not take your life. Did you not recognize their +chief, master?” + +“No, I did not; who is he?” + +“What, my dear boy, have you forgotten the drunkard who cheated you +out of the touloup the day of the snow-drift--a hare-skin touloup?--the +rascal burst all the seams putting it on.” + +My eyes were opened. The resemblance between the guide and Pougatcheff +was striking. I now understood the pardon accorded me. I recalled with +gratitude the lucky incident. A youth’s touloup given to a vagabond had +saved my neck; and this drunkard, capturing fortress, had shaken the +very empire. + +“Will you not deign to eat something?” said Saveliitch, true to his +instincts; “there is nothing in the house, it is true, but I will find +something and prepare it for you.” + +Left alone, I began to reflect that not to leave the fortress, now +subject to the brigand, or to join his troops, would be unworthy of an +officer. Duty required me to go and present myself where I could still +be useful to my country. But love counseled me, with no less force, to +stay near Marie, to be her protector and champion. Although I foresaw +a near and inevitable change in the march of events, still I could not, +without trembling, contemplate the danger of her position. + +My reflections were interrupted by the entrance of a Cossack, who came +to announce that the “great Czar” called me to his presence. “Where is +he?” I asked, preparing to obey. “In the commandant’s house,” replied +the Cossack. “After dinner the Czar went to the vapor baths. It must be +confessed that all his ways are imperial! He can do more than others; at +dinner he deigned to eat two roast milk-pigs; afterward at the bath he +endured the highest degree of heat; even the attendant could not stand +it; he handed the brush to another and was restored to consciousness +only by the application of cold water. It is said that in the bath, the +marks of the true Czar were plainly seen on his breast--a picture of his +own face and a double-headed eagle.” + +I did not think it necessary to contradict the Cossack, and I followed +him to the Commandant’s, trying to fancy in advance my interview with +Pougatcheff, and its result. The reader may imagine that I was not quite +at ease. Night was falling as I reached the house. The gibbet with +its victims still stood, black and terrible. The poor body of our good +Basilia was lying under the steps, near which two Cossacks mounted +guard. He who had brought me, entered to announce my arrival; he +returned at once, and led me to the room where the evening before I had +taken leave of Marie. At a table covered with a cloth, and laden with +bottles and glasses, sat Pougatcheff, surrounded by some ten Cossack +chiefs in colored caps and shirts, with flushed faces and sparkling +eyes, the effect, no doubt, of the wine-cup. + +I saw neither of our traitors, Alexis or the Corporal, amongst them. + +“Ah! your lordship, it is you?” said their chief, on seeing me. “Be +welcome! Honor and place at the table!” + +The guests drew closer together. I took a place at the end of the table. +My neighbor, a young Cossack of slender form and handsome face, +poured out a bumper of brandy for me. I did not taste it. I was busy +considering the assembly. Pougatcheff was seated in the place of honor, +elbow on table, his heavy, black beard resting upon his muscular hand. +His features, regular and handsome, had no ferocious expression. He +often spoke to a man of some fifty years, calling him now Count, again +Uncle. All treated each other as comrades, showing no very marked +deference for their chief. They talked of the assault that morning; of +the revolt, its success, and of their next operations. Each one boasted +of his prowess, gave his opinions, and freely contradicted Pougatcheff. +In this strange council of war, they resolved to march upon Orenbourg, a +bold move, but justified by previous successes. The departure was fixed +for the next day. Each one drank another bumper, and rising, took leave +of Pougatcheff. I wished to follow them, but the brigand said: “Wait, I +want to speak to you.” + +Pougatcheff looked at me fixedly in silence for a few seconds, winking +his left eye with the most cunning, mocking expression. At last he burst +into a long peal of laughter, so hearty, that I, just from seeing him, +began to laugh, without knowing why. + +“Well, my lord,” said he, “confess that you were frightened, when my +boys put the rope around your neck? The sky must have seemed to you then +as big as a sheep-skin. And if not for your servant, you would have +been swinging up there from the cross-beam; but at that very instant I +recognized the old owl. Would you have thought that the man who led you +to a shelter on the steppe was the great Czar himself?” Saying these +words, he assumed a grave and mysterious air. “You have been very +guilty,” continued he, “but I have pardoned you, for having done me a +kindness, when I was obliged to hide from my enemies. I shall load you +with favors, when I shall have regained my empire. Do you promise to +serve me with zeal?” + +The bandit’s question and impudence made me smile. + +“Why do you laugh?” said he, frowning, “do you not believe that I am the +great Czar? Answer frankly.” + +I was troubled. I could not recognize a vagabond as the emperor; to +call him an impostor to his face was to doom myself to death; and the +sacrifice which I was ready to make under the gibbet that morning, +before all the people, in the first flush of indignation, seemed now +a useless bravado. Pougatcheff awaited my answer in fierce silence. At +last (I still remember with satisfaction that duty triumphed over human +weakness) I replied to Pougatcheff. + +“I will tell you the truth and let you decide. Should I recognize you +as the Czar, as you are a man of intelligence, you would see that I am +lying.” + +“Then who am I? in your opinion.” + +“God knows, but whoever you are, you are playing a dangerous game.” + +Pougatcheff gave me a sharp, quick glance. “You do not believe that I am +the emperor, Peter III? Be it so. Have not bold men succeeded before me +and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but stay with +me. What matters it whom you serve? Success is right. Serve under me, +and I will make you a field-marshal, a prince. What say you?” + +“No,” said I. “I am a nobleman. I have taken an oath to her majesty, the +Empress; I can not serve with you. If truly you wish me well, send me to +Orenbourg.” + +Pougatcheff reflected. “If I send you there, you will, at least, promise +not to bear arms against me?” + +“How can I promise that? If I am ordered to march against you, I must +go. You are now a chief; you desire your subordinates to obey you. No, +my life is in your hand; if you give me liberty, thanks; if you put me +to death, may God judge you.” + +My frankness pleased him. “Be it so,” said he, slapping me on the +shoulders, “pardon or punish to the end. You can go the four quarters of +the world, and do as you like. Come tomorrow, and bid me good-bye. Now +go to bed--I require rest myself.” + +I went out into the street. The night was clear and cold; the moon and +stars shone out in all their brightness, lighting up the square and the +gibbet. All was quiet and dark in the rest of the fortress. At the inn +some lights were visible, and belated drinkers broke the stillness by +their shouts. I glanced at Accoulina’s house; the doors and windows were +closed, and all seemed perfectly quiet there. I went to my room, and +found Saveliitch deploring my absence. I told him of my freedom. “Thanks +to thee, O God!” said he, making the sign of the cross; “tomorrow we +shall set out at daybreak. I have prepared something for you; eat +and then sleep till morning, tranquil as if in the bosom of the Good +Shepherd.” + +I followed his advice, and after having supped, fell asleep on the bare +floor, as fatigued in mind as in body. + + + + +IX. THE SEPARATION. + + +The drum awoke me early the next morning. I went out on the square. +Pougatcheff’s troops were there, falling into rank, around the gibbet, +to which still hung the victims of yesterday. The Cossacks were mounted; +the infantry and artillery, with our single gun, were accoutred ready +for the march. The inhabitants were also assembled there awaiting the +usurper. Before the steps of the Commandant’s house a Cossack held by +the bridle a magnificent white horse. My eyes sought the body of our +good Basilia. It had been dragged aside and covered with an old bark +mat. At last Pougatcheff came out on the steps, and saluted the crowd. +All heads were bared. One of the chiefs handed him a bag of copper coin, +which he threw by the handful among the people. Perceiving me in the +crowd, he signed to me to approach. + +“Listen,” said he, “go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to the +Governor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. Counsel +them to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise they shall +not escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you.” The principal +followers of Pougatcheff surrounded him, Alexis amongst others. The +usurper turned to the people, and pointing to Alexis, said: “Behold your +new Commandant; obey him in every thing; he is responsible for you and +for the fortress.” + +The words made me shudder. What would become of Marie? Pougatcheff +descended the steps and vaulted quickly into his saddle without the aid +of his attendant Cossacks. At that moment Saveliitch came out of the +crowd, approached the usurper, and presented him a sheet of paper. + +“What is this?” asked Pougatcheff, with dignity. + +“Read, you will deign to see,” replied the serf. + +Pougatcheff examined the paper. “You write very illegibly; where is my +Secretary?” + +A boy in corporal’s uniform came running to the brigand. “Read aloud,” + said he. I was curious to know for what purpose the old man had written +to Pougatcheff. The Secretary began to spell out in a loud voice what +follows: + +“Two dressing-gowns, one in percale, the other in striped silk, six +roubles.” + +“What does this mean?” said Pougatcheff, frowning. + +“Command him to read on,” replied Saveliitch, with perfect calmness. + +The Secretary continued: “One uniform in fine green cloth, seven +roubles; one pair of white cloth pantaloons, five roubles; twelve +shirts of Holland linen, with cuffs, ten roubles; one case containing a +tea-service, two roubles.” + +“What nonsense is this?” said Pougatcheff. + +“What have I to do with tea-sets and Holland cuffs?” + +Saveliitch coughed to clear his voice, and began to explain: “That, my +lord, deign to understand, is the bill of my master’s goods carried off +by the thieves.” + +“What thieves?” asked Pougatcheff, with a terrible air. + +“Pardon me,” said Saveliitch. “Thieves? No, they were not thieves; my +tongue slipped; yet your boys went through everything and carried off +plenty. That can not be denied. Do not be angry. The horse has four legs +and yet he stumbles. Command that he read to the end.” + +“Well, read,” said Pougatcheff. + +“One Persian blanket, one quilt of wadded silk, four roubles; one +pelisse of fox-skin, covered with red ratine, forty roubles; one small +touloup of hare-skin left with your grace, on the steppe, fifteen +roubles.” + +“What?” cried Pougatcheff, with flashing eyes. + +I must say I feared for the old man, who was beginning new explanations, +when the brigand interrupted him: + +“How dare you annoy me with these trifles?” said he, snatching the paper +from the Secretary and throwing it in the old man’s face. “You have been +despoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God that you are not +hanging up there, with the other rebels, both you and your master. I’ll +give you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know that I will have you flayed +alive, that touloups may be made of you?” + +“As you please,” replied Saveliitch; “but I am not a free man, and I am +responsible for my master’s goods.” + +Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his head +and set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him. +The whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming an +escort. I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in his +hand the bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not help +laughing. + +“Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished again, +we shall see if it be a laughing matter.” + +I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sad +piece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poor +girl. Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious and +did not recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her countenance. +The position of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders, alarmed me as +much as my inability to protect grieved me. Alexis, above all, was to +be feared. Chief, invested with the usurper’s authority, in the fortress +with this unhappy girl, he was capable of any crime. What ought I to +do to deliver her? To set out at once for Orenbourg, to hasten the +deliverance of Belogorsk, and to co-operate in it, if possible. I took +leave of Father Garasim and Accoulina, recommending to them Marie, who I +already looked upon as my wife. I kissed the young girl’s hand, and left +the room. + +“Adieu, Peter Grineff,” said Accoulina. “Do not forget us. Except you, +Marie has no support or consolation.” Choked by emotion, I did not +reply. Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet. With +bare head I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road to +Orenbourg, accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me. Thus +plunged in thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind me, I +turned my head and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a horse, and +making signs to me that I should wait. I recognized our Corporal. Having +caught up with us, he dismounted from his own horse, and giving me the +bridle of the other, said: “Our Czar makes you a gift of a horse, and +a pelisse from his own shoulder.” To the saddle was tied a sheep-skin +touloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking Saveliitch up behind me. +“You see, my lord,” said my serf, “that my petition to the bandit was +not useless! And although this old hack and this peasant’s touloup are +not worth half what the rascals stole, yet they are better than nothing. +‘A worthless dog yields even a handful of hair.’” + + + + +X. THE SIEGE. + + +Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads and +faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At that time +red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the condemned. +They were working at the fortifications of the place under the +supervision of the garrison pensioners. Some carried away in +wheel-barrows the rubbish that filled the ditch, others threw up the +earth, while masons were examining and repairing the walls. The sentry +stopped us at the gate and asked for our passports. When the sergeant +heard that we were from Belogorsk he took me at once to the General, who +was in his garden. I found him examining the apple trees, which +autumnal winds had already despoiled of their leaves; assisted by an +old gardener, he covered them carefully with straw. His face expressed +calmness, good humor and health. He seemed very glad to see me, and +questioned me about the terrible events I had witnessed. The old man +heard me attentively, and whilst listening, cut off the dead branches. + +“Poor Mironoff!” said he, when I had finished my story; “it is a pity; +he was a brave officer; and Madame Mironoff a kind lady, an expert in +pickling mushrooms. What has become of Marie, the Captain’s daughter?” + +“She is in the fortress, at the house of the Greek priest.” + +“Aye! aye! aye!” exclaimed the General. “That’s bad, very bad; for it is +impossible to depend upon the discipline of brigands.” + +I observed that the fortress of Belogorsk was not far off, and that +probably his Excellency would send a detachment of troops to deliver the +poor inhabitants. + +The General shook his head, doubtfully. “We shall see! we shall see! +there is plenty of time to talk about it; come, I beg you, to take tea +with me. Tonight there will be a council of war; you can give us some +precise information regarding this Pougatcheff and his army. Meantime, +go and rest.” + +I went to my allotted quarters, where I found Saveliitch already +installed. I awaited impatiently the hour indicated, and the reader may +believe that I did not fail to be present at this council, which was +to influence my whole life. I found at the General’s a custom-house +officer, the Director, as well as I can remember a little old man, +red-faced and fat, wearing a robe of black watered silk. He questioned +me about the fate of the Captain Mironoff, whom he called his chum, +and often interrupted me by sententious remarks, which, if they did +not prove him to be a man well versed in war, showed his natural +intelligence and shrewdness. During this time other guests arrived. When +all had taken their places, and to each had been offered a cup of tea, +the General carefully stated the questions to be considered. + +“Now, gentlemen,” said he, “we must decide what action is to be taken +against the rebels. Shall we act offensively, or defensively? Each of +these ways has its advantages and disadvantages. Offensive war presents +more hope of a rapid extermination of the enemy, but defensive war +is safer and offers fewer dangers. Let us then take the vote in legal +order; that is, consult first the youngest in rank. Ensign,” continued +he, addressing me, “deign to give your opinion.” + +I rose, and in a few words depicted Pougatcheff and his army. I affirmed +that the usurper was not in a condition to resist disciplined forces. +My opinion was received by the civil service employes with visible +discontent. They saw nothing in it but the levity of a young man. A +murmur arose, and I heard distinctly the word “hare-brained” murmured in +a low voice. The General turned to me smiling, and said: + +“Ensign, the first votes (the youngest) in war councils, are for +offensive measures. Now let us continue to collect the votes. The +College Director will give us his opinion.” + +The little old man in black silk, a College Director, as well as a +customs officer, swallowed his third cup of tea, well dashed with a +strong dose of rum, and hastened to speak: + +“Your Excellency,” said he, “I think that we ought to act neither +offensively nor defensively.” + +“What’s that, sir?” said the General, stupefied; “military tactics +present no other means; we must act either offensively or defensively.” + +“Your Excellency, act _subornatively_.” + +“Eh! eh! Your opinion is judicious,” said the General; “subornative +acts--that is to say, indirect acts--are also admitted by the science +of tactics, and we will profit by your counsel. We might offer for the +rascal’s head seventy or even a hundred roubles, to be taken out of the +secret funds.” + +“And then,” interrupted the man in silk, “may I be a Kirghis ram, +instead of a College Director, if the thieves do not bring their chief +to you, chained hand and foot.” + +“We can think about it,” said the General. “But let us, in any case, +take some military measures. Gentlemen, give your votes in legal order.” + +All the opinions were contrary to mine. All agreed, that it was better +to stay behind a strong stone wall, protected by cannon, than to tempt +fortune in the open field. Finally, when all the opinions were known, +the General shook the ashes from his pipe and pronounced the following +discourse: + +“Gentlemen, I am of the Ensign’s opinion, for it is according to the +science of military tactics, which always prefers offensive movements to +defensive.” He stopped and stuffed the tobacco into his pipe. I glanced +exultingly at the civil service employes, who, with discontented looks, +were whispering to each other. + +“But, gentlemen,” continued he, giving out with a sigh a long puff of +smoke, “I dare not assume the responsibility. I go with the majority, +which has decided that we await in this city the threatened siege, +and repulse the enemy by the power of artillery, and if possible, by +well-directed sorties.” + +The council broke up. I could not but deplore the weakness of the worthy +soldier, who, contrary to his own convictions, decided to follow the +opinion of ignorant inexperience. + +Some days after this famous council of war, Pougatcheff, true to his +word, approached Orenbourg. From the top of the city walls I made a +reconnaissance of the rebel army. It seemed to me that their number had +increased ten-fold. They had more artillery, taken from the small forts +captured by Pougatcheff. Remembering our council, I foresaw a long +captivity behind the walls of Orenbourg, and I was ready to cry with +chagrin. Far from me the intention of describing the siege of Orenbourg, +which belongs to history and not to family memoirs. Suffice it to say, +that this siege was disastrous to the inhabitants, who had to +suffer hunger and privations of every kind. Life at Orenbourg became +insupportable. The decision of fate was awaited with anguish. Food was +scarce; bombshells fell upon the defenseless houses of citizens. The +attacks of Pougatcheff made very little excitement. I was dying of +_ennui_. I had promised Accoulina that I would correspond with her, but +communication was cut off, and I could not send or receive a letter +from Belogorsk. My only pastime consisted in military sorties. Thanks +to Pougatcheff I had an excellent horse, and I shared my meager pittance +with it. I went out every day beyond the ramparts to skirmish with +Pougatcheff’s advance guards. The rebels had the best of it; they +had plenty of food and were well mounted. Our poor cavalry were in no +condition to oppose them. Sometimes our half-starved infantry went +into the field; but the depth of the snow hindered them from acting +successfully against the flying cavalry of the enemy. The artillery +vainly thundered from the ramparts, and in the field it could not +advance, because of the weakness of our attenuated horses. This was our +way of making war; this is what the civil service employes of Orenbourg +called prudence and foresight. + +One day when we had routed and driven before us quite a large troop, I +overtook a straggling Cossack; my Turkish sabre was uplifted to strike +him when he doffed his cap and cried out: “Good day, Peter, how fares +your health?” + +I recognized our Corporal. I was delighted to see him. + +“Good day, Maxim. How long since you left Belogorsk?” + +“Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you.” + +“Where is it?” I cried, delighted. + +“Here,” replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. “I promised +Polacca to try and give it to you.” He gave me a folded paper, and set +off on a gallop. I read with agitation the following lines: + +“By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, +I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my late +father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go and live +at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will force me to +become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying the trick of +passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die than be his wife. +I have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no +mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if +possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF.” + +This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing the +spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind to +rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General’s and ran into +his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. Seeing me +he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance. + +“Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; +the happiness of my life depends upon it.” + +“But what is it?” said the General; “what can I do for you?” + +“Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a +hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk.” + +“Storm the fortress?” said the General. + +“I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go.” + +“No, young man,” said he; “at so great a distance the enemy would easily +cut off all communication with the principal strategic point.” + +I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him: +“Captain Mironoff’s daughter has written me, begging for relief. Alexis +threatens to compel her to be his wife!” + +“Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in +twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress! +meantime patience.” + +“Patience!” I cried; “in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey +him.” + +“Oh,” said the General, “that would not be a misfortune--it is better +that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When we +shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband.” + +“I would rather die,” I said with fury, “than yield her to Alexis.” + +“I understand it all now,” said the old man. “You are, no doubt, in love +yourself with Marie Mironoff. That’s another thing. Poor boy! Still, +I can not give you a battalion and fifty Cossacks. The thing is +unreasonable.” I hung my head in despair. But I had a plan of my own. + + + + +XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + + +I left the General and hastened to my quarters. Saveliitch received +me with his usual remonstrance: “What pleasure, my lord, is there in +fighting these drunken brigands? If they were Turks or Swedes, all +right; but these sons of dogs--” + +I interrupted him: “How much money have I in all?” + +“You have plenty,” said he with a satisfied air. “I knew how to whisk +it out of sight of the rogues.” He drew from his pocket a long knitted +purse full of silver coin. + +“Saveliitch, give me half of what you have there, and keep the rest for +yourself. I am off for the fortress of Belogorsk.” + +“Oh, Peter!” said the old serf, “do you not fear God? The roads are cut +off. Have pity on your parents; wait a little; our troops will come and +disperse the brigands, and then you can go to the four quarters of the +world.” + +“It is too late to reflect. I must go. Do not grieve, Saveliitch; I make +you a present of that money. Buy what you need. If I do not return in +three days--” + +“My dear,” said the old man, “I will go with you, were it on foot. If +you go, I must first lose my senses before I will stay crouching behind +stone walls.” + +There was never any use disputing with the old man. In half an hour +I was in the saddle, Saveliitch on an old, half-starved, limping +rosinante, which a citizen, not having fodder, had given for nothing to +the serf. We reached the city gates; the sentinels let us pass, and we +were finally out of Orenbourg. Night was falling. My road lay before the +town of Berd, the headquarters of Pougatcheff. This road was blocked up +and hidden by snow; but across the steppe were traces of horses, renewed +from day to day, apparently, and clearly visible. I was going at a +gallop, Saveliitch could scarcely keep up and shouted, “Not so fast! My +nag can not follow yours.” Very soon we saw the lights of Berd. We were +approaching deep ravines, which served as natural fortifications to the +town. Saveliitch, without however being left behind, never ceased his +lamentations. I was in hopes of passing safely the enemy’s place, when +I saw through the darkness five peasants armed with big +sticks--Pougatcheff’s extreme outpost. + +“_Qui vive_! Who goes there?” + +Not knowing the watchword, I was for going on without answering. But one +of them seized my horse’s bridle. I drew my sabre and struck the peasant +of the head. His cap saved his life; he staggered and fell; the others, +frightened, let me pass. The darkness, which was deepening, might +have saved me from further hindrance; when, looking back, I saw that +Saveliitch was not with me. What was I to do? The poor old man, with his +lame horse, could not escape from the rascals. I waited a minute; then, +sure that they must have seized him, I turned my horse’s head to go and +aid him. Approaching the ravine I heard voices, and recognized that of +Saveliitch. Hastening my steps, was soon within sight of the peasants. +They had dismounted the old man, and were about to garrote him. They +rushed upon me; in an instant I was on foot. Their chief said I should +be conducted to the Czar. I made no resistance. We crossed the ravine +to enter the town, which was illuminated. The streets were crowded and +noisy. We were taken to a hut on the corner of two streets. There were +some barrels of wine and a cannon near the door. One of the peasants +said: “Here is the palace; we will announce you.” I glanced at +Saveliitch; he was making signs of the cross, and praying. We waited a +long time. At last the peasant re-appeared and said: “The Czar orders +the officers to his presence.” + +The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow candles. +The walls were hung with gold paper. But every thing else, the benches, +the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a nail in the wall, +the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly the same as in any +other cabin. Pougatcheff, wearing his scarlet cafetan and high Cossack +cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath the sacred pictures common to +every Russian abode. Around him stood several of his chiefs. I could +see that the arrival of an officer from Orenbourg had awakened +some curiosity, and that they had prepared to receive me with pomp. +Pougatcheff recognized me at once, and his assumed gravity disappeared. + +“Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?” + +I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his +people arrested me. + +“What business?” asked he. I did not know what to answer. Pougatcheff +thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his +comrades to leave. All obeyed except two. “Speak before these,” said he; +“conceal nothing from them.” + +I glanced at these intimates of the usurper. One was an old man frail +and bent, remarkable for nothing but a blue riband crossed over his +coarse gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion. He +was tall, of powerful build, and seemed about forty-five. A thick red +beard, piercing gray eyes, a nose without nostrils, marks of the searing +irons on his forehead and cheeks, gave to his broad face, pitted by +small-pox a most fierce expression. He wore a red shirt, a Kirghis robe, +and wide Cossack pantaloons. Although wholly pre-occupied by my own +feelings, yet this company deeply impressed me. Pougatcheff recalled me +to myself quickly. + +“What business brought you from Orenbourg?” + +A bold idea suggested itself to my mind. It seemed to me that +Providence, leading me a second time before this robber, gave me the +means of accomplishing my work. I decided to seize the chance, and +without reflecting on the step, I replied: + +“I am on the way to the fortress of Belogorsk to liberate an oppressed +orphan there.” + +Pougatcheff’s eyes flashed. “Who dares to oppress an orphan? Were he +seven feet high, he shall not escape my vengeance. Speak, who is the +guilty one?” + +“Alexis; he holds in slavery that same young girl whom you saw at Father +Garasim’s, and wants to force her to marry him.” + +“I shall give Alexis a lesson! I’ll teach him to oppress my subjects. I +shall hang him.” + +“Permit me a word,” said the man without nostrils. “You were too hasty +giving the command to Alexis. You offended the Cossacks by giving them +a noble as chief; do not offend the gentlemen by hanging one of them on +the first accusation.” + +“There is no need to pardon nor pity,” said the man with the blue +riband. “It would be no harm to hang Alexis, nor to question this +gentleman. Why does he visit us? If he does not acknowledge you as Czar +he has no justice to get at your hands; if he acknowledge you, why +did he stay at Orenbourg with your enemies? Will you not order him to +prison, and have a fire lighted there?” + +The old rascal’s logic seemed plausible even to myself. I shuddered when +I remembered into whose hands I had fallen. Pougatcheff saw my trouble. + +“Eh! eh! your lordship,” said he, winking, “it seems my field-marshal is +right. What do you think?” + +The jesting tone of the chief restored my courage. I replied calmly that +I was in his power. + +“Well,” said Pougatcheff, “tell me now the condition of your city?” + +“It is, thank God, in a good state.” + +“A good condition,” repeated the brigand, “when the people are dying of +hunger.” + +The usurper was right, but according to the duty imposed by my oath, I +affirmed that it was a false report, and that the fort was sufficiently +provisioned. + +“You see he deceives you,” interrupted the man with the riband. “All +the deserters are unanimous in saying that famine and pestilence are +at Orenbourg; that thistles are eaten as dainties there. If you wish to +hang Alexis, hang on the same gibbet this young fellow, that they may be +equal.” + +These words seemed to shake the chief. Happily the other wretch opposed +this view. + +“Silence,” said this powerful fellow. “You think of nothing but hanging +and strangling. It becomes _you_ to play the hero. To look at you, no +one knows where your soul is.” + +“And which of the saints are you?” replied the old man. + +“Generals,” said Pougatcheff, with dignity, “an end to your quarrels. +It would be no great loss if all the mangy dogs from Orenbourg were +dangling their legs under the same cross-beam; but it would be a +misfortune if our own good dogs should bite each other.” + +Feeling the necessity of changing the conversation, I turned to +Pougatcheff with a smile, and said: + +“Ah! I forgot to thank you for the horse and touloup. Without your aid +I should not have reached the city. I would have died from cold on the +journey.” My trick succeeded. Pougatcheff regained his good humor. + +“The beauty of debt is the payment thereof,” said he, winking. “Tell +me your story. What have you to do with the young girl that Alexis +persecutes? Has she caught your heart, too?” + +“She is my promised bride,” said I, seeing no risk in speaking the +truth. + +“Your promised bride! Why did you not tell me sooner? We’ll marry you, +and be at your wedding. Listen, Field-marshal,” said he. “We are old +friends, his lordship and I. Lets us go to supper. Tomorrow we shall +see what is to be done with him. Night brings wisdom, and the morning is +better than the evening.” + +I would gladly have excused myself from proposed honor, but it was +impossible. Two Cossacks girls covered the table with a white cloth, and +brought bread, soup made of fish, and pitchers of wine and beer. Thus, +for the second time, I was at table with Pougatcheff and his terrible +companions. The orgie lasted far into the night. Drunkenness at last +triumphed. Pougatcheff fell asleep in his place, and his companions +signed to me to leave him. I went out with them. The sentry locked me +up in a dark hole, where I found Saveliitch. He was so surprised by all +that he saw and heard, that he asked no questions. Lying in darkness, he +soon fell asleep. + +The next morning Pougatcheff sent for me. Before his door stood a +kibitka, with three horses abreast. The street was crowded. Pougatcheff, +whom I met in the entry of his hut, was dressed for a journey, in a +pelisse and Kirghis cap. His guests of the previous night surrounded +him, and wore a look of submission which contrasted strongly with what +I had seen on the preceding evening. Pougatcheff bade me good-morning +gaily, and ordered me to sit beside him in the kibitka. We took our +places. + +“To the fortress of Belogorsk,” said Pougatcheff to the robust Tartar, +who, standing, drove his horses. My heart beat violently. The Tartar +horses shot off, the bells tinkled, the kibitka flew over the snow. + +“Stop! stop!” cried a voice I knew too well. “O Peter! do not abandon me +in my old age, in the midst of the rob--” + +“Ah, you old owl!” said Pougatcheff, “sit up there in front.” + +“Thanks, Czar, may God give you a long life.” + +The horses set off again. The people in the streets stopped and bowed +low, as the usurper passed. Pougatcheff saluted right and left. In an +instant we were out of the town, taking our way over a well-defined +road. I was silent. Pougatcheff broke in upon my reverie. “Why so +silent, my lord?” said he. + +“I can not help thinking,” said I, “of the chain of events. I am an +officer, noble, yesterday at war with you; today I ride in the same +carriage with you, and all the happiness of my life depends on you.” + +“Are you afraid?” + +“You have already given me my life!” + +“You say truly. You know how my fellows looked upon you; only today they +wanted to try you as a spy. The old one wanted to torture and then hang +you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of wine and your +touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say.” I remembered the +taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him. + +“What do they say of me at Orenbourg?” + +“It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must be +confessed that you have given us some work.” + +“Yes; I am a great warrior. Do you think the King Prussia is as strong +as I?” + +“What do you think yourself? Can you beat Frederick?” + +“Frederick the Great? Why not? Wait till I march to Moscow!” + +“You really intend to march on Moscow?” + +“God knows,” said he, reflecting; “my road is narrow--my boys do not +obey--they are thieves--I must listen--keep my ears open; at the first +reverse they would save their own necks by my head.” + +“Would it not be better,” I said, “to abandon them now, before it is too +late, and have recourse to the clemency of the Empress?” + +He smiled bitterly. “No; the time is passed. I shall end as I began. Who +knows?” + +Our Tartar was humming a plaintive air; Saveliitch, sound asleep, swayed +from side to side; our kibitka was gliding rapidly over the winter road. +I saw in the distance a village well known to my eyes, with its palisade +and church spire on the steep bank of the river Iaik. A quarter of an +hour after we entered the fortress of Belogorsk. + + + + +XII. MARIE. + + +The kibitka stopped before the Commandant’s house. The inhabitants had +recognized the usurper’s bells and equipage, and had come out in crowds +to meet him. Alexis, dressed like a Cossack, and bearded like one, +helped the brigand to descend from his kibitka. The sight of me troubled +him, but soon recovering himself, he said: “You are one of us?” I turned +my head away without replying. My heart was wrung when we entered +the room that I know so well, where still upon the wall hung, like an +epitaph, the diploma of the deceased Commandant. Pougatcheff seated +himself upon the same sofa where many a time Ivan Mironoff had dozed to +the hum of his wife’s voice. Alexis’ own hand presented the brandy to +his chief. Pougatcheff drank a glass and said, pointing to me: “Offer a +glass to his lordship.” Alexis approached me, and again I turned my back +upon him. Pougatcheff asked him a few questions about the condition of +the fortress, and then, in an unpremeditated manner, said: “Tell me, who +is this young girl that you have under guard?” + +Alexis became pale as death. “Czar,” said he, a tremor in his voice, +“she is in her own room; she is not locked up.” + +“Take me to her room,” said the usurper, rising. + +Hesitation was impossible. Alexis led the way to Marie’s room. I +followed. On the stairs Alexis stopped: “Czar, demand of me what you +will, but do not permit a stranger to enter my wife’s room.” + +“You are married?” I shouted, ready to tear him to pieces. + +“Silence!” interrupted the brigand, “this is my business. And you,” said +he, turning to Alexis, “do not be too officious. Whether she be your +wife or not, I shall take whom I please into her room. Your lordship, +follow me.” + +At the door of the room Alexis stopped again: “Czar, she has had a fever +these three days; she is delirious.” + +“Open,” said Pougatcheff. + +Alexis fumbled in his pockets, and at last said that he had forgotten +the key. Pougatcheff kicked the door; the lock yielded, the door opened +and we entered. + +I glanced into the room, and nearly fainted. On the floor, in the coarse +dress of a peasant, Marie was seated, pale, thin, her hair in disorder; +before her on the floor stood a pitcher of water covered by a piece +of bread. Upon seeing me, she started, and uttered a piercing shriek. +Pougatcheff glanced at Alexis, smiled bitterly, and said: “Your hospital +is in nice order?” + +“Tell me, my little dove, why does your husband punish you in this way?” + +“My husband! he is not my husband. I am resolved to die rather than +marry him; and I shall die, if not soon released.” + +Pougatcheff gave a furious look at Alexis, and said: “Do you dare to +deceive me, knave?” + +Alexis fell on his knees. Contempt stifled all my feelings of hatred +and vengeance. I saw with disgust, a gentleman kneeling at the feet of a +Cossack deserter. + +“I pardon you, this time,” said the brigand, “but remember, your next +fault will recall this one.” He turned to Marie, and said, gently: “Come +out, my pretty girl, you are free. I am the Czar!” + +Marie looked at him, hid her face in her hands and fell on the floor +unconscious. She had no doubt divined that he had caused her parents’ +death. I rushed to aid her, when my old acquaintance, Polacca, boldly +entered, and hastened to revive her mistress. Pougatcheff, Alexis and I +went down to the reception room. + +“Now, your lordship, we have released the pretty girl, what say you? +Shall we not send for Father Garasim, and have him perform the marriage +ceremony for his niece? If you like, I will be your father by proxy, +Alexis your groomsman; then we’ll shut the gates and make merry!” + +As I anticipated, Alexis, hearing this speech, lost his self-control. + +“Czar,” said he, in a fury, “I am guilty; I have lied to you, but +Grineff also deceives you. This young girl is not Father Garasim’s +niece. She is Ivan Mironoff’s daughter.” + +Pougatcheff glared at me. “What does that mean?” said he to me. + +“Alexis says truly,” I replied, firmly. + +“You did not tell me that,” said the usurper, whose face darkened. + +“Judge of it yourself. Could I declare before your people that Marie was +Captain Mironoff’s daughter? They would have torn her to pieces. No one +could have saved her.” + +“You are right,” said Pougatcheff, “my drunkards would not have spared +the child. Accoulina did well to deceive them.” + +“Listen,” I said, seeing his good humor, “I do not know your real name, +and I do not want to know it. But before God, I am ready to pay you with +my life, for what you have done for me. Only, ask me nothing contrary to +honor, and my conscience as a Christian. You are my benefactor. Let me +go with this orphan, and we, whatever happens to you, wherever you may +be, we shall pray God to save your soul.” + +“Be it as you desire,” said he, “punish to the end, or pardon +completely, that’s my way. Take your promised bride wherever you choose, +and may God give you love and happiness.” He turned to Alexis, and +ordered him to write me a passport for all the forts subject to his +power. Alexis was petrified with astonishment. Pougatcheff went off to +inspect the fortress; Alexis followed him; I remained. + +I ran up to Marie’s room. The door was closed. I knocked. + +“Who is there?” asked Polacca. + +I gave my name. I heard Marie say: “In an instant, Peter, I shall join +you at Accoulina’s.” + +Father Garasim and Accoulina came out to welcome me. I was honored with +everything at the command of the hostess, whose voluble tongue never +ceased. It was not long before Marie entered, quite pale; she had laid +aside the peasant’s dress, and was, as usual, clad in simplicity, but +with neatness and taste. I seized her hand, unable to utter a word. We +were both silent from full hearts. Our hosts left us, and I could now +speak of plans for her safety. It was impossible that she should stay in +a fortress subject to Pougatcheff, and commanded by the infamous Alexis. +Neither could she find refuge at Orenbourg, suffering all the horrors of +siege. I proposed that she should go to my father’s country-seat. This +surprised her. But I assured her that my father would hold it a duty +and an honor to receive the daughter of a veteran who had died for his +country. In conclusion, I said: “My dear Marie; I consider thee as my +wife; these strange events have bound us for ever to each other.” + +Marie listened with dignity; she felt as I did, but repeated that +without my parents’ consent she would never be my wife. I could not +reply to this objection. I folded her to my heart, and my project became +our mutual resolve. + +An hour after, the Corporal brought me my passport, having the scratch +which served as Pougatcheff’s sign-manual, and told me that the Czar +awaited me. I found him ready for his journey. To this man--why not +tell the truth?--cruel and terrible to all but me, I was drawn by strong +sympathy. I wanted to snatch him from the horde of robbers, whose chief +he was; but the presence of Alexis and the crowd around him prevented +any expression of these feelings. Our parting was that of friends. As +the horses were moving, he leaned out of the kibitka and said to me: +“Adieu, again, your lordship; perhaps we may meet once more.” + +We did meet again, but under what circumstances! + +I returned to Father Garasim’s, where our preparations were soon +completed. Our baggage was put into the Commandant’s old equipage. The +horses were harnessed. Marie went, before setting off, to visit once +more the tomb in the church-yard, and soon returned, having wept in +silence over all that remained to her of her parents. Father Garasim and +Accoulina stood on the steps. Marie, Polacca, and I sat in the interior +of the kibitka. Saveliitch perched himself up in front. + +“Adieu, Marie, sweet little dove! Adieu, Peter, our handsome falcon!” + exclaimed the kind Accoulina. + +Passing the Commandant’s house, I saw Alexis, whose face expressed +determined hate. + + + + +XIII. THE ARREST. + + +In two hours we reached the neighboring fortress, which also belonged +to Pougatcheff. We there changed horses. By the celerity with which they +served us, and the eager zeal of the bearded Cossack, whom Pougatcheff +had made Commandant, I perceived that, thanks to the talk of our +postilion, I was supposed to be a favorite with their master. When +we started off again, it was dusk; we were drawing near a town where, +according to the bearded Commandant, there ought to be a very strong +detachment of Pougatcheff’s forces. The sentinels stopped us and to the +demand: “Who goes there?” our postilion answered in a loud voice: “A +friend of the Czar, traveling with his wife.” + +We were at once surrounded by a detachment of Russian hussars, who swore +frightfully. + +“Come out,” said a Russian officer, heavily mustached; “We’ll give you a +bath!” + +I requested to be taken before the authorities. Perceiving that I was +an officer, the soldiers ceased swearing, and the officer took me to the +Major’s. Saveliitch followed, growling out: “We fall from the fire into +the flame!” + +The kibitka came slowly after us. In five minutes we reached a small +house, all lighted up. The officer left me under a strong guard, and +entered to announce my capture. He returned almost instantly, saying +that I was ordered to prison, and her ladyship to the presence of the +Major. + +“Is he mad?” I cried. + +“I can not tell, your lordship.” + +I jumped up the steps--the sentinels had not time to stop me--and burst +into the room where six hussar officers were playing faro. The Major +kept the bank. I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who had +so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk. “Is it possible? is this you +Ivan Zourine?” + +“Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?” + +“Thanks; I would rather have some apartments assigned me.” + +“No need of apartments, stay with me.” + +“I can not; I am not alone.” + +“Bring your comrade with you.” + +“I am not with a comrade; I am with--a lady.” + +“A lady! where did you fish her out?” and he whistled in so rollicking a +manner, that the rest burst out laughing. + +“Well,” said Zourine, “then you must have a house in the town. Here, +boy! why do you not bring in Pougatcheff’s friend?” + +“What are you about,” said I. “It is Captain Mironoff’s daughter. I have +just obtained her liberty, and I am taking her to my father’s, where I +shall leave her.” + +“In the name of Heaven, what are _you_ talking about? Are _you_ +Pougatcheff’s chum?” + +“I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl, whom +your soldiers have horribly frightened.” + +Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and explain +the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid in the +best house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as soon as we +were alone, I gave him the story of my adventures. + +He shook his head. “That’s all very well; but why will you marry? As an +officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to +me. The road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can +therefore send the Captain’s daughter to your parents tomorrow, and +remain yourself in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you +might fall again into the hands of the rebels.” + +I resolved to follow, in part, Zourine’s advice. Saveliitch came to +prepare my room for the night. I told him to be ready to set out in the +morning with Marie. + +“Who will attend you, my lord?” + +“My old friend,” said I, trying to soften him, “I do not need a servant +here, and in serving Marie, you serve me, for I shall marry her as soon +as the war is over.” + +“Marry!” repeated he, with his hands crossed, and a look of +inexpressible blankness, “the child wants to marry! What will your +parents say?” + +“They will, no doubt, consent as soon as they know Marie. You will +intercede for us, will you not?” + +I had touched the old man’s heart. “O Peter!” said he, “you are too +young to marry, but the young lady is an angel, and it would be a sin to +let the chance slip. I will do as you desire.” + +The next day I made known my plans to Marie. As Zourine’s detachment was +to leave the city that same day, delay was impossible. I confided Marie +to my dear old Saveliitch, and gave him a letter for my father. Marie, +in tears, took leave of me. I did not dare to speak, lest the bystanders +should observe my feelings. + +It was the end of the February; Winter, which had rendered manoeuvering +difficult was now at a close, and our generals were preparing for a +combined campaign. At the approach of our troops, revolted villages +returned to their duty, while Prince Galitzin defeated the usurper, +and raised the siege of Orenbourg, which was the death-blow to the +rebellion. We heard of Pougatcheff in the Ural regions, and on the +way to Moscow. But he was captured. The war was over. Zourine received +orders to return his troops to their posts. I jumped about the room +like a boy. Zourine shrugged his shoulders, and said: “Wait till you are +married, and see how foolish you are!” + +I had leave of absence. In a few days I would be at home and united to +Marie. One day Zourine came into my room with a paper in his hand, and +sent away the servant. + +“What’s the matter?” said I. + +“A slight annoyance,” he answered, handing me the paper. “Read.” + +It was confidential order addressed to all the chiefs of detachments to +arrest me, and send me under guard to Khasan before the Commission +of Inquiry, created to give information against Pougatcheff and his +accomplices. The paper fell from my hands. + +“Do not be cast down,” said Zourine, “but set out at once.” + +My conscience was easy, but the delay! It would be months, perhaps, +before I could get through the Commission. Zourine bade me an +affectionate adieu. I mounted the telega (Summer carriage), two hussars +withdrawn swords beside, and took the road to Khasan. + + + + +XIV. THE SENTENCE. + + +I had no doubt that I was arrested for having left the fortress of +Orenbourg without leave, and felt sure that I could exculpate myself. +Not only were we not forbidden, but on the contrary, we were +encouraged to make forays against the enemy. My friendly relations with +Pougatcheff, however, wore a suspicious look. + +Arriving at Khasan, I found the city almost reduced to ashes. Along +the streets there were heaps of calcined material of unroofed walls +of houses--a proof that Pougatcheff had been there. The fortress was +intact. I was taken there and delivered to the officer on duty. He +ordered the blacksmith to rivet securely iron shackles on my feet. I was +then consigned to a small, dark dungeon, lighted only by a loop-hole, +barred with iron. This did not presage anything good, yet I did not lose +courage; for, having tasted the delight of prayer, offered by a heart +full of anguish, I fell asleep, without a thought for the morrow. The +next morning I was taken before the Commission. Two soldiers crossed +the yard with me, to the Commandant’s dwelling. Stopping in the +ante-chamber, they let me proceed alone to the interior. + +I entered quite a spacious room. At a table, covered with papers, sat +tow personages,--a General advanced in years, of stern aspect, and a +young officer of the Guards, of easy and agreeable manners. Near the +window, at another table, a secretary, pen on ear, bending over a paper, +was ready to take my deposition. + +The interrogation began: “Your name and profession?” The General +asked if I was the son of Andrew Grineff, and upon my replying in the +affirmative, exclaimed: “It is a pity so honorable a man should have a +son so unworthy of him!” + +I replied that I hoped to refute all charges against me, by a sincere +avowal of the truth. My assurance displeased him. + +“You are a bold fellow,” said he, frowning; “but we have seen others +like you.” + +The young officer asked how, and for what purpose I had entered the +rebel service. + +I replied indignantly, that being an officer and a noble, I was +incapable of enlisting in the usurper’s army, and had never served him +in any way. + +“How is it,” said my judge, “that the ‘officer and noble’ is the only +one spared by Pougatcheff? How is it that the ‘officer and noble’ +received presents from the chief rebel, of a horse and a pelisse? +Upon what is this intimacy founded, if not on treason, or at least +unpardonable cowardice?” + +The words wounded me, and I undertook with warmth my own defense, +finally invoking the name of my General who could testify to my zeal +during the siege of Orenbourg. The severe old man took from the table an +open letter, and read: + + “With regard to Ensign Griness, I have the honor to declare, + that he was in the service at Orenbourg from the month of + October, 1773, till the following February. Since then, he + has not presented himself.” + +Here the General said harshly: “What can you say now to justify your +conduct?” + +My judges had listened with interest and even kindness, to the recital +of my acquaintance with the usurper, from the meeting in the snowdrift +to the taking of Belogorsk, where he gave me my life through gratitude. +I was going to continue my defense, by relating frankly my relations +with Marie, and her rescue. But if I spoke of her the Commission would +force her to appear, and her name would become the theme of no very +delicate remarks by the interrogated witnesses. These thoughts so +troubled me that I stammered, and at last was silent. + +The judges were prejudiced against me by my evident confusion. The young +Guardsman asked that I should be confronted by my chief accuser. Some +minutes later the clank of iron fetters resounded, and Alexis entered. + +He was pale and thin. His hair, formerly black as a raven’s wing, was +turning gray. He repeated his accusation in a weak but decided tone. + +According to him, I was Pougatcheff’s spy. I heard him to the end in +silence, and rejoiced at one thing: he never pronounced the name of +Marie Mironoff. Was it that his self-love smarted from her contemptuous +rejection of him? or was there in his heart a spark of that same +feeling which made me also silent on that point? This confirmed me in +my resolution, and when asked what I had to answer to the charges of +Alexis, I merely said that I held to my first declaration, and had +nothing more to add. + +The General remanded us to prison. I looked at Alexis. He smiled with +satisfied hate, raised up his shackles to hasten his pace and pass +before me. I had no further examination. I was not an eye-witness of +what remains to be told the reader; but I have so often heard the story, +that the minutest particulars are engraved on my memory. + +Marie was received by my parents with the cordial courtesy which +distinguished the preceding generation. They became very much attached +to her, and my father no longer considered my love a folly. The news of +my arrest was a fearful blow; but Marie and Saveliitch had so frankly +told the origin of my connection with Pougatcheff, that the news did not +seem grave. My father could not be persuaded that I would take part in +an infamous revolt, whose object was the subversion of the throne and +the extinction of the nobility. So better news was expected, and several +weeks passed, when at last a letter came from our relative Prince B---. +After the usual compliments, he told my father that the suspicions of +my complicity in the rebel plots were only too well founded, as had been +proved,--that an exemplary execution might have been my fate, were it +not that the Empress, out of consideration for the father’s white hair +and loyal services, had commuted the sentence of the criminal son. She +had exiled him for life to the depths of Siberia! + +The blow nearly killed my father, his firmness gave way, and his usually +silent sorrow burst into bitter plaints: “What! my son plotting with +Pougatcheff! The Empress gives him his life! Execution not the worst +thing in the world! My grandfather died on the scaffold in defense of +his convictions! But, that a noble should betray his oath, unite with +bandits, knaves and revolted slaves! shame! shame forever on our face!” + +Frightened by his despair, my mother did not dare to show her grief, and +Marie was more desolate than they. Persuaded that I could justify myself +if I chose, she divined the motive of my silence, and believed that she +was the cause of my suffering. + +One evening, seated on his sofa, my father was turning over the leaves +of the “_Court Almanac_,” but his thoughts were far away, and the book +did not produce its usual effect upon him. My mother was knitting in +silence, and from time to time a furtive tear dropped upon her work. +Marie, who was sewing in the same room, without any prelude declared to +my parents that she was obliged to go to St. Petersburg, and begged them +to furnish her the means. + +My mother said: “Why will you leave us?” + +Marie replied that her fate depended on this journey; that she was going +to claim the protection of those in favor at Court, as the daughter of a +man who had perished a victim to his loyalty. + +My father bowed his head. A word which recalled the supposed crime of +his son, seemed a sharp reproach. + +“Go,” said he, at last, with a sigh; “we will not place an obstacle +to your happiness. May God give you an honorable husband and not a +traitor!” + +He rose and left the room. Alone with my mother, Marie confided to her, +in part, the object of her journey. My mother, in tears, kissed her and +prayed for the success of the project. A few days after, Marie, Polacca +and Saveliitch left home. + +When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment +in residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo. She decided to stop +there, and obtained a small room at the post-house. The post mistress +came to chat with the new-comer. She told Marie, pompously, that she +was the niece of an official attached to the Court--her uncle having the +honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty’s abode! Marie soon +knew at what hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and went on the +promenade; in brief, the conversation of Anna was like a page from the +memoirs of the times, and would be very precious in our days. The two +women went together to the Imperial gardens, where Anna told Marie +the romance of each pathway and the history of every bridge over the +artificial streams. Next day very early Marie returned alone to the +Imperial gardens. The weather was superb. The sun gilded the linden +tops, already seared by the Autumn frosts. The broad lake sparkled, the +swans, just aroused, came out gravely from the shore. Marie was going +to a charming green sward, when a little dog, of English blood, came +running to her barking. She was startled; but a voice of rare refinement +said: “He will not bite you; do not be afraid.” + +A lady about fifty years of age was seated on a rustic bench. She was +dressed in a white morning-dress, a light cap and a mantilla. Her face, +full and florid, was expressive of calmness and seriousness. She was the +first to speak: “You are evidently a stranger here?” + +“That is true, madam. I arrived from the country yesterday.” + +“You are with your parents?” + +“No, madam, alone.” + +“You are too young to travel alone. Are you here on business?” + +“My parents are dead. I came to present a petition to the Empress.” + +“You are an orphan; you have to complain of injustice, or injury?” + +“Madam, I came to ask for a pardon, not justice.” + +“Permit me a question: Who are you?” + +“I am the daughter of Captain Mironoff.” + +“Of Captain Mironoff? of him who commanded one of the fortresses in the +province of Orenbourg?” + +“The same, madam.” + +The lady seemed touched. “Pardon me, I am going to Court. Explain the +object of your petition; perhaps I can aid you.” Marie took from her +pocket a paper which she handed to the lady, who read it attentively. +Marie, whose eyes followed every movement of her countenance, was +alarmed by the severe expression of face so calm and gracious a moment +before. + +“You intercede for Grineff?” said the lady, in an icy tone. “The Empress +can not pardon him. He went over to the usurper, not as an ignorant +believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing.” + +“It is not true!” exclaimed Marie. + +“What! not true?” said the lady, flushing to the eyes. + +“Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was +for me only that exposed himself to all these misfortunes. If he did +not clear himself before his judges, it was because he would not drag +me before the authorities.” Marie then related with warmth all that the +reader knows. + +“Where do you lodge?” asked the lady, when the young girl had finished +her recital. Upon hearing that she was staying with the postmaster’s +wife, she nodded, and said with a smile: “Ah! I know her. Adieu! tell no +one of our meeting. I hope you will not have long to wait for the answer +to your petition.” + +She rose and went away by a covered path. Marie went back to Anna’s, +full of fair hope. The postmaster’s wife was surprised that Marie took +so early a promenade, which might in Autumn, prove injurious to a young +girl’s health. She brought the _Somovar_, and with her cup of tea was +going to relate one of her interminable stories, when a carriage with +the imperial escutcheon stopped before the door. A lackey, wearing the +imperial livery, entered and announced that her Majesty deigned to order +to her presence the daughter of Captain Mironoff! + +“Ah!” exclaimed Anna, “the Empress orders you to Court! How did she know +you were with me? You can not present yourself--you do not know how to +walk in courtly fashion! I ought to go with you. Shall I not send to the +doctor’s wife and get her yellow dress with flounces, for you?” + +The lackey declared that he had orders to take Marie alone, just as +she was. Anna did not dare to disobey, and Marie set out. She had a +presentiment that her destiny was now to be decided. Her heart beat +violently. In a few minutes the carriage was at the palace, and Marie, +having crossed a long suite of apartments, vacant and sumptuous, entered +the _boudoir_ of the Empress. The nobles who surrounded their sovereign +respectfully made way for the young girl. + +The Empress, in whom Marie recognized the lady of the garden, said, +graciously: “I am pleased to be able to grant your prayer. Convinced of +the innocence of your betrothed, I have arranged everything. Here is a +letter for your future father-in-law.” + +Marie, in tears, fell at the feet of the Empress, who raised her up and +kissed her, saying: + +“I know that you are not rich; but I have to acquit myself of a debt +to the daughter of a brave man, Captain Mironoff.” Treating Marie with +tenderness, the Empress dismissed her. That day Marie set out for my +father’s country-seat, not having even glanced at Saint Petersburg. + + +***** + + +Here terminate the memoirs of Peter Grineff. We know by family tradition +that he was set free about the end of the year 1774. We know too, that +he was present at the execution of Pougatcheff, who, recognizing him in +the crowd, gave him one last sign with the head which, a moment after, +was shown to the people, bleeding and inanimate. + +Peter Grineff became the husband of Marie Mironoff. Their descendents +still live, in the Province of Simbirsk, and in the hereditary manor +is still shown the autograph letter of the Empress Catherine II. It is +addressed to Andrew Grineff, and contains, with his son’s justification, +a touching and beautiful eulogium of Marie, the Captain’s daughter. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marie, by Alexander Pushkin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + +***** This file should be named 4344-0.txt or 4344-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/4/4344/ + +Produced by Hanh Vu and Douglas Levy + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marie + +Author: Alexander Pushkin + +Release Date: January 11, 2010 [EBook #4344] +Last Updated: November 18, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + + + + +Produced by Hanh Vu, Douglas Levy, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + MARIE + </h1> + <h3> + A Story of Russian Love + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Alexander Pushkin + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Translated by Marie H. de Zielinska + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <h4> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> TRANSLATOR’S NOTE. </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> <b>MARIE.</b> </a><br /> + </h4> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> I. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> II. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE GUIDE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> III. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE FORTRESS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> IV. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE DUEL + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> V. </a> + </td> + <td> + LOVE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VI. </a> + </td> + <td> + POUGATCHEFF + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> VII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE ASSAULT + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> VIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE UNEXPECTED VISIT + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> IX. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE SEPARATION + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> X. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE SIEGE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> XI. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE REBEL CAMP + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> XII. </a> + </td> + <td> + MARIE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> XIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE ARREST + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> XIV. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE SENTENCE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + TRANSLATOR’S NOTE. + </h2> + <p> + Alexander Pushkin, the most distinguished poet of Russia, was born at + Saint Petersburg, 1799. When only twenty-one years of age he entered the + civil service in the department of foreign affairs. Lord Byron’s writings + and efforts for Greek independence exercised great influence over Pushkin, + whose “Ode to Liberty” cost him his freedom. He was exiled to Bessarabia + [A region of Moldova and western Ukraine] from 1820 to 1825, whence he + returned at the accession of the new emperor, Nicholas, who made him + historiographer of Peter the Great. Pushkin’s friends now looked upon him + as a traitor to the cause of liberty. It is not improbable that an + enforced residence at the mouth of the Danube somewhat cooled his + patriotic enthusiasm. Every Autumn, his favorite season for literary + production, he usually passed at his country seat in the province Pekoff. + Here from 1825 to 1829 he published “Pultowa,” “Boris Godunoff,” “Eugene + Onegin,” and “Ruslaw and Ludmila,” a tale in verse, after the Manner of + Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso.” This is considered as the first great + poetical work in the Russian language, though the critics of the day + attacked it, because it was beyond their grasp; but the public devoured + it. + </p> + <p> + In 1831 Pushkin married, and soon after appeared his charming novel, + “Marie,” a picture of garrison life on the Russian plains. Peter and Marie + of this Northern story are as pure as their native snows, and whilst + listening to the recital, we inhale the odor of the steppe, and catch + glimpses of the semi-barbarous Kalmouk and the Cossack of the Don. + </p> + <p> + A duel with his brother-in-law terminated the life of Pushkin in the + splendor of his talent. The emperor munificently endowed the poet’s + family, and ordered a superb edition of all his works to be published at + the expense of the crown. His death was mourned by his countrymen as a + national calamity. M. H. de Z. + </p> + <p> + Chicago, Nov. 1, 1876. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + MARIE. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + </h2> + <p> + My father, Andrew Peter Grineff, having served in his youth under Count + Munich, left the army in 17—, with the grade of First Major. From + that time he lived on his estate in the Principality of Simbirsk, where he + married Avoditia, daughter of a poor noble in the neighborhood. Of nine + children, the issue of this marriage, I was the only survivor. My brothers + and sisters died in childhood. + </p> + <p> + Through the favor of a near relative of ours, Prince B—-, himself a + Major in the Guards, I was enrolled Sergeant of the Guards in the regiment + of Semenofski. It was understood that I was on furlough till my education + should be finished. From my fifth year I was confided to the care of an + old servant Saveliitch, whose steadiness promoted him to the rank of my + personal attendant. Thanks to his care, when I was twelve years of age I + knew how to read and write, and could make a correct estimate of the + points of a hunting dog. + </p> + <p> + At this time, to complete my education, my father engaged upon a salary a + Frenchman, M. Beaupre, who was brought from Moscow with one year’s + provision of wine and oil from Provence. His arrival of course displeased + Saveliitch. + </p> + <p> + Beaupre had been in his own country a valet, in Prussia a soldier, then he + came to Russia to be a tutor, not knowing very well what the word meant in + our language. He was a good fellow, astonishingly gay and absent-minded. + His chief foible was a passion for the fair sex. Nor was he, to use his + own expression, an enemy to the bottle—that is to say, <i>a la Russe</i>, + he loved drink. But as at home wine was offered only at table, and then in + small glasses, and as, moreover, on these occasions, the servants passed + by the pedagogue, Beaupre soon accustomed himself to Russian brandy, and, + in time, preferred it, as a better tonic, to the wines of his native + country. We became great friends, and although according to contract he + was engaged to teach me French, German, and <i>all the sciences</i>, yet + he was content that I should teach him to chatter Russian. But as each of + us minded his own business, our friendship was constant, and I desired no + mentor. However, destiny very soon separated us, in consequence of an + event which I will relate. + </p> + <p> + Our laundress, a fat girl all scarred by small-pox, and our dairymaid, who + was blind of an eye, agreed, one fine day, to throw themselves at my + mother’s feet and accuse the Frenchman of trifling with their innocence + and inexperience! + </p> + <p> + My mother would have no jesting upon this point, and she in turn + complained to my father, who, like a man of business, promptly ordered + “that dog of a Frenchman” into his presence. The servant informed him + meekly that Beaupre was at the moment engaged in giving me a lesson. + </p> + <p> + My father rushed to my room. Beaupre was sleeping upon his bed the sleep + of innocence. I was deep in a most interesting occupation. They had + brought from Moscow, for me, a geographical map, which hung unused against + the wall; the width and strength of its paper had been to me a standing + temptation. I had determined to make a kite of it, and profiting that + morning by Beaupre’s sleep, I had set to work. My father came in just as I + was tying a tail to the Cape of Good Hope! Seeing my work, he seized me by + the ear and shook me soundly; then rushing to Beaupre’s bed, awakened him + without hesitating, pouring forth a volley of abuse upon the head of the + unfortunate Frenchman. In his confusion Beaupre tried in vain to rise; the + poor pedagogue was dead drunk! My father caught him by the coat-collar and + flung him out of the room. That day he was dismissed, to the inexpressible + delight of Saveliitch. + </p> + <p> + Thus ended my education. I now lived in the family as the eldest son, not + of age whose career is yet to open; amusing myself teaching pigeons to + tumble on the roof, and playing leap-frog in the stable-yard with the + grooms. In this way I reached my sixteenth year. + </p> + <p> + One Autumn day, my mother was preserving fruit with honey in the family + room, and I, smacking my lips, was looking at the liquid boiling; my + father, seated near the window, had just opened the <i>Court Almanac</i> + which he received every year. This book had great influence over him; he + read it with extreme attention, and reading prodigiously stirred up his + bile. My mother, knowing by heart all his ways and oddities, used to try + to hide the miserable book, and often whole months would pass without a + sight of it. But, in revenge whenever he did happen to find it, he would + sit for hours with the book before his eyes. + </p> + <p> + Well, my father was reading the <i>Court Almanac</i>, frequently shrugging + his shoulders, and murmuring: “‘General!’ Umph, he was a sergeant in my + company. ‘Knight of the Orders of Russia.’ Can it be so long since we—?” + </p> + <p> + Finally he flung the <i>Almanac</i> away on the sofa and plunged into deep + thought; a proceeding that never presaged anything good. + </p> + <p> + “Avoditia,” said he, brusquely, to my mother, “how old is Peter?” + </p> + <p> + “His seventeenth precious year has just begun,” said my mother. “Peter was + born the year Aunt Anastasia lost her eye, and that was—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” said my father, “it is time he should join the army. It is + high time he should give up his nurse, leap-frog and pigeon training.” + </p> + <p> + The thought of a separation so affected my poor mother that she let the + spoon fall into the preserving pan, and tears rained from her eyes. + </p> + <p> + As for me, it is difficult to express my joy. The idea of army service was + mingled in my head with that of liberty, and the pleasures offered by a + great city like Saint Petersburg. I saw myself an officer in the Guards, + which, in my opinion was the height of felicity. + </p> + <p> + As my father neither liked to change his plans, nor delay their execution, + the day of my departure was instantly fixed. That evening, saying that he + would give me a letter to my future chief, he called for writing + materials. + </p> + <p> + “Do not forget, Andrew,” said my mother, “to salute for me Prince B. Tell + him that I depend upon his favor for my darling Peter.” + </p> + <p> + “What nonsense,” said my father, frowning, “why should I write to Prince + B.?” + </p> + <p> + “You have just said that you would write to Peter’s future chief.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, what then?” + </p> + <p> + “Prince B. is his chief. You know very well that Peter is enrolled in the + Semenofski regiment.” + </p> + <p> + “Enrolled! what’s that to me? Enrolled or not enrolled, he shall not go to + Saint Petersburg. What would he learn there? Extravagance and folly. No! + let him serve in the army, let him smell powder, let him be a soldier and + not a do-nothing in the Guards; let him wear the straps of his knapsack + out. Where is the certificate of his birth and baptism?” + </p> + <p> + My mother brought the certificate, which she kept in a little box with my + baptismal robe, and handed it to my father. He read it, placed it before + him on the table, and commenced his letter. + </p> + <p> + I was devoured by curiosity. Where am I going, thought I, if not to Saint + Petersburg? I did not take my eyes from the pen which my father moved + slowly across the paper. + </p> + <p> + At last, the letter finished, he put it and my certificate under the same + envelope, took off his spectacles, called me and said: + </p> + <p> + “This letter is addressed to Andrew Karlovitch, my old friend and comrade. + You are going to Orenbourg to serve under orders.” + </p> + <p> + All my brilliant dreams vanished. In place of the gay life of Saint + Petersburg, ennui awaited me in a wild and distant province of the empire. + Military life seemed now a calamity. + </p> + <p> + The next morning a kibitka was at the door; my trunk was placed on it, and + also a case holding tea and a tea-service, with some napkins full of rolls + and pastry, the last sweet bits of the paternal home. Both my parents gave + me their solemn benediction. My father said, “Adieu, Peter. Serve + faithfully him to whom your oath is given; obey your chiefs; neither seek + favor, nor solicit service, but do not reject them; and remember the + proverb: ‘Take care of thy coat whilst it is new, and thy honor whilst it + is fresh.’” + </p> + <p> + My darling mother, all in tears, told me to take care of my health; and + counseled Saveliitch to guard her child from danger. + </p> + <p> + I was wrapped up in a short touloup lined with hare-skin, and over that a + pelisse lined fox-skin. I took my seat in the kibitka with Saveliitch, and + shedding bitter tears, set out for my destination. + </p> + <p> + That night I arrived at Simbirsk, where I was to stay twenty-four hours, + in order that Saveliitch might make various purchases entrusted to him. + Early in the morning Saveliitch went to the shops, whilst I stayed in the + inn. Tired of gazing out of the window upon a dirty little street, I + rambled about the inn, and at last entered the billiard-room. I found + there a tall gentleman, some forty years of age, with heavy black + moustaches, in his dressing-gown, holding a cue and smoking his pipe. He + was playing with the marker, who was to drink a glass of brandy and water + if he gained, and if he lost was to pass, on all-fours, under the billiard + table. I watched them playing. The more they played the more frequent + became the promenades on all-fours, so that finally the marker stayed + under the table. The gentleman pronounced over him some energetic + expression, as a funeral oration, and then proposed that I should play a + game with him. I declared that I did not know how to play billiards. That + seemed strange to him. He looked at me with commiseration. + </p> + <p> + However, we opened a conversation. I learned that his name was Ivan + Zourine; that he was a chief of a squadron of Hussars stationed then at + Simbirsk recruiting soldiers, and that his quarters were at my inn. He + invited me to mess with him, soldier-fashion, pot-luck. I accepted with + pleasure, and we sat down to dinner. Zourine drank deeply, and invited me + to drink also, saying that I must become accustomed to the service. He + told stories of garrison life which made me laugh till I held my sides, + and we rose from the table intimate friends. He then proposed to teach me + how to play billiards. “It is,” said he, “indispensable for soldiers like + ourselves. For example, suppose we arrive in a town, what’s to be done? We + can not always make sport of the Jews. As a last resort there is the inn + and the billiard-room; but to play billiards, one must know how.” These + reasons convinced me, and I set about learning with enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + Zourine encouraged me in a loud tone; he was astonished at my rapid + progress, and after a few lesson he proposed to play for money, were it + only two kopecks, not for the gain, merely to avoid playing for nothing, + which was, according to him, a very bad habit. I agreed. Zourine ordered + punch, which he advised me to taste in order to become used to the + service, “for,” said he, “what kind of service would that be without + punch?” + </p> + <p> + I took his advice, and we continued to play; the more I tasted of my glass + the bolder I grew. I made the balls fly over the cushions; I was angry + with the marker who was counting. Heaven knows why. I increased the stake, + and behaved, altogether, like a boy just cut free, for the first time, + from his mother’s apron-strings. The time passed quickly. At last, Zourine + glanced at the clock, laid down his cue, and said that I had lost a + hundred roubles to him. + </p> + <p> + I was in great confusion, because my money was all in the hands of + Saveliitch. I began to mumble excuses, when Zourine exclaimed, “Oh! well! + Good God! I can wait till morning; don’t be distressed about it. Now let + us go to supper.” What could I do? I finished the day as foolishly as I + began it. + </p> + <p> + Zourine never ceased pouring out drinks for me; advising me to become + accustomed to the service. Rising from table, I could scarcely stand. At + midnight Zourine brought me back to the inn. + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch met us at the door, and uttered a cry of horror when he saw the + unmistakable signs of my “zeal for the service.” + </p> + <p> + “What has happened to thee?” said he, in heart-broken accents; “where have + you been filling yourself like a sack? Oh! heavenly father! a misfortune + like this never came before.” + </p> + <p> + “Silence! old owl,” said I, stammering, “I am sure you are drunk yourself; + go to bed, but first put me there.” + </p> + <p> + I awoke next morning with a severe headache; the events of the evening I + recalled vaguely, but my recollections became vivid at the sight of + Saveliitch who came to me with a cup of tea. + </p> + <p> + “You begin young, Peter Grineff,” said the old men, shaking his head. “Eh! + from whom do you inherit it? Neither your father nor grandfather were + drunkards. Your mother’s name can not be mentioned; she never deigned to + taste any thing but cider. Whose fault is it then? That cursed + Frenchman’s; he taught three fine things, that miserable dog—that + pagan—for thy teacher, as if his lordship, thy father, had not + people of his own.” + </p> + <p> + I was ashamed before the old man; I turned my face away saying, “I do not + want any tea, go away, Saveliitch.” It was not easy to stop Saveliitch, + once he began to preach. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Peter, you see what it is to play the fool. You have a headache, you + have no appetite, a drunkard is good for nothing. Here, take some of this + decoction of cucumber and honey, or half a glass of brandy to sober you. + What do you say to that?” + </p> + <p> + At that instant a boy entered the room with a note for me from Zourine. I + unfolded it and read as follows: + </p> + <p> + “Do me the favor, my dear Peter, to send me by my servant the hundred + roubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am horribly in want of money. + Your devoted. ZOURINE.” + </p> + <p> + As I was perfectly in his power, I assumed an air of indifference, and + ordered Saveliitch to give a hundred roubles to the boy. + </p> + <p> + “What? why?” said the old man, surprised. + </p> + <p> + “I owe that sum,” said I, coolly. + </p> + <p> + “You owe it? When had you time enough to contract such a debt?” said he, + with redoubled astonishment. “No, no, that’s impossible. Do what you like, + my lord, but I can not give the money.” + </p> + <p> + I reflected that if in this decisive moment I did not oblige the obstinate + old fellow to obey me, it would be impossible in the future to escape from + his tutelage. Looking at him therefore, haughtily, I said, “I am thy + master; thou art my servant. The money is mine, and I lost because I chose + to lose it; I advise thee to obey when ordered, and not assume the airs of + a master.” + </p> + <p> + My words affected Saveliitch so much that he clasped his hands and stood + bowed down mute and motionless. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing there like a post?” I cried out, angrily. + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch was in tears. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! my dear master Peter,” stammered he, with trembling voice, “do not + kill me with grief. Oh my light, listen to me, an old man; write to that + brigand that you were jesting, that we never had so much money. A hundred + roubles! God of goodness! Tell him thy parents strictly forbade thee to + play for any thing but nuts.” + </p> + <p> + “Silence,” said I, with severity, “give the money or I’ll chase you out of + the room.” + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch looked at me with agony, and went for the money. I pitied the + good old man, but I wanted to emancipate myself, and prove that I was no + longer a child. Saveliitch sent the money to Zourine, and then hastened + our departure from that cursed inn. + </p> + <p> + I left Simbirsk with a troubled conscience; a secret remorse oppressed me. + I took no leave of my teacher, not dreaming that I should ever meet him + again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. THE GUIDE. + </h2> + <p> + My reflections during the journey were not very agreeable. According to + the value of money at that time my loss was of some importance. I could + not but admit to myself that my conduct at the inn at Simbirsk had been + very silly, and I felt guilty toward Saveliitch. The old man was seated on + the front of the vehicle in dull silence; from time to time turning his + head and coughing a cough of ill humor. I had firmly resolved to make + friends with him, but I did not know which way to begin. At last I said to + him, “Come, come Saveliitch, let us put an end to this; I know I was + wrong; I was a fool yesterday, and offended you without cause, but I + promise to listen to you in future. Come, do not be angry, let us make + friends!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! My dear Peter,” said he with a sigh, “I am angry with myself. It’s I + who was wrong in every thing. How could I have left you alone at the inn? + How could it have been avoided? The devil had a hand in it! I wanted to go + and see the deacon’s wife, who is my god-mother, and as the proverb says: + ‘I left the house and fell into the prison.’” + </p> + <p> + What a misfortune! what a misfortune! How can I appear before the eyes of + my masters? What will they say, when they shall hear that their child is a + drunkard and a gambler. To console dear old Saveliitch, I gave him my + word, that for the future I would not dispose of single kopeck without his + consent. Little by little he became calm, which did not, however, prevent + him from grumbling out, now and then shaking his head: “A hundred roubles! + It is easy to talk!” + </p> + <p> + I drew near the place of my destination. Around me extended a desert, sad + and wild, broken be little hills and deep ravines, all covered with snow. + The sun was setting. + </p> + <p> + My kibitka followed the narrow road, or rather trace, left by peasants’ + sledges. Suddenly my coachman, looking at a certain point and addressing + me, “My lord,” said he, taking off his cap, “do you not command us to + retrace our steps?” + </p> + <p> + “What for?” + </p> + <p> + “The weather is uncertain. There is some wind ahead; do you see it drive + the snow on the surface?” + </p> + <p> + “What matter?” + </p> + <p> + “And do you not see what is over yonder?” pointing with his whip to the + east. + </p> + <p> + “I see nothing more than the white steppes and the clear sky.” + </p> + <p> + “There! there! that little cloud!” + </p> + <p> + I saw indeed upon the horizon a little white cloud that I had at first + taken for a distant hill. My coachman explained to me that this little + cloud foretold a <i>chasse-neige</i>—a snowdrift. I had heard of the + drifting snows of this region, and I know that at times, storms swallowed + up whole caravans. Saveliitch agreed with the coachman, and advised our + return. + </p> + <p> + But to me the wind did not seem very strong. I hoped to arrive in time for + the next relay of horses. I gave orders, therefore, to redouble our speed. + The coachman put his horses to the gallop, and kept his eyes to the east. + </p> + <p> + The wind blew harder and harder. The little cloud soon became a great + white mass, rising heavily, growing, extending, and finally invading the + whole sky. A fine snow began to fall, which suddenly changed to immense + flakes. The wind whistled and howled. It was a <i>chasse-neige</i>—a + snowdrift. + </p> + <p> + In an instant the somber sky was confounded with the sea of snow which the + wind raised up from the earth. Every thing was indistinguishable. + </p> + <p> + “Woe, to us! my lord,” cried the coachman, “it is a whirlwind of snow!” + </p> + <p> + I put my head out of the kibitka—darkness and storm. The wind blew + with an expression so ferocious that it seemed a living creature. + </p> + <p> + The snow fell in large flakes upon us, covering us. The horses went at a + walking pace, but very soon stood still. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you not go on?” I said to the coachman. + </p> + <p> + “Go where?” he replied, as he got down from the kibitka. “God knows where + we are now! There is no road; all is darkness.” + </p> + <p> + I began to scold him. Saveliitch took up his defense: + </p> + <p> + “Why did you not listen to him,” said he, angrily; “you could have + returned, taken some tea and slept till morning; the storm would have been + over, and we could then have set out. Why this haste? as if you were going + to your wedding?” + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch was right. What was to be done? The snow continued to fall; it + was heaped up around the kibitka; the horses stood motionless, now and + then shivering. The coachman walked around them adjusting their harness, + as if he had nothing else to do. + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch grumbled. + </p> + <p> + I strained my eyes in every direction, hoping to see signs of a dwelling, + or of a road, but I could only see the whirling of the snow-drift. All at + once I thought I saw some thing black. “Halloo! coachman,” I cried out, + “what is that black thing yonder?” + </p> + <p> + The coachman looked attentively where I indicated. “God knows, my lord,” + he replied, re-mounting to his seat; “it is not a kibitka, nor a tree; it + seems to be moving. It must be a wolf or a man!” + </p> + <p> + I ordered him to go in the direction of the unknown object which was + coming toward us. In two minutes we were on a line with it, and I + recognized a man. + </p> + <p> + “Halloo! good man!” shouted my coachman; “tell us, do you know the road?” + </p> + <p> + “This is the road,” replied the man. “I am on solid ground, but what the + devil is the good of that.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, my good peasant,” said I; “do you know this country? Can you lead + us to a shelter for the night?” + </p> + <p> + “This country! Thank God, I have been over it on foot and in carriage, + from one end to the other. But one can not help losing the road in this + weather. It is better to stop here and wait till the hurricane ceases: + then the sky will clear, and we can find the way by the stars.” + </p> + <p> + His coolness gave me courage. I had decided to trust myself to the mercy + of God and pass the night on the steppe, when the traveler, seating + himself on the bench which was the coachman’s seat, said to the driver: + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, a dwelling is near. Turn to the right and go on.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should I turn to the right?” said the coachman, sulkily, “where do + you see a road?” + </p> + <p> + “Must I say to you these horses, as well as the harness, belong to + another? then use the whip without respite.” + </p> + <p> + I thought my coachman’s view rational. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you believe,” said I to the new-comer, “that a dwelling is not far + off?” + </p> + <p> + “The wind blows from that quarter,” said he, “and I have smelled smoke—proof + that a dwelling is near.” + </p> + <p> + His sagacity, the delicacy of his sense of smell, filled me with + admiration; I ordered my coachman to go wherever the other wished. The + horses walked heavily through the deep snow. The kibitka advanced but + slowly, now raised on a hillock, now descending into a hollow, swaying + from side like a boat on a stormy sea. + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch, falling over on me every instant, moaned. I pulled down the + hood of the kibitka, wrapped myself up in my pelisse, and fell asleep, + rocked by the swaying of the vehicle, and lulled by the chant of the + tempest. + </p> + <p> + The horses stopped. Saveliitch was holding my hand. + </p> + <p> + “Come out, my lord,” said he, “we have arrived.” + </p> + <p> + “Where have we arrived?” said I, rubbing my eyes. + </p> + <p> + “At the shelter. God has helped us; we have stumbled right upon the hedge + of the dwelling. Come out, my lord, quick; come and warm yourself.” + </p> + <p> + I descended from the kibitka; the hurricane had not ceased, but it had + moderated; sight was useless, it was so dark. The master of the house met + us at the door, holding a lantern under the flaps of his long coat, the + Cossack cafetan. He led us into a small, though no untidy room, lighted by + a pine torch. In the centre hung a carabine and a high Cossack cap. + </p> + <p> + Our host, a Cossack from the river Iaik, was a peasant of some sixty + years, still fresh and green. + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch brought in the case containing my tea-service; he asked for + fire to make me a few cups of tea, of which I never had greater need. The + host hastened to serve us. + </p> + <p> + “Where is our guide?” I asked of Saveliitch. + </p> + <p> + “Here, your lordship,” replied a voice from above. I raised my eyes to the + loft, and saw a black beard and two sparkling black eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Well, are you cold?” + </p> + <p> + “How could I help being cold in this little cafetan full of holes. What’s + the use of concealment? I had a touloup, but I left it yesterday in pledge + with the liquor-seller; then the cold did not seem so great.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment our host entered with the portable furnace and boiler, the + Russian <i>Somovar</i>. I offered our guide a cup of tea. Down he came at + once. As he stood in the glare of the pine torch his appearance was + remarkable. A man about forty years of age, medium height, slight but with + broad shoulders. His black beard was turning grey; large, quick, restless + eyes, gave him an expression full of cunning, and yet not at all + disagreeable. He was dressed in wide Tartar pantaloons and an old jacket. + His hair was cut evenly round. + </p> + <p> + I offered him a cup of tea. He tasted it and made a grimace. + </p> + <p> + “Do me the favor, my lord, to order me a glass of brandy; tea is not the + Cossack’s drink.” + </p> + <p> + I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a closet + a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full in the face, + said: + </p> + <p> + “Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought you?” + </p> + <p> + My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the + well-know proverb: “‘The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed; the + grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.’ And you? how are all yours?” + </p> + <p> + “How are we?” said the host, and continuing in proverbs: “‘They began to + ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest’s wife forbade it. The priest + went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.’” + </p> + <p> + “Be silent, uncle,” said the vagabond. + </p> + <p> + “‘When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there shall + be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy hatchet + behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.’” + </p> + <p> + “To your lordship’s health.” Taking the glass, he made the sign of the + cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted me and + remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this thief’s slang. + It was only in the sequel that I learned that they spoke of the affairs of + the army of the Iaik, which had just been reduced to obedience after the + revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened and glanced suspiciously from host to + guide. + </p> + <p> + The species of inn where we were sheltered was in the very heart of the + steppes, far from the road and every inhabited spot, and looked very much + like a rendezvous of robbers. But to set off again on our journey was + impossible. The disgust of Saveliitch amused not a little; however, he + finally decided to mount upon the roof of the stove, the ordinary bed of + the Russian peasant. The warm bricks of the hot-air chamber of the stove + diffused a grateful heat, and soon the old man and the host, who had laid + himself on the floor, were snoring. I stretched myself upon a bench, and + slept like a dead. Awaking next morning quite late, I saw that the + hurricane was over. The sun shone out, the snow extended in the distance + like a sheet of dazzling white damask. The horses were already at the + door, harnessed. I paid our host, who asked so small a pittance that even + Saveliitch did not, as usual, haggle over the price. His suspicions of the + evening before had entirely disappeared. I called the guide to thank him + for the service he had done us, and told Saveliitch to give him half a + rouble. Saveliitch frowned. + </p> + <p> + “Half a rouble,” said he; “What for? Because you yourself deigned to bring + him to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have not a rouble to + spare. If we begin by giving drink money to every one we shall end by + dying of hunger.” + </p> + <p> + It was useless to argue with him; my money, according to my promise, was + entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to be able to + reward a man who had extricated me from danger, perhaps death. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said I, coolly, “if you will not give him half a rouble, give one + of my coats—he is too thinly clad; give him the hare-skin touloup.” + </p> + <p> + “Have mercy on me! My dear Peter,” said Saveliitch, “what does he want + with your touloup? He will drink its price, the dog, at the first inn.” + </p> + <p> + “That, my good old man, is none of your business,” said the vagabond; “his + lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a coat from + his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, but to obey.” + </p> + <p> + “You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are,” said Saveliitch, + angrily; “you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason, and + there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart. You can not + even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said I, “do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Lord!” said the old man, moaning—“a touloup of hare-skin! Quite + new,—to give it to a drunkard in rags.” + </p> + <p> + It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It was + rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it on, + nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams. + Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the + threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present. + He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow: “Thanks, + my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your goodness.” + </p> + <p> + He went his way,—I set out on mine, paying no attention to the + sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as + well as the touloup of hare-skin. + </p> + <p> + Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He was a + tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn-out + uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his + speech betrayed a strong German accent. + </p> + <p> + I gave him my father’s letter. + </p> + <p> + Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. “Mein Gott,” said he, “it is so + short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a fine + fellow of a son he has. Ah! time! time!” He opened the letter and began to + run it over with a commentary of remarks. + </p> + <p> + “‘Sir, I hope your Excellency,’—What is this; what is the meaning of + this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the way to + write to an old friend? Hum—‘Field-marshal Munich—little + Caroline—brother.’ Ah! then he remembers—‘Now to business. I + send you my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.’ + </p> + <p> + “What does that mean?” said he, “that must be a Russian proverb.” + </p> + <p> + “It means,” said I, with an air of innocence, “to treat a person mildly, + to give one liberty.” + </p> + <p> + “Hum!” said he, reading, “‘and give him no liberty.’ No,” he continued, + “your proverb does not mean liberty. Well, my son,” said he, having + finished the letter, “every thing shall be done for you. You shall be an + officer in the —— regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow + to the fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a + brave and honest man. There you will see service and learn discipline. You + have nothing to do here at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a + young man. Today I invite you to dine with me.” + </p> + <p> + From bad to worse, thought I. What was the use of being a Sergeant in the + Guards almost from my mother’s womb? To what has it led? To the regiment + of ——, and an abandoned fortress on the frontier of the + steppes! + </p> + <p> + I dined at the General’s in company with his old Aid-de-camp. Severe + German economy reigned at table, and I think the fear of having an + occasional guest the more had something to do with sending me to a distant + garrison. + </p> + <p> + The next day I took my leave of the General and set out for Belogorsk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE FORTRESS. + </h2> + <p> + The fortress of Belogorsk is situated forty versts from Orenbourg. The + route from this city is along the high banks of the river Iaik. The stream + was not yet frozen, and its lead-colored waters took a black tint between + banks whitened by the snow. Before me lay the Kirghis steppes. I fell into + a moody train of thought, for to me garrison life offered few attractions. + I tried to picture my future chief, Captain Mironoff. I imagined a severe, + morose old man, knowing nothing outside of the service, ready to arrest me + for the least slip. Dusk was falling; we were advancing rapidly. + </p> + <p> + “How far is it from here to the fortress?” said I to the coachman. + </p> + <p> + “You can see it now,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + I looked on all sides, expecting to see high bastions, a wall, and a + ditch. I saw nothing but a little village surrounded by a wooden palisade. + On one side stood some hay-stacks half covered with snow; on the other a + wind-mill, leaning to one side; the wings of the mill, made of the heavy + bark of the linden tree, hung idle. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the fortress?” I asked, astonished. + </p> + <p> + “There it is,” said the coachman, pointing to the village which we had + just entered. I saw near the gate an old iron cannon. The streets were + narrow and winding, and nearly all the huts were thatched with straw. I + ordered the coachman to drive to the Commandant’s, and almost immediately + my kibitka stopped before a wooden house built on an eminence near the + church, which was also of wood. From the front door I entered the + waiting-room. An old pensioner, seated on a table, was sewing a blue piece + on the elbow of a green uniform. I told him to announce me. + </p> + <p> + “Enter, my good sir,” said he, “our people are at home.” + </p> + <p> + I entered a very neat room, furnished in the fashion of other days. On one + side stood a cabinet containing the silver. Against the wall hung the + diploma of an officer, with colored engravings arranged around its frame; + notably, the “Choice of the Betrothed,” the “Taking of Kurstrin,” and the + “Burial of the Cat by the Mice.” Near the window sat an old woman in a + mantilla, her head wrapped in a handkerchief. She was winding a skein of + thread held on the separated hands of a little old man, blind of one eye, + who was dressed like an officer. + </p> + <p> + “What do you desire, my dear sir?” said the woman to me, without + interrupting her occupation. I told her that I had come to enter the + service, and that, according to rule, I hastened to present myself to the + captain. In saying this, I turned to the one-eyed old man, whom I took for + the commandant. The good lady interrupted the speech which I had prepared + in advance: + </p> + <p> + “Ivan Mironoff is not at home; he is gone to visit Father Garasim; but it + is all the same; I am his wife. Deign to love us and have us in favor! + Take a seat, my dear sir.” She ordered a servant to send her the Corporal. + The little old man gazed at me curiously, with his only eye. + </p> + <p> + “May I dare to ask,” said he, “in what regiment you have deigned to + serve?” + </p> + <p> + I satisfied him on that point. + </p> + <p> + “And may I dare to ask why you changed from the Guards to our garrison?” + </p> + <p> + I replied that it was by the orders of authority. + </p> + <p> + “Probably for actions little becoming an officer of the Guards?” resumed + the persistent questioner. + </p> + <p> + “Will you stop your stupidities?” said the Captain’s wife to him. “You see + the young man is fatigued by the journey; he has something else to do + besides answering you. Hold your hands better! And you my dear sir,” + continued she, turning to me, “do not be too much afflicted that you are + thrust into our little town; you are not the first, and will not be the + last. Now, there is Alexis Chabrine, who has been transferred to us for a + term of four years for murder. God knows what provocation he had. He and a + lieutenant went outside the city with their swords, and before two + witnesses Alexis killed the lieutenant. Ah! misfortune has no master.” + </p> + <p> + Just then the Corporal entered, a young and handsome Cossack. “Maxim,” + said the Captain’s wife, “give this officer a clean lodging.” + </p> + <p> + “I obey, Basilia,” replied the Cossack; “shall I lodge him with Ivan + Pologoff?” + </p> + <p> + “You are doting, Maxim, he has too little space now; besides, he is my + child’s godfather; and, moreover, he never forgets that we are his chiefs. + What is your name, my dear sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Peter Grineff.” + </p> + <p> + “Then conduct Peter Grineff to the quarters of Simeon Kieff. That rascal + let his horse into my vegetable garden. Is all right, Maxim?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, all is quiet, except that Corporal Kourzoff quarreled with the + woman Augustina about a pail of warm water.” + </p> + <p> + “Ignatius,” said the Captain’s wife to the one-eyed man, “judge between + the two—decide which one is guilty, and punish both. Go, Maxim, God + be with you. Peter Grineff, Maxim will conduct you to your lodgings.” + </p> + <p> + I took my leave; the Corporal led me to a cabin placed on the high bank + near the river’s edge, at the end of the fortress. Half of the cabin was + occupied by the family of Simeon Kieff, the other was given up to me. My + half of the cabin was a large apartment divided by a partition. Saveliitch + began at once to install us, whilst I looked out of the narrow window. + Before me stretched the bleak and barren steppe; nearer rose some cabins; + at the threshold of one stood a woman with a bowl in her hand calling the + pigs to feed; no other objects met my sight, save a few chickens + scratching for stray kernels of corn in the street. And this was the + country to which I was condemned to pass my youth! I turned from the + window, seized by bitter sadness, and went to bed without supper, + notwithstanding the supplications of Saveliitch, who with anguish cried + aloud: “Oh! he will not deign to eat! O Lord! what will my mistress say, + if the child should fall ill!” + </p> + <p> + The next morning I had scarcely begun to dress, when a young officer + entered my room. He was of small size, with irregular features, but his + sun-burned face had remarkable vivacity. “Pardon me,” said he in French, + “that I come so unceremoniously to make your acquaintance. I learned + yesterday of your arrival, and the desire of seeing at last a human face + so took possession of me that I could wait no longer. You will understand + this when you shall have lived here some time!” + </p> + <p> + I easily guessed that he was the officer dismissed from the Guards for the + affair of the duel—Alexis Chabrine. He was very intelligent; his + conversation was sprightly and interesting. He described with impulse and + gayety the Commandant’s family, society, and in general the whole country + round. I was laughing heartily, when Ignatius, the same old pensioner whom + I had seen mending his uniform in the Captain’s waiting-room, entered, and + gave me an invitation to dinner from Basilia Mironoff, the Captain’s wife. + Alexis declared that he would accompany me. + </p> + <p> + Approaching the Commandant’s house we saw on the square some twenty little + old pensioners, with long queues and three-cornered hats. These old men + were drawn up in line of battle. Before them stood the Commandant, a fresh + and vigorous old man of high stature, in dressing-gown and cotton cap. As + soon as he saw us, he approached, addressed me a few affable words, and + then resumed his drill. We were going to stay to see the manoeuvering, but + he begged us to go on immediately to the house, promising to join us at + once; “for,” said he, “there is really nothing to be seen here.” + </p> + <p> + Basilia received us kindly, and with simplicity, treating me like an old + acquaintance. The pensioner and the maid Polacca were laying the + table-cloth. + </p> + <p> + “What is the matter with my dear Ivan Mironoff, today, that he is so long + instructing his troops?” said the mistress. “Polacca, go and bring him to + dinner. And where is my child, Marie?” Scarcely had she pronounced this + name, than a young girl about sixteen entered the room;—a rosy, + round-faced girl, wearing her hair in smooth bandeaux caught behind her + ears, which were red with modesty and shyness. She did not please me very + much at the first glance; I was prejudiced against her by Alexis, who had + described the Captain’s daughter to me as a fool. Marie seated herself in + a corner and began to sew. The soup was brought on the table. Basilia, not + seeing her husband coming, sent the maid a second time to call him. + </p> + <p> + “Tell the master that his inspection can wait; the soup is cooling. Thank + God! the drills need not be lost; there will be time enough yet to use his + voice at his leisure.” + </p> + <p> + The captain soon appeared with his one-eyed officer. + </p> + <p> + “What’s this, my dear,” said Basilia; “the table has been served some + time, and no one could make you come.” + </p> + <p> + “You see, Basilia, I was busy with the service, instructing my good + soldiers.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, Ivan Mironoff, that’s boasting. The service does not suit + them, and as for you, you know nothing about it. You should have stayed at + home and prayed God, that suits you much better. My dear guests, to + table.” + </p> + <p> + We took our places for dinner. Basilia was not silent a moment; she + overwhelmed me with questions: Who were my parents? Were they living? + Where did they reside? What was their fortune? When she learned that my + father owned three hundred serfs, she exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “You see there are some rich people in the world—and we, my dear + sir, in point of souls, we possess only the maid Polacca. Yet, thank God, + we live, somehow or other. We have but one care, that is Marie, a girl + that must be married off. And what fortune has she? The price of two baths + per annum. If only she could find a worthy husband. If not, there she is, + eternally a maid.” + </p> + <p> + I glanced at Marie; she blushed, tears were dropping into her soup. I + pitied her, and hastened to change the conversation. “I have heard that + the Bashkirs intend to attack your fortress?” + </p> + <p> + “Who said so,” replied Ivan Mironoff. + </p> + <p> + “I heard it at Orenbourg.” + </p> + <p> + “All nonsense,” said Ivan, “we have not heard the least word about it; the + Bashkirs are an intimidated people; and the Kirghis have also had some + good lessons. They dare not attack us, and if they should even dream of + it, I would give them so great a fright that they would not move again for + ten years.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you not fear,” I continued, addressing Basilia, “to stay in a fortress + exposed to these dangers?” + </p> + <p> + “A matter of habit, my dear,” she replied, “twenty years ago, when we were + transferred here from the regiment, you could not believe how I feared the + pagans. If I chanced to see their fur caps, if I heard their shouts, + believe me, my heart was ready to faint; but now I am so used to this + life, that if told that the brigands were prowling around us, I would not + stir from the fortress.” + </p> + <p> + “Basilia is a very brave lady,” observed Alexis, gravely. “Ivan Mironoff + knows some thing about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you see,” said Ivan, “she does not belong to the regiment of + poltroons.” + </p> + <p> + “And Marie,” I asked of her mother “is she as bold as you?” + </p> + <p> + “Marie?” said the lady. “No! Marie is a coward. Up to the present she has + not heard the report of a gun without trembling in every limb. Two years + ago Ivan had a pleasant fancy to fire off his cannon on my birthday; the + poor pigeon was so frightened that she almost went into the next world. + Since that day the miserable cannon has not spoken.” + </p> + <p> + We rose from the table. The captain and his wife went to take their + siesta. I went with Alexis to his room, where we passed the evening + together. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE DUEL. + </h2> + <p> + Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became not + only supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of the + family in the Commandant’s house. The husband and wife were excellent + people. Ivan Mironoff, from being the adopted child of the regiment, rose + to officer’s rank. He was a plain, simple, uneducated man, but thoroughly + good and loyal. His wife governed him, and that suited his natural + indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the garrison, as she did her + household, and commanded through the fortress as she did in her own + kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we became better acquainted I + found that she was a girl full of affection and intelligence. Little by + little I became deeply attached to this good family. + </p> + <p> + I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not oppress + me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to do, no guard to + mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his own amusement, the + Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet succeeded in teaching them + which was the right flank and which the left. + </p> + <p> + Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so + that a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and + essayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every day I + dined at the Commandant’s, where, as a general thing, I spent the rest of + the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife, Accoulina, the + greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I met daily, yet + gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual jokes upon the + Commandant’s family, and above all his biting remarks about Marie, + rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had no other society + than this family in the fortress, and I desired no other. All predictions + to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, and peace reigned around us. + </p> + <p> + I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. One day + I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is well known + that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek a kindly + audience. I copied my little song and took it to Alexis, the only one in + the fortress who could appreciate a poetical work. After preluding a + little, I drew my pages from my pocket and read my verses to him. + </p> + <p> + “How do you like that?” said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. To + my great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my writings, + declared frankly that my song was worth nothing. + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper out of + my hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every word, + tearing me up in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. I snatched + the paper from him, declaring that never again would I show him any of my + compositions. + </p> + <p> + “We shall see,” said he, “if you can keep your word; poets need a listener + as Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. Who is this + Marie to whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it not be Marie + Mironoff?” + </p> + <p> + “That is none of your business,” said I, frowning. “I want neither your + advice nor supposition.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover,” continued Alexis, irritating me more + and more, “listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed do not + confine yourself to songs.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean, sir? Explain!” + </p> + <p> + “With pleasure,” he replied. “I mean that if you wish to form an intimacy + with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair of earrings instead + of your lackadaisical verses.” + </p> + <p> + All my blood boiled. “Why have you this opinion of her?” I asked, with + much effort restraining my anger. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” said he, “of my own experience.” + </p> + <p> + “You lie, wretch,” I cried, with furry, “you lie, shamelessly.” + </p> + <p> + Alexis was enraged. + </p> + <p> + “That shall not pass so,” he said, grasping my hand. “You shall give me + satisfaction.” + </p> + <p> + “When ever you like,” I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was ready + to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom I found + with a needle in his hand. According to orders from the Commandant’s wife, + he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried for winter use. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends you + here?” + </p> + <p> + In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him, + Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great + attention, opening wide his only eye. + </p> + <p> + “You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I should + witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?” + </p> + <p> + “Precisely.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harsh + word can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, give him + the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, you a + third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if you fight—well, + if <i>you</i> should kill <i>him</i>, God be with him! for I do not like + him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece of business! + Then who will pay for the broken pots?” + </p> + <p> + The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution. + </p> + <p> + “Do as you like,” said Ignatius, “but what’s the use of having me as a + witness? People fight—that’s nothing extraordinary—I have + often been quite close to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of + color.” + </p> + <p> + I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, or + could not understand me. “Follow your own fashion,” said he, “if I were to + meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan Mironoff, according + to rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress for the commission of a + criminal action—one contrary to the interests of the crown.” + </p> + <p> + I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. He + gave me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. As + usual I passed the evening at the Commandant’s, forcing myself to be calm + and gay, in order not to awaken suspicions and to avoid questioning. I + confess that I had not the coolness of which people boast who have been in + a similar position. I was disposed to tenderness. Marie Mironoff seemed + more attractive than ever. The idea that perhaps I saw her for the last + time, gave her a touching grace. + </p> + <p> + Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation with + Ignatius. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the good of seconds,” said he, dryly. “We can do without them.” + </p> + <p> + We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o’clock. + </p> + <p> + Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us. + “You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a good + quarrel.” + </p> + <p> + “What! what! Ignatius,” said the Captain’s wife, who was playing patience + in a corner, “I do not quite understand?” + </p> + <p> + Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confused + and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: “He approves of + peace.” + </p> + <p> + “With whom had you quarreled?” said she. + </p> + <p> + “With Peter Grineff—a few high words.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” + </p> + <p> + “For a mere nothing—a song.” + </p> + <p> + “Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened.” + </p> + <p> + “Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang + his song for me. Then I chanted mine: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.’ +</pre> + <p> + As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every + one is at liberty to sing what he pleases.” + </p> + <p> + The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood his + allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general. The + Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, and + advised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service, + and leading to nothing good. + </p> + <p> + As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take + leave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried its + point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the + morning at six o’clock. + </p> + <p> + The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting my + adversary, who did not fail to appear. “We may be surprised,” he said; “be + quick.” We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the scabbards, + when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from behind a + haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of the Commandant. We + obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius conducted us in triumph, + marching military step, with majestic gravity. We entered the Commandant’s + house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, and exclaimed with emphasis: + “They are taken!” + </p> + <p> + Basilia ran toward us: “What does this mean? plotting an assassination in + our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, give up + your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you; are you + not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he was transferred to + us from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish; and he does not + believe in our blessed Saviour.” + </p> + <p> + Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: “You see! You + see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code.” + </p> + <p> + Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not + help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said to + Basilia: “Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you take + useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to Ivan + Mironoff; it is his business.” + </p> + <p> + “What! what! my dear sir,” said the lady, “are not man and wife the same + flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boys + instantly; put them in separate rooms—on bread and water, to expel + this stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on + order that they may repent before God and man.” + </p> + <p> + Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The + tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to embrace + each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the house, + having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us. + </p> + <p> + “Are you not ashamed of yourself,” I said to him, “to have denounced us to + the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?” + </p> + <p> + “As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all from + me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of the + Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did.” He went to his room; I + remained with Alexis. + </p> + <p> + “Our affair can not end thus,” I remarked. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly not,” replied Alexis. “You shall pay me with your blood for + your impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign + for a few days. Until then, adieu!” + </p> + <p> + We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant’s, + and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and her + mother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Marie + reproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. “My + heart failed me,” she said, “when I heard you were going to fight with + swords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready to strangle each + other, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but even the honor and + happiness of those who— I am sure you did not begin the quarrel? + Alexis was the aggressor?” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you think so?” + </p> + <p> + “Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not + displease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?” + </p> + <p> + Marie blushed. “It seems,” said she, “that I please him.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know?” + </p> + <p> + “Because he made me an offer of marriage.” + </p> + <p> + “He made you an offer of marriage! When?” + </p> + <p> + “Last year, two months before your arrival.” + </p> + <p> + “You did not accept?” + </p> + <p> + “Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of an + excellent family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that beneath + the crown, on my marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss him before + every one! No! no! not for any thing in the world.” + </p> + <p> + Marie’s words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexis in + aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutual inclination, + and was trying to turn us from each other. The words which had provoked + our quarrel seemed to me the more infamous, as instead of being a vulgar + joke, it was deliberate calumny. The desire to punish this shameless liar + became so strong that I waited impatiently the favorable moment. I had not + long to wait. The next day, occupied composing an elegy, biting my pen in + the expectation of a rhyme, Alexis knocked at my window. I put down my + pen, took my sword, and went out of the house. + </p> + <p> + “Why defer?” said Alexis, “we are no longer watched, let us go down to the + river-side; there none will hinder us.” + </p> + <p> + We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at + the water’s edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I in + the use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who had + been, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. Alexis did + not expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous a character. + </p> + <p> + For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but at last + noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him energetically, and + almost drove him backward into the river, when suddenly I heard my name + pronounced in a high voice. Turning my head rapidly, I saw Saveliitch + running toward me down the path. As I turned my head, I felt a sharp + thrust in the breast under the right shoulder, and I fell, unconscious. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. LOVE. + </h2> + <p> + When I came to myself, I neither knew what had happened nor where I was. I + felt very weak; the room was strange, there was Saveliitch standing before + me, a light in his hand, and some one arranging the bandages that bound my + chest and shoulder. Gradually I recalled my duel, and easily divined that + I had been wounded. The door at this instant moaned gently on its hinges. + </p> + <p> + “Well, how is he?” whispered a voice that made me start. + </p> + <p> + “Still in the same state,” sighed Saveliitch, “now unconscious four days.” + I wanted to turn on my bed, but I had not the strength. “Where am I?” said + I, with effort, “who is here?” Marie approached, and bending over me said, + gently, “How do you feel?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, I am well. Is that Marie? tell me—?” I could not finish. + Saveliitch uttered a cry of joy, his delight showing plainly in his face. + “He recovers! he recovers! Thanks to thee, O God! Peter, how you + frightened me!—four days! It is easy to talk—!” + </p> + <p> + Marie interrupted him: “Do not, Saveliitch, speak too much to him; he is + still very weak.” She went out, shutting the door noiselessly. I must be + in the Commandant’s house, or Marie could not come to see me. I wished to + question Saveliitch, but the old man shook his head and put his fingers in + his ears. I closed my eyes from ill-humor—and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + Upon awaking, I called Saveliitch; instead of him, I saw before me Marie, + whose gentle voice greeted me. I seized her hand and bathed it with my + tears. Marie did not withdraw it, and suddenly I felt upon my cheek the + impression, humid and delicious, of her lips! A thrill shot through my + whole being. + </p> + <p> + “Dear, good Marie, be my wife, and make me the happiest of men!” + </p> + <p> + “In the name of heaven be calm,” she said, withdrawing her hand, “your + wound may reopen; for my sake be careful.” + </p> + <p> + She left the room. I was in a daze. I felt life returning. “She will be + mine!” I kept repeating, “she loves me!” I grew better, hour by hour. The + barber of the regiment dressed my wounds, for there was no other physician + in the fortress, and thank God, he did not merely play the doctor. Youth + and nature completed the cure. + </p> + <p> + The Commandant’s whole family surrounded me with care. Marie scarcely ever + left me. I need not say that I took the first favorable moment to continue + my interrupted declaration. This time Marie listened with more patience. + She frankly acknowledged her affection for me. And added that her parents + would be happy in her happiness; “but,” she continued, “think well of it? + Will there be no objection on the part of your family?” + </p> + <p> + I did not doubt my mother’s tenderness, but knowing my father’s character, + I foresaw that my love would not be received by him favorably, and that in + all probability he would treat it as one of my youthful follies. This I + avowed plainly to Marie, but nevertheless I resolved to write to my father + as eloquently as possible, and ask his blessing on our marriage. I showed + the letter to Marie, who thought it so touching and convincing that she + did not doubt of success, and abandoned herself, with all the confidence + of youth and love, to the feelings of her heart. + </p> + <p> + I made peace with Alexis in the first days of my convalescence. Ivan + Mironoff said, reproaching me for the duel: “You see, Peter, I ought to + put you under arrest, but indeed you have been well punished without that. + Alexis is, by my orders, under guard in the barn, and his sword is under + lock and key in Basilia’s keeping.” + </p> + <p> + I was too happy to harbor spite, so I entreated for Alexis, and the kind + Commandant, with his wife’s permission, consented to set him at liberty. + Alexis came at once to see me. He expressed regret for all that had + happened, confessing that the fault was all his, and begged me to forget + the past. Being naturally incapable of revenge, I pardoned him, forgiving + both our quarrel and my wound. In his calumny I now saw the irritation of + wounded vanity and despised love. I generously forgave my unfortunate + rival. As soon as completely cured I returned to my lodging. I awaited + impatiently the reply to my letter, not daring to hope, yet trying to + stifle all sad presentiments. I had not yet had an explanation with + Basilia and her husband, but my suit could not surprise them. Neither + Marie nor I had concealed our feelings, and we were sure in advance of + their consent. + </p> + <p> + At last, one pleasant day Saveliitch came to my room, letter in hand. The + address was written in my father’s hand. This sight prepared me for + something grave, for usually my mother wrote me, and he only added a few + lines at the end. Long I hesitated to break the seal. I read again and + again the solemn superscription: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “To my Son, + Peter Grineff, + Principality of Orenbourg, + Fortress of Belogorsk.” + </pre> + <p> + I tried to discover by my father’s writing his mood of mind when he wrote + that letter. At last I broke that seal. I saw from the first lines that + our hopes were crushed! Here is the letter: + </p> + <p> + “MY SON PETER: We received the 15th of this month the letter in which you + ask our paternal benediction and consent to your marriage with Mironoff’s + daughter. Not only have I no intention of giving either my consent or + benediction, but I have a great mind to go to you and punish you for your + childish follies, notwithstanding your officer’s rank, because you have + proved that you are not worthy to bear the sword which was given you for + the defense of your country, and not for the purpose of fighting a duel + with a fool of your own stamp. I shall write instantly to Andrew + Karlovitch to transfer you from the fortress of Belogorsk to some still + more distant place. Upon hearing of your wound your mother was taken ill, + and is still confined to her bed. What will become of you? I pray God to + reform you, but can scarcely hope for so much from his goodness. Your + father, A.G.” + </p> + <p> + The harsh expressions which my father had not spared, wounded me sorely; + the contempt with which he treated Marie seemed to me as unjust as it was + undignified. Then the mere idea of being sent from this fortress alarmed + me; but above all, I grieved for my mother’s illness. Saveliitch came in + for a share of my indignation, not doubting but that he informed my + parents of the duel. After having paced up and down my little chamber, I + stopped suddenly before the old man and said: “It seems that it is not + enough that you caused my wound, and brought me almost to the brink of the + grave, but that you want to kill my mother too!” + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch was as motionless as if lightning had struck him. “Have mercy + on me! my lord,” said he, “what do you deign to tell me? I caused your + wound? God sees that I was running to put my breast before you, to receive + the sword of Alexis. This cursed age of mine hindered me. But what have I + done to your mother?” + </p> + <p> + “What have you done? Who charged you to write an accusation against me? + Were you taken into my service to play the spy on me?” + </p> + <p> + “I write an accusation?” replied the old man, quite broken down, “O God! + King of heaven! Here, read what the master writes me, and you shall see if + I denounced thee.” At the same time he drew from his pocket a letter which + he gave me, and I read what follows: + </p> + <p> + “Shame upon you, you old dog, that notwithstanding my strict orders you + wrote me nothing regarding my son, leaving to strangers the duty of + telling me of his follies. Is it thus you do your duty and fulfill your + master’s will? I shall send you to keep the pigs, for having concealed the + truth, and for your condescension to the young man. Upon receipt of this + letter inform me immediately of the state of his health, which is, I hear, + improving, and tell me precisely the place of his wound, and whether he + has well attended.” + </p> + <p> + Evidently Saveliitch was not in the wrong, and I had offended him by my + suspicions and reproaches. I asked him to forgive me, but the old man was + inconsolable. “See to what I have lived!” he repeated; “see what thanks I + have merited from my masters for all my long services! I am an old dog! I + am a swine-herd, and more than all that, I caused your wound. No, no, + Peter, I am not in fault, it is the cursed Frenchman who taught thee to + play with these steel blades, and to stamp and dance, as if by thrusting + and dancing you could defend yourself from a bad man.” + </p> + <p> + Now, then, who had taken the pains to accuse me to my father? The General, + Andrew Karlovitch? He did not trouble himself much about me; moreover, + Ivan Mironoff had not thought it worth while to report my duel to him. My + suspicions fell on Alexis. He only would find some advantage in this + information, the consequence of which might be my dismissal from the + fortress and separation from the Commandant’s family. I went to tell every + thing to Marie. She met me on the doorstep. + </p> + <p> + “What has happened to you? how pale you are!” + </p> + <p> + “All’s over,” I replied, handing her my father’s letter. + </p> + <p> + It was her turn to blanch. Having read the letter she returned it, and + said in a trembling voice: “It was not my destiny. Your parents do not + wish me in their family; may the will of God be done! He knows better than + we what is best for us. There is nothing to be done in the matter, Peter; + you, at least, may be happy.” + </p> + <p> + “It shall not be so,” I exclaimed, taking her hand. “You love me, I am + ready for any fate. Let us go and throw ourselves at your parents’ feet. + They are simple people; they are neither haughty nor cruel; they will give + us their benediction; we will marry; and in time, I am sure, we will + soften my father. My mother will intercede for us, and he will pardon me.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Peter, I will not marry you without the benediction of your parents. + You would not be happy without their blessing. Let us submit to the will + of God. If you meet another bride, if you love her, may God be with you! + I, Peter, I will pray for both of you.” Tears interrupted her, and she + went away; I wished to follow her into the house, but I was not master of + myself, and I went to my own quarters. I was plunged in melancholy, when + Saveliitch came to interrupt my reflections. + </p> + <p> + “There, my lord,” said he, presenting me a sheet of paper all covered with + writing, “see if I am a spy on my master, and if I try to embroil father + and son.” + </p> + <p> + I took the paper from his hand; it was his reply to my father’s letter. + </p> + <p> + I could not help smiling at the old man’s letter. I was in no condition to + write to my father, and to calm my mother his letter seemed sufficient. + </p> + <p> + From that day, Marie scarcely spoke to me, and even tried to avoid me. The + Commandant’s house became insupportable, and I accustomed myself, little + by little, to remain alone in my room. At first Basilia reasoned with me, + but seeing my persistency she let me alone. I saw Ivan Mironoff only when + the service required it. I had but rare interviews with Alexis, for whom + my antipathy increased, because I thought I discovered in him a secret + enmity which confirmed my suspicions. Life became a burden; I gave myself + up to a melancholy which was fed by solitude and inaction. Love burned on + in silence and tortured me, more and more. I lost all taste for reading + and literature; I let myself become completely depressed; and I feared + that I should either become a lunatic or rush into dissipation, when + events occurred that had great influence on my life and give a strong and + healthy tone to my mind. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. POUGATCHEFF. + </h2> + <p> + Before beginning the recital of the strange events of which I was witness, + I ought to say a few words about the situation of affairs toward the end + of the year 1773. The rich and vast province of Orenbourg was inhabited by + a number of tribes, half civilized, who had just recognized the + sovereignty of the Russian Czars. Their continual revolts, their + impatience of law and civilized life, their inconstancy and cruelty, + demanded on the part of the government a constant watchfulness to reduce + them to obedience. Fortresses had been erected in favorable places, and + Cossacks, the former possessors of the shores of the Iaik, in many places + formed a part of the garrisons. But these very Cossacks, who should have + guaranteed the peace and security of their districts, were restless and + dangerous subjects of the empire. In 1772 a riot occurred in one of their + chief towns. This riot was caused by the severity of the measures employed + by General Traubenberg to bring the army to obedience. The only result of + these measures was the barbarous murder of Traubenberg, a change of + Imperial officers, and in the end, by force of grape and canister, the + suppression of the riot. + </p> + <p> + This happened shortly before my arrival at the fortress of Belogorsk. Then + all seemed quiet. But the authorities had too easily believed in the + feigned repentance of the rebels, who nursed their hate in silence, and + only awaited a propitious moment to recommence the struggle. + </p> + <p> + I return to my story. Once evening, it was in the month of October, 1773, + I was alone in the house, listening to the whistling of the Autumn winds, + and watching the clouds gliding rapidly before the moon. An order came + from the Commandant, calling me to his presence. I went that instant. I + found there Alexis, Ignatius and the Corporal of the Cossacks, but neither + the wife nor daughter of the Commandant. My chief bade me good evening, + had the door closed, and every one seated, except the Corporal who + remained standing; then he drew a paper from his pocket and said to us: + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen, important news! Listen to what the General writes.” He put on + his spectacles and read: + </p> + <p> + “To the Commandant of the Fortress of Belogorsk, Captain Mironoff. <i>Confidential</i>. + I hereby inform you that the deserter and turbulent Cossack of the Don, + Imiliane Pougatcheff, after having been guilty of the unpardonable + insolence of usurping the name of the deceased Emperor Peter III, has + assembled a troop of brigands, disturbed the villages of the Iaik, and has + even taken and destroyed several fortresses, at the same time committing + everywhere robberies and assassinations. Therefore, upon the receipt of + this, you will, Captain, bethink you of the measures to be taken to + repulse the said robber and usurper; and if possible, in case he turn his + arms against the fortress confided to your care, to completely exterminate + him.” + </p> + <p> + “It is easy to talk,” said the Commandant, taking off his spectacles, and + folding the paper; “but we must use every precaution. The rascal seems + strong, and we have only 130 men, even adding the Cossacks, upon whom + there is no dependence, be it said without reproach to thee, Maxim.” The + Corporal of the Cossacks smiled. “Gentlemen, let us do our part; be + vigilant, post sentries, establish night patrols; in case of an attack, + shut the gates and call out the soldiers. Maxim, watch well your Cossacks. + It is necessary to examine the cannon and clean it; and above all to keep + the secret, that no one in the fortress should know any thing before the + time.” + </p> + <p> + Having given his orders, Ivan Mironoff dismissed us. I went out with + Alexis, speculating on what we had heard. “What do you think of it? How + will this end?” I asked him. + </p> + <p> + “God knows,” he replied, “we shall see. At present there is no danger.” + And he began, as if thinking, to hum a French air. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding our precautions the news of the apparition of Pougatcheff + spread through the fortress. However great the respect of Ivan Mironoff + for his wife, he would not reveal to her for anything in the world a + military secret. When he had received the General’s letter he very + adroitly rid himself of Basilia by telling her that the Greek priest had + received from Orenbourg extraordinary news which he kept a great mystery. + Thereupon Basilia desired to pay a visit to Accouline, the clergyman’s + wife, and by Mironoff’s advice Marie went also. Master of the situation, + Ivan Mironoff locked up the maid in the kitchen and assembled us. + </p> + <p> + Basilia came home without news, and learned that during her absence a + council of war had been held, and that Polacca was imprisoned in the + kitchen. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and overwhelmed + him with questions. He was prepared for the attack, and stoutly replied to + his curious better-half: + </p> + <p> + “You see, my dear, the women about the country have been using straw to + kindle their fires; now as that might be dangerous, I assembled my + officers, and gave them orders to prevent these women lighting fires with + anything but fagots and brushwood.” + </p> + <p> + “And why did you lock up Polacca in the kitchen till my return?” Ivan + Mironoff had not foreseen that question, and muttered some incoherent + words. Basilia saw at once her husband’s perfidy, but knowing that she + could extract nothing from him at that moment, she ceased her questioning, + and spoke of the pickled cucumbers which Accouline knew how to prepare in + a superior fashion. That night Basilia never closed an eye, unable to + imagine what it was that her husband knew that she could not share with + him. + </p> + <p> + The next day, returning from mass, she saw Ignatius cleaning the cannon, + taking out rags, pebbles, bits of wood, and all sorts of rubbish which the + small boys had stuffed there. “What means these warlike preparations?” + thought the Commandant’s wife? “Is an attack from the Kirghis feared? Is + it possible that Mironoff would hide from me so mere a trifle?” She called + Ignatius, determined to know the secret that excited her woman’s + curiosity. Basilia began by making some remarks about household matters, + like a judge who begins his interrogation with questions foreign to the + affair, in order to reassure the accused, and throw him off his guard. + Then having paused a moment she sighed and shook her head, saying: “O God! + what news! what news! What will become of us?” + </p> + <p> + “My dear lady,” said Ignatius, “the Lord is merciful; we have soldiers and + plenty of powder; I have cleaned the cannon. We may repulse this + Pougatcheff. If the Lord is with us, the wolf will eat no one here.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is Pougatcheff?” asked the Commandant’s wife. + </p> + <p> + Ignatius saw that he had gone too far, and he bit his tongue. But it was + too late. Basilia constrained him to tell her all, having given her word + to keep the secret. She kept her word, and indeed told no one except + Accoulina, whose cow was still on the steppe and might be carried off by + the brigands. Soon every one talked of Pougatcheff, the current reports + being very different. The Commandant sent out the Corporal to pick up + information about him in all the neighboring villages and little forts. + The Corporal returned after an absence of two days, and declared that he + had seen on the steppe, sixty versts from the fortress, a great many + fires, and that he had heard the Bashkirs say that an innumerable force + was advancing. He could not tell anything definitely, having been afraid + to venture farther. + </p> + <p> + Great agitation was soon after this observed amongst the Cossacks of our + garrison. They assembled in groups in the streets, speaking in a low tone + amongst themselves, and dispersing as soon as they perceived a dragoon or + other Russian soldier. Orders were given to watch them. Zoulac, a baptized + Kalmouk, made a very grave revelation to the Commandant. According to the + Kalmouk, the Cossack made a false report; for to his comrades the + perfidious Corporal said that he had advanced to the rebel camp, had been + presented to their rebel chief, had kissed his hand and conversed with + him. The Commandant ordered the Corporal under arrest, and replaced him by + the Kalmouk. This change was received by the Cossacks with visible + discontent. They openly murmured and Ignatius, when executing the + Commandant’s order, heard them say, with his own ears, “wait, garrison + rat, wait!” + </p> + <p> + The Commandant decided to examine the Corporal that same day, but he had + escaped, no doubt, by the aid of his brother Cossacks. Another event + increased the Captain’s uneasiness. A Bashkir was seized bearing seditious + letters. Upon this occasion, the Commandant decided to call at once a + council, and in order to do so, wished to send away his wife under some + specious pretext. But as Mironoff was the simplest and most truthful of + men, he could think of no other device than that already employed. + </p> + <p> + “You see, Basilia,” said he, coughing several times, “Father Garasim has, + it is said, been to the city—” + </p> + <p> + “Silence! silence!” interrupted his wife; “you are going to call another + council and talk in my absence of Imiliane Pougatcheff, but this time you + can not deceive me.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain stared; “Eh! well! my dear,” said he, “since you know all, + stay; we may as well speak before you.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot play the fox,” said his wife; “send for the officers.” + </p> + <p> + We assembled again. The Commandant read, before his wife, Pougatcheff’s + proclamation, written by some half-educated Cossack. The brigand declared + to us his intention of marching directly upon our fortress, inviting the + Cossacks and soldiers to join him, and advising the chiefs not to resist, + threatening, in that case, extremest torture. The proclamation was written + in vulgar but energetic terms, and must have produced an impression upon + simple-minded people. + </p> + <p> + “What a rascal!” exclaimed the Captain’s wife. “Just see what he proposes. + To go out and meet him and lay our flags at his feet. Ah! the son of a + dog! He does not know that we have been forty years in service, and that, + thank God, we have seen all sorts of military life. Is it possible to find + a Commandant cowardly enough to obey this robber?” + </p> + <p> + “It ought not to be,” replied the Captain, “but it is said that the + villain has taken possession of several fortress.” + </p> + <p> + “It appears he is quite strong,” said Alexis. + </p> + <p> + “We shall instantly know his real force,” continued the Commandant; + “Basilia, give me the key of the garret. Ignatius, bring the Bashkir here, + and tell Zoulac to bring the rods.” + </p> + <p> + “Wait a little, my dear,” said the Commandant’s wife, leaving her seat; + “let me take Marie out of the house, or else she will hear the screams and + be frightened. And, to tell the truth, I am, myself, not very curious + about such investigations. Until I see you again, adieu.” + </p> + <p> + Torture was then so rooted in the customs of justice, that the humane + Ukase of Catherine II, who had ordered its abolition, remained long + without effect. It was thought that the confession of the accused was + indispensable to his condemnation, an idea not only unreasonable, but + contrary to the most simple good sense in matters of jurisprudence; for if + the denial of the accused is not accepted as proof of his innocence, the + confession which is torn from him by torture ought to serve still less as + proof of his guilt. Even now I sometimes hear old judges regret the + abolition of this barbarous custom. But in the time of our story no one + doubted the necessity of torture, neither the judges nor the accused + themselves. For this reason the Captain’s order did not astonish any of + us. Ignatius went for the Bashkir, and a few minutes later he was brought + to the waiting-room. The Commandant ordered him into the council-room + where we were. + </p> + <p> + The Bashkir crossed the threshold with difficulty, for his feet were + shackled. He took off his high Cossack cap and stood near the door. I + looked at him and shuddered, involuntarily. Never shall I forget that man; + he seemed at least seventy years of age, and had neither nose nor ears. + His head was shaved; a few sparse gray hairs took the place of beard. He + was small of stature, thin and bent; but his Tartar eyes still sparkled. + </p> + <p> + “Eh! eh!” said the Commandant, who recognized by these terrible signs one + of the rebels punished in 1741. “You are an old wolf, I see; you have + already been caught in our snares. This is not your first offense, for + your head is so well planed off.” + </p> + <p> + The old Bashkir was silent, and looked at the Commandant with an air of + complete imbecility. + </p> + <p> + “Well! why are you silent?” continued the Captain; “do you not understand + Russian? Zoulac, ask him, in your tongue, who sent him into our fortress.” + </p> + <p> + The Kalmouk repeated in the Tartar language the Captain’s question. But + the Bashkir looked at him with the same expression and without answering a + word. + </p> + <p> + “I will make you answer,” exclaimed the Captain, with a Tartar oath. + “Come, take off his striped dressing-gown, his fool’s garment, and scourge + him well.” + </p> + <p> + Two pensioners commenced to remove the clothing from the shoulders of the + old man. Then, sore distress was vividly depicted on the face of the + unfortunate man. He looked on all sides, like a poor little animal caught + by children. But when one of the pensioners seized his hands to turn them + around his neck and lift up the old man on his shoulders; when Zoulac took + the rods and raised his hand to strike, then the Bashkir uttered a low, + but penetrating moan, and raising his head, opened his mouth, where, in + place of a tongue, moved a short stump! + </p> + <p> + We were still debating, when Basilia rushed breathlessly into the room + with a terrified air. “What has happened to you?” asked the Commandant, + surprised. + </p> + <p> + “Misfortune! misfortune!” replied she. “A fort was taken this morning; + Father Garasim’s boy has just returned. He saw how it was captured. The + Commandant and all the officers are hanged, all the soldiers made + prisoners, and the rebels are coming here.” + </p> + <p> + This unexpected news made a deep impression on me, for I knew the + Commandant of that fortress. Two months ago, the young man, traveling with + his bride coming from Orenbourg, had paid a visit to Captain Mironoff. The + fort he commanded was only twenty-five versts from ours, so that from hour + to hour we might expect an attack from Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + My imagination pictured the fate of Marie, and I trembled for her. + </p> + <p> + “Listen, Captain Mironoff,” said I to the Commandant, “our duty is to + defend the fortress to our last breath; that is understood, but the safety + of the women must be thought of; send them to a more distant fortress,—to + Orenbourg, if the route be still open.” + </p> + <p> + Mironoff turned to his wife. “You see my dear! indeed it would be well to + send you somewhere farther off until we shall have defeated the rebels.” + </p> + <p> + “What nonsense!” replied she. “Where is the fortress that balls have not + reached? In what respect is our fortress unsafe? Thank God, we have lived + here twenty and one years. We have seen Bashkirs and Kirghis; Pougatcheff + can not be worse than they.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear, stay if you will, since your faith is so great in our fortress. + But what shall we do with Marie? It will be all well if we can keep off + the robber, or if help reach us in time. If the fortress, however, be + taken—” + </p> + <p> + Basilia could only stammer a few words, and was silent, choked by her + feelings. + </p> + <p> + “No, Basilia,” continued the Commandant, who remarked that his words made + a deep impression on his wife, perhaps for the first time in his life, “it + is not advisable that Marie stay here. Let us send her to Orenbourg, to + her god-mother’s. That is a well-manned fortress, with stone walls and + plenty of cannon. I would advise you to go there yourself; think what + might happen to you were your fortress to be taken by assault.” + </p> + <p> + “Well! well! let us send Marie away,” said the Captain’s wife, “but do not + dream of asking me to go, for I will do nothing of the kind. It is not + becoming, in my old age, to separate myself from thee and seek a solitary + grave in a strange place. We have lived together; let us die together.” + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said the Commandant. “Go, and equip Marie; there is no + time to lose; tomorrow, at the dawn of day, she shall set out; she must + have a convoy, though indeed there is no one to spare. Where is she?” + </p> + <p> + “She is at Accoulina’s,” said his wife. “She fainted upon hearing that the + fortress had been taken.” + </p> + <p> + Basilia went to prepare for her daughter’s departure. The discussion still + continued at the Commandant’s, but I took no further part in it. Marie + reappeared at supper with eyes red from tears. We supped in silence and + rose from the table sooner than usual. Having bade the family good night, + each one sought his room. I forgot my sword, on purpose, and went back for + it; I anticipated finding Marie alone. In truth she met me at the door and + gave me my sword. + </p> + <p> + “Adieu, Peter,” she said, weeping, “they send me to Orenbourg. Be happy. + Perhaps God will permit us to meet again; if not—” + </p> + <p> + She burst into tears. I folded her in my arms. + </p> + <p> + “Adieu, my angel!” I said, “adieu my cherished, my beloved; what ever + happens, be sure that my last thought, my last prayer, will be for thee.” + Leaning of my breast, Marie wept. I kissed her and rushed out. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. THE ASSAULT. + </h2> + <p> + I could not sleep during the night, and did not even undress. I intended + to be at the fortress gates at day-dawn to see Marie set out, and bid her + a last adieu. I was completely changed. Excitement was less painful than + my former melancholy, for with the grief of separation there mingled vague + but secret hope, impatient expectation of danger, and a high ambition. + Night passed quickly. I was on the point of going out, when my door + opened, and the Corporal entered, saying that our Cossacks had deserted + the fortress during the night, forcing with them Zoulac, the Christian + Kalmouk, and that all around our ramparts, unknown people were riding. The + idea that Marie had not been able to get off, froze me with terror. I + gave, in haste, a few instructions to the Corporal, and ran to the + Commandant’s. + </p> + <p> + Day was breaking. I was going down the street swiftly when I heard my name + called. I stopped. + </p> + <p> + “Where are you going, dare I ask?” said Ignatius, catching up with me; + “the Captain is on the rampart and sends me for you. Pougatcheff is here.” + </p> + <p> + “Is Marie gone?” I said, shuddering. + </p> + <p> + “She was not ready in time; communication with Orenbourg is cut off; the + fortress is surrounded. Peter, this is bad work.” + </p> + <p> + We went to the rampart—a small height formed by nature and fortified + by a palisade. The garrison was there under arms. The cannon had been + dragged there the evening before. The Commandant was walking up and down + before his little troop—the approach of danger had restored to the + old warrior extraordinary vigor. On the steppe, not far from the fortress, + there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; but amongst + them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized by their caps and quivers. The + Commandant passed before the ranks of his small army and said to the + soldiers: “Come, boys, let us fight today for our mother the Empress, and + show the world that we are brave men and faithful to our oath.” + </p> + <p> + The soldiers, with loud shouts, testified their good will. Alexis was + standing by me examining the enemy. The people on the steppe, seeing, no + doubt, some movement in our fort, collected in groups and spoke amongst + themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the cannon upon them, + he himself applying the light. The ball whistled over their heads without + doing them any harm. The horsemen dispersed at once, setting off on a + gallop, and the steppe became deserted. At this moment Basilia appeared on + the rampart, followed by Marie, who would not leave her. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the Captain’s wife, “how is the battle going? Where is the + enemy?” + </p> + <p> + “The enemy is not far off,” replied Ivan, “but if God wills it, all will + be well; and thou, Marie, art thou afraid?” + </p> + <p> + “No, papa,” said Marie, “I am more afraid by myself in the house.” She + glanced at me, and tried to smile. I pressed my sword, remembering that I + had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her defense. My + heart was on fire. I fancied myself her knight, and longed to prove myself + worthy of her trust. I awaited the decisive moment impatiently. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly coming from behind a hill, eight versts from the fortress, + appeared new groups of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe was covered by + men armed with lances and arrows. Amongst them, wearing a scarlet cafetan, + sword in hand, could be distinguished a man mounted on a white horse. This + was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded by his followers, and + very soon, probably by his orders, four men left the crowd and galloped to + our ramparts. We recognized among them our traitors. One of them raised a + sheet of paper above his cap and another carried on the point of his lance + Zoulac’s head, which he threw to us over the palisade. The poor Kalmouk’s + head rolled at the feet of the Commandant. + </p> + <p> + The traitors shouted to us: “Do not fire, come out and receive the Czar. + The Czar is here.” + </p> + <p> + “Fire!” shouted the Captain as sole reply. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers discharged their pieces. The Cossack who held the letter, + tottered and fell from his horse; the others fled. I glanced at Marie. + Petrified by horror at the sight of the Kalmouk’s head, dizzy from the + noise of the discharge, she seemed lifeless. The Commandant ordered the + Corporal to take the letter from the hand of the dead Cossack. Ignatius + sallied out and returned, leading by the bridle the man’s horse. He gave + the letter to Ivan, who read it in a low voice and tore it up. Meantime + the rebels were preparing for an attack. Very soon balls whistled about + our ears, and arrows fell around us, buried deep in the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Basilia,” said the Captain, “women have nothing to do here; take away + Marie; you see the child is more dead than alive.” Basilia, whom the sound + of the balls had rendered more yielding, glanced at the steppe where much + movement was visible, and said: “Ivan, life and death are from God; bless + Marie; come, child, to thy father.” + </p> + <p> + Pale and trembling, Marie came and knelt, bending low before him. The old + Commandant made three times the sign of the cross over her, then raising, + kissed her, and said in a broken voice: “Oh! my dear Marie! pray to God, + he will never abandon thee. If an honest man seek thee, may God give you + both love and goodness. Live together as we have lived; my wife and I. + Adieu! my dear Marie! Basilia, take her away quickly.” + </p> + <p> + Marie put her arms around his neck and sobbed. The Captain’s wife, in + tears, said: “Embrace us also; adieu, Ivan; if ever I have crossed you, + forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + “Adieu! adieu! my dear,” said the Commandant, kissing his old companion. + “Come! enough! go to the house, and if you have time dress Marie in her + best; let her wear a sarafan, embroidered in gold, as is our custom for + burial.” + </p> + <p> + Ivan Mironoff returned to us, and fixed all his attention upon the enemy. + The rebels collected around their chief and suddenly began to advance. “Be + firm, boys,” said the Commandant, “the assault begins.” At that instant + savage war-cries were heard. The rebels were approaching the fortress with + their accustomed fleetness. Our cannon was charged with grape and + canister. The Commandant let them come within short range, and again put a + light to his piece. The shot struck in the midst of the force, which + scattered in every direction. Only their chief remained in advance, and + he, waving his sabre, seemed to be rallying them. Their piercing shouts, + which had ceased an instant, redoubled again. “Now, children,” ordered the + Captain, “open the gate, beat the drum, and advance! Follow me, for a + sortie!” + </p> + <p> + The Captain, Ignatius and I were in an instant beyond the parapet. But the + frightened garrison had not moved from the square. “What are you doing, my + children?” shouted the Captain; “if we must die, let us die; the imperial + service demands it!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the rebels fell upon us, and forced the entrance to the + citadel. The drum was silent; the garrison threw down their arms. I had + been knocked down, but I rose and entered, pell-mell, with the crowds into + the fortress. I saw the Commandant wounded on the head, and closed upon by + a small troop of bandits, who demanded the keys. I was running to his aid + when several powerful Cossacks seized me and bound me with their long + sashes, crying out: “Wait there, traitor to the Czar, till we know what to + do with you.” + </p> + <p> + We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants came out of their + houses offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. Suddenly, shouts + announced that the Czar was on the square, awaiting to receive the oaths + of the prisoners. + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff was seated in an arm-chair on the steps of the Commandant’s + house. He was robed in an elegant Cossack cafetan embroidered on the + seams. A high cap of martin-skin, ornamented with gold tassels, covered + his brow almost to his flashing eyes. His face seemed to me not unknown. + Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Father Garasim, pale and trembling, stood, + the cross in his hand, at the foot of the steps, and seemed to supplicate + in silence for the victims brought before him. + </p> + <p> + On the square itself, a gallows was hastily erected. When we approached, + the Bashkirs opened a passage through the crowd and presented us to + Pougatcheff. The bells ceased; the deepest silence prevailed. “Which is + the Commandant?” asked the usurper. Our Corporal came out of the crowd and + pointed to Mironoff. Pougatcheff looked at the old man with a terrible + expression, and said to him: “How did you dare to oppose me, your + emperor?” + </p> + <p> + The Commandant, weakened by his wound, collected all his energy, and said, + in a firm but faint voice: “You are not my emperor; you are a usurper and + a brigand.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff frowned and raised his white handkerchief. Immediately the old + Captain was seized by Cossacks and dragged to the gibbet. Astride the + cross-beam of the gallows, sat the mutilated Bashkirs who we had + questioned; he held a rope in his hand, and I saw, an instant after, poor + Ivan Mironoff suspended in the air. Then Ignatius was brought up before + Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + “Take the oath to the emperor, Peter Fedorovitch.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not our emperor,” replied the Lieutenant, repeating his Captain’s + words, “you are a brigand and a usurper.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff again made a signal with his handkerchief, and the kind + Ignatius hung beside his ancient chief. It was my turn. I looked boldly at + Pougatcheff, preparing to repeat the words of my brave comrades, when to + my inexpressible astonishment I saw Alexis amongst the rebels. He had had + time to cut his hair round, and exchange his uniform for a Cossack + cafetan. He approached Pougatcheff and whispered to him. “Let him be + hung,” said Pougatcheff, not deigning to look at me. A rope was put around + my neck. I uttered a prayer to God in a low voice, expressing sincere + repentance for my sins, and imploring him to save all those dear to my + heart. I was led beneath the gibbet. A shout was heard, “Stop! Stop!” The + executioners paused. I looked. Saveliitch was kneeling at Pougatcheff’s + feet. “O my lord and master,” said my dear old serf, “what do you want + with that nobleman’s child? Set him free, you will get a good ransom for + his life; but for an example, and to frighten the rest, command that I, an + old man, shall be hung.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff made a sign. They unbound me at once. “Our emperor pardons + you,” they said. At the moment I did not know that my deliverance was a + cause for joy or for sorrow. My mind was too confused. I was taken again + before the usurper and made to kneel at his feet. Pougatcheff offered me + his muscular hand. “Kiss his hand! Kiss his hand!” cried out all around + me. But I would have preferred the most atrocious torture to a degradation + so infamous. “My dear Peter,” whispered Saveliitch, who was standing + behind me, “do not play the obstinate; what does it cost? Kiss the + brigand’s hand.” + </p> + <p> + I did not move. Pougatcheff drew back his hand: “His lordship is stupefied + with joy; raise him up,” said he. I was at liberty. Then I witnessed the + continuation of the infamous comedy. + </p> + <p> + The inhabitants began to take the oath. They went one by one to kiss the + cross and salute the usurper. After them came the garrison soldiers. The + company’s tailor, armed with his great blunt-pointed shears, cut off their + queues; they shook their heads and kissed the hand of Pougatcheff, who + declared them pardoned and received into his troops. This lasted for + nearly three hours. At last Pougatcheff rose from his arm-chair and went + down the steps, followed by his chiefs. A white horse richly caparisoned + was led to him; tow Cossacks helped him into the saddle. He signified to + Father Garasim that he would dine with him. At this moment wild + heart-rending shrieks from a woman filled the air. Basilia, without her + mantle, her hair in disorder, was dragged out on the steps; one the + brigands had on her mantle; the others were carrying away her chests, her + linen, and other household goods. “O good men,” she cried, “let me go, + take me to Ivan Mironoff.” Suddenly she saw the gibbet and recognized her + husband. “Wretches,” she cried, “What have you done? O my light, Ivan! + Brave soldier! no Prussian ball, nor Turkish sabre killed thee, but a vile + condemned deserter.” + </p> + <p> + “Silence that old sorceress,” said Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + A young Cossack struck her with his sabre on the head. She fell dead at + the foot of the steps. Pougatcheff rode off, all the people following. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + </h2> + <p> + I stood in the vacant square, unable to collect my thoughts, disturbed by + so many terrible emotions. Uncertainty about Marie’s fate tortured me. + Where is she? Is she concealed? Is her retreat safe? I went to the + Commandant’s house. It was in frightful disorder; the chairs, tables, + presses had been burned up and the dishes were in fragments. I rushed up + the little stairs leading to Marie’s room, which I entered for the first + time in my life. A lamp still burned before the shrine which had enclosed + the sacred objects revered by all true believers. The clothes-press was + empty, the bed broke up. The robbers had not taken the little mirror + hanging between the door and the window. What had become of the mistress + of this simple, virginal abode? A terrible thought flashed through my + mind. Marie in hands of the brigands! My heart was torn, and I cried + aloud: “Marie! Marie!” I heard a rustle. Polacca, quite pale, came from + her hiding-place behind the clothes-press. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Peter,” said she, clasping her hands, “what a day! what horrors!” + </p> + <p> + “Marie?” I asked impatiently, “Marie—where is she?” + </p> + <p> + “The young lady is alive,” said the maid, “concealed at Accoulina’s, at + the house of the Greek priest.” + </p> + <p> + “Great God!” I cried, with terror, “Pougatcheff is there!” + </p> + <p> + I rushed out of the room, made a bound into the street and ran wildly to + the priest’s house. It was ringing with songs, shouts and laughter. + Pougatcheff was at table there with his men. Polacca had followed me; I + sent her in to call out Accoulina secretly. Accoulina came into the + waiting-room, an empty bottle in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “In the name of heaven, where is Marie?” I asked with agitation. + </p> + <p> + “The little dove is lying on my bed behind the partition. Oh! Peter, what + danger we have just escaped! The rascal had scarcely seated himself at + table than the poor thing moaned. I thought I should die of fright. He + heard her. ‘Who is moaning in your room, old woman?’ ‘My niece, Czar.’ + ‘Let me see your niece, old woman.’ I saluted him humbly; ‘My niece, Czar, + has not strength to come before your grace.’ ‘Then I will go and see her.’ + And will you believe it, he drew the curtains and looked at our dove, with + his hawk’s eyes! The child did not recognize him. Poor Ivan Mironoff! + Basilia! Why was Ignatius taken, and you spared? What do you think of + Alexis? He has cut his hair and now hobnobs with them in there. When I + spoke of my sick niece he looked at me as if he would run me through with + his knife. But he said nothing, and we must be thankful for that.” + </p> + <p> + The drunken shouts of the guests, and the voice of Father Garasim now + resounded together; the brigands wanted more wine, and Accoulina was + needed. “Go back to your house, Peter,” said she, “woe to you, if you fall + into his hands!” + </p> + <p> + She went to serve her guests; I, somewhat quieted, returned to my room. + Crossing the square, I saw some Bashkirs stealing the boots from the + bodies of the dead. I restrained my useless anger. The brigands had been + through the fortress and had pillaged the officers’ houses. + </p> + <p> + I reached my lodging. Saveliitch met me at the threshold. “Thank God!” he + cried. “Ah! master, the rascals have taken everything; but what matter, + since they did not take your life. Did you not recognize their chief, + master?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I did not; who is he?” + </p> + <p> + “What, my dear boy, have you forgotten the drunkard who cheated you out of + the touloup the day of the snow-drift—a hare-skin touloup?—the + rascal burst all the seams putting it on.” + </p> + <p> + My eyes were opened. The resemblance between the guide and Pougatcheff was + striking. I now understood the pardon accorded me. I recalled with + gratitude the lucky incident. A youth’s touloup given to a vagabond had + saved my neck; and this drunkard, capturing fortress, had shaken the very + empire. + </p> + <p> + “Will you not deign to eat something?” said Saveliitch, true to his + instincts; “there is nothing in the house, it is true, but I will find + something and prepare it for you.” + </p> + <p> + Left alone, I began to reflect that not to leave the fortress, now subject + to the brigand, or to join his troops, would be unworthy of an officer. + Duty required me to go and present myself where I could still be useful to + my country. But love counseled me, with no less force, to stay near Marie, + to be her protector and champion. Although I foresaw a near and inevitable + change in the march of events, still I could not, without trembling, + contemplate the danger of her position. + </p> + <p> + My reflections were interrupted by the entrance of a Cossack, who came to + announce that the “great Czar” called me to his presence. “Where is he?” I + asked, preparing to obey. “In the commandant’s house,” replied the + Cossack. “After dinner the Czar went to the vapor baths. It must be + confessed that all his ways are imperial! He can do more than others; at + dinner he deigned to eat two roast milk-pigs; afterward at the bath he + endured the highest degree of heat; even the attendant could not stand it; + he handed the brush to another and was restored to consciousness only by + the application of cold water. It is said that in the bath, the marks of + the true Czar were plainly seen on his breast—a picture of his own + face and a double-headed eagle.” + </p> + <p> + I did not think it necessary to contradict the Cossack, and I followed him + to the Commandant’s, trying to fancy in advance my interview with + Pougatcheff, and its result. The reader may imagine that I was not quite + at ease. Night was falling as I reached the house. The gibbet with its + victims still stood, black and terrible. The poor body of our good Basilia + was lying under the steps, near which two Cossacks mounted guard. He who + had brought me, entered to announce my arrival; he returned at once, and + led me to the room where the evening before I had taken leave of Marie. At + a table covered with a cloth, and laden with bottles and glasses, sat + Pougatcheff, surrounded by some ten Cossack chiefs in colored caps and + shirts, with flushed faces and sparkling eyes, the effect, no doubt, of + the wine-cup. + </p> + <p> + I saw neither of our traitors, Alexis or the Corporal, amongst them. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! your lordship, it is you?” said their chief, on seeing me. “Be + welcome! Honor and place at the table!” + </p> + <p> + The guests drew closer together. I took a place at the end of the table. + My neighbor, a young Cossack of slender form and handsome face, poured out + a bumper of brandy for me. I did not taste it. I was busy considering the + assembly. Pougatcheff was seated in the place of honor, elbow on table, + his heavy, black beard resting upon his muscular hand. His features, + regular and handsome, had no ferocious expression. He often spoke to a man + of some fifty years, calling him now Count, again Uncle. All treated each + other as comrades, showing no very marked deference for their chief. They + talked of the assault that morning; of the revolt, its success, and of + their next operations. Each one boasted of his prowess, gave his opinions, + and freely contradicted Pougatcheff. In this strange council of war, they + resolved to march upon Orenbourg, a bold move, but justified by previous + successes. The departure was fixed for the next day. Each one drank + another bumper, and rising, took leave of Pougatcheff. I wished to follow + them, but the brigand said: “Wait, I want to speak to you.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff looked at me fixedly in silence for a few seconds, winking his + left eye with the most cunning, mocking expression. At last he burst into + a long peal of laughter, so hearty, that I, just from seeing him, began to + laugh, without knowing why. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my lord,” said he, “confess that you were frightened, when my boys + put the rope around your neck? The sky must have seemed to you then as big + as a sheep-skin. And if not for your servant, you would have been swinging + up there from the cross-beam; but at that very instant I recognized the + old owl. Would you have thought that the man who led you to a shelter on + the steppe was the great Czar himself?” Saying these words, he assumed a + grave and mysterious air. “You have been very guilty,” continued he, “but + I have pardoned you, for having done me a kindness, when I was obliged to + hide from my enemies. I shall load you with favors, when I shall have + regained my empire. Do you promise to serve me with zeal?” + </p> + <p> + The bandit’s question and impudence made me smile. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you laugh?” said he, frowning, “do you not believe that I am the + great Czar? Answer frankly.” + </p> + <p> + I was troubled. I could not recognize a vagabond as the emperor; to call + him an impostor to his face was to doom myself to death; and the sacrifice + which I was ready to make under the gibbet that morning, before all the + people, in the first flush of indignation, seemed now a useless bravado. + Pougatcheff awaited my answer in fierce silence. At last (I still remember + with satisfaction that duty triumphed over human weakness) I replied to + Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + “I will tell you the truth and let you decide. Should I recognize you as + the Czar, as you are a man of intelligence, you would see that I am + lying.” + </p> + <p> + “Then who am I? in your opinion.” + </p> + <p> + “God knows, but whoever you are, you are playing a dangerous game.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff gave me a sharp, quick glance. “You do not believe that I am + the emperor, Peter III? Be it so. Have not bold men succeeded before me + and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but stay with me. + What matters it whom you serve? Success is right. Serve under me, and I + will make you a field-marshal, a prince. What say you?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said I. “I am a nobleman. I have taken an oath to her majesty, the + Empress; I can not serve with you. If truly you wish me well, send me to + Orenbourg.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff reflected. “If I send you there, you will, at least, promise + not to bear arms against me?” + </p> + <p> + “How can I promise that? If I am ordered to march against you, I must go. + You are now a chief; you desire your subordinates to obey you. No, my life + is in your hand; if you give me liberty, thanks; if you put me to death, + may God judge you.” + </p> + <p> + My frankness pleased him. “Be it so,” said he, slapping me on the + shoulders, “pardon or punish to the end. You can go the four quarters of + the world, and do as you like. Come tomorrow, and bid me good-bye. Now go + to bed—I require rest myself.” + </p> + <p> + I went out into the street. The night was clear and cold; the moon and + stars shone out in all their brightness, lighting up the square and the + gibbet. All was quiet and dark in the rest of the fortress. At the inn + some lights were visible, and belated drinkers broke the stillness by + their shouts. I glanced at Accoulina’s house; the doors and windows were + closed, and all seemed perfectly quiet there. I went to my room, and found + Saveliitch deploring my absence. I told him of my freedom. “Thanks to + thee, O God!” said he, making the sign of the cross; “tomorrow we shall + set out at daybreak. I have prepared something for you; eat and then sleep + till morning, tranquil as if in the bosom of the Good Shepherd.” + </p> + <p> + I followed his advice, and after having supped, fell asleep on the bare + floor, as fatigued in mind as in body. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. THE SEPARATION. + </h2> + <p> + The drum awoke me early the next morning. I went out on the square. + Pougatcheff’s troops were there, falling into rank, around the gibbet, to + which still hung the victims of yesterday. The Cossacks were mounted; the + infantry and artillery, with our single gun, were accoutred ready for the + march. The inhabitants were also assembled there awaiting the usurper. + Before the steps of the Commandant’s house a Cossack held by the bridle a + magnificent white horse. My eyes sought the body of our good Basilia. It + had been dragged aside and covered with an old bark mat. At last + Pougatcheff came out on the steps, and saluted the crowd. All heads were + bared. One of the chiefs handed him a bag of copper coin, which he threw + by the handful among the people. Perceiving me in the crowd, he signed to + me to approach. + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” said he, “go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to the + Governor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. Counsel + them to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise they shall + not escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you.” The principal + followers of Pougatcheff surrounded him, Alexis amongst others. The + usurper turned to the people, and pointing to Alexis, said: “Behold your + new Commandant; obey him in every thing; he is responsible for you and for + the fortress.” + </p> + <p> + The words made me shudder. What would become of Marie? Pougatcheff + descended the steps and vaulted quickly into his saddle without the aid of + his attendant Cossacks. At that moment Saveliitch came out of the crowd, + approached the usurper, and presented him a sheet of paper. + </p> + <p> + “What is this?” asked Pougatcheff, with dignity. + </p> + <p> + “Read, you will deign to see,” replied the serf. + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff examined the paper. “You write very illegibly; where is my + Secretary?” + </p> + <p> + A boy in corporal’s uniform came running to the brigand. “Read aloud,” + said he. I was curious to know for what purpose the old man had written to + Pougatcheff. The Secretary began to spell out in a loud voice what + follows: + </p> + <p> + “Two dressing-gowns, one in percale, the other in striped silk, six + roubles.” + </p> + <p> + “What does this mean?” said Pougatcheff, frowning. + </p> + <p> + “Command him to read on,” replied Saveliitch, with perfect calmness. + </p> + <p> + The Secretary continued: “One uniform in fine green cloth, seven roubles; + one pair of white cloth pantaloons, five roubles; twelve shirts of Holland + linen, with cuffs, ten roubles; one case containing a tea-service, two + roubles.” + </p> + <p> + “What nonsense is this?” said Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + “What have I to do with tea-sets and Holland cuffs?” + </p> + <p> + Saveliitch coughed to clear his voice, and began to explain: “That, my + lord, deign to understand, is the bill of my master’s goods carried off by + the thieves.” + </p> + <p> + “What thieves?” asked Pougatcheff, with a terrible air. + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me,” said Saveliitch. “Thieves? No, they were not thieves; my + tongue slipped; yet your boys went through everything and carried off + plenty. That can not be denied. Do not be angry. The horse has four legs + and yet he stumbles. Command that he read to the end.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, read,” said Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + “One Persian blanket, one quilt of wadded silk, four roubles; one pelisse + of fox-skin, covered with red ratine, forty roubles; one small touloup of + hare-skin left with your grace, on the steppe, fifteen roubles.” + </p> + <p> + “What?” cried Pougatcheff, with flashing eyes. + </p> + <p> + I must say I feared for the old man, who was beginning new explanations, + when the brigand interrupted him: + </p> + <p> + “How dare you annoy me with these trifles?” said he, snatching the paper + from the Secretary and throwing it in the old man’s face. “You have been + despoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God that you are not + hanging up there, with the other rebels, both you and your master. I’ll + give you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know that I will have you flayed + alive, that touloups may be made of you?” + </p> + <p> + “As you please,” replied Saveliitch; “but I am not a free man, and I am + responsible for my master’s goods.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his head + and set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him. The + whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming an escort. + I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in his hand the + bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not help laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished again, + we shall see if it be a laughing matter.” + </p> + <p> + I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sad + piece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poor girl. + Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious and did not + recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her countenance. The position + of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders, alarmed me as much as my + inability to protect grieved me. Alexis, above all, was to be feared. + Chief, invested with the usurper’s authority, in the fortress with this + unhappy girl, he was capable of any crime. What ought I to do to deliver + her? To set out at once for Orenbourg, to hasten the deliverance of + Belogorsk, and to co-operate in it, if possible. I took leave of Father + Garasim and Accoulina, recommending to them Marie, who I already looked + upon as my wife. I kissed the young girl’s hand, and left the room. + </p> + <p> + “Adieu, Peter Grineff,” said Accoulina. “Do not forget us. Except you, + Marie has no support or consolation.” Choked by emotion, I did not reply. + Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet. With bare head + I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road to Orenbourg, + accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me. Thus plunged in + thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind me, I turned my head + and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a horse, and making signs to + me that I should wait. I recognized our Corporal. Having caught up with + us, he dismounted from his own horse, and giving me the bridle of the + other, said: “Our Czar makes you a gift of a horse, and a pelisse from his + own shoulder.” To the saddle was tied a sheep-skin touloup. I put it on, + mounted the horse, taking Saveliitch up behind me. “You see, my lord,” + said my serf, “that my petition to the bandit was not useless! And + although this old hack and this peasant’s touloup are not worth half what + the rascals stole, yet they are better than nothing. ‘A worthless dog + yields even a handful of hair.’” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. THE SIEGE. + </h2> + <p> + Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads and + faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At that time + red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the condemned. They + were working at the fortifications of the place under the supervision of + the garrison pensioners. Some carried away in wheel-barrows the rubbish + that filled the ditch, others threw up the earth, while masons were + examining and repairing the walls. The sentry stopped us at the gate and + asked for our passports. When the sergeant heard that we were from + Belogorsk he took me at once to the General, who was in his garden. I + found him examining the apple trees, which autumnal winds had already + despoiled of their leaves; assisted by an old gardener, he covered them + carefully with straw. His face expressed calmness, good humor and health. + He seemed very glad to see me, and questioned me about the terrible events + I had witnessed. The old man heard me attentively, and whilst listening, + cut off the dead branches. + </p> + <p> + “Poor Mironoff!” said he, when I had finished my story; “it is a pity; he + was a brave officer; and Madame Mironoff a kind lady, an expert in + pickling mushrooms. What has become of Marie, the Captain’s daughter?” + </p> + <p> + “She is in the fortress, at the house of the Greek priest.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye! aye! aye!” exclaimed the General. “That’s bad, very bad; for it is + impossible to depend upon the discipline of brigands.” + </p> + <p> + I observed that the fortress of Belogorsk was not far off, and that + probably his Excellency would send a detachment of troops to deliver the + poor inhabitants. + </p> + <p> + The General shook his head, doubtfully. “We shall see! we shall see! there + is plenty of time to talk about it; come, I beg you, to take tea with me. + Tonight there will be a council of war; you can give us some precise + information regarding this Pougatcheff and his army. Meantime, go and + rest.” + </p> + <p> + I went to my allotted quarters, where I found Saveliitch already + installed. I awaited impatiently the hour indicated, and the reader may + believe that I did not fail to be present at this council, which was to + influence my whole life. I found at the General’s a custom-house officer, + the Director, as well as I can remember a little old man, red-faced and + fat, wearing a robe of black watered silk. He questioned me about the fate + of the Captain Mironoff, whom he called his chum, and often interrupted me + by sententious remarks, which, if they did not prove him to be a man well + versed in war, showed his natural intelligence and shrewdness. During this + time other guests arrived. When all had taken their places, and to each + had been offered a cup of tea, the General carefully stated the questions + to be considered. + </p> + <p> + “Now, gentlemen,” said he, “we must decide what action is to be taken + against the rebels. Shall we act offensively, or defensively? Each of + these ways has its advantages and disadvantages. Offensive war presents + more hope of a rapid extermination of the enemy, but defensive war is + safer and offers fewer dangers. Let us then take the vote in legal order; + that is, consult first the youngest in rank. Ensign,” continued he, + addressing me, “deign to give your opinion.” + </p> + <p> + I rose, and in a few words depicted Pougatcheff and his army. I affirmed + that the usurper was not in a condition to resist disciplined forces. My + opinion was received by the civil service employes with visible + discontent. They saw nothing in it but the levity of a young man. A murmur + arose, and I heard distinctly the word “hare-brained” murmured in a low + voice. The General turned to me smiling, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Ensign, the first votes (the youngest) in war councils, are for offensive + measures. Now let us continue to collect the votes. The College Director + will give us his opinion.” + </p> + <p> + The little old man in black silk, a College Director, as well as a customs + officer, swallowed his third cup of tea, well dashed with a strong dose of + rum, and hastened to speak: + </p> + <p> + “Your Excellency,” said he, “I think that we ought to act neither + offensively nor defensively.” + </p> + <p> + “What’s that, sir?” said the General, stupefied; “military tactics present + no other means; we must act either offensively or defensively.” + </p> + <p> + “Your Excellency, act <i>subornatively</i>.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh! eh! Your opinion is judicious,” said the General; “subornative acts—that + is to say, indirect acts—are also admitted by the science of + tactics, and we will profit by your counsel. We might offer for the + rascal’s head seventy or even a hundred roubles, to be taken out of the + secret funds.” + </p> + <p> + “And then,” interrupted the man in silk, “may I be a Kirghis ram, instead + of a College Director, if the thieves do not bring their chief to you, + chained hand and foot.” + </p> + <p> + “We can think about it,” said the General. “But let us, in any case, take + some military measures. Gentlemen, give your votes in legal order.” + </p> + <p> + All the opinions were contrary to mine. All agreed, that it was better to + stay behind a strong stone wall, protected by cannon, than to tempt + fortune in the open field. Finally, when all the opinions were known, the + General shook the ashes from his pipe and pronounced the following + discourse: + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen, I am of the Ensign’s opinion, for it is according to the + science of military tactics, which always prefers offensive movements to + defensive.” He stopped and stuffed the tobacco into his pipe. I glanced + exultingly at the civil service employes, who, with discontented looks, + were whispering to each other. + </p> + <p> + “But, gentlemen,” continued he, giving out with a sigh a long puff of + smoke, “I dare not assume the responsibility. I go with the majority, + which has decided that we await in this city the threatened siege, and + repulse the enemy by the power of artillery, and if possible, by + well-directed sorties.” + </p> + <p> + The council broke up. I could not but deplore the weakness of the worthy + soldier, who, contrary to his own convictions, decided to follow the + opinion of ignorant inexperience. + </p> + <p> + Some days after this famous council of war, Pougatcheff, true to his word, + approached Orenbourg. From the top of the city walls I made a + reconnaissance of the rebel army. It seemed to me that their number had + increased ten-fold. They had more artillery, taken from the small forts + captured by Pougatcheff. Remembering our council, I foresaw a long + captivity behind the walls of Orenbourg, and I was ready to cry with + chagrin. Far from me the intention of describing the siege of Orenbourg, + which belongs to history and not to family memoirs. Suffice it to say, + that this siege was disastrous to the inhabitants, who had to suffer + hunger and privations of every kind. Life at Orenbourg became + insupportable. The decision of fate was awaited with anguish. Food was + scarce; bombshells fell upon the defenseless houses of citizens. The + attacks of Pougatcheff made very little excitement. I was dying of <i>ennui</i>. + I had promised Accoulina that I would correspond with her, but + communication was cut off, and I could not send or receive a letter from + Belogorsk. My only pastime consisted in military sorties. Thanks to + Pougatcheff I had an excellent horse, and I shared my meager pittance with + it. I went out every day beyond the ramparts to skirmish with + Pougatcheff’s advance guards. The rebels had the best of it; they had + plenty of food and were well mounted. Our poor cavalry were in no + condition to oppose them. Sometimes our half-starved infantry went into + the field; but the depth of the snow hindered them from acting + successfully against the flying cavalry of the enemy. The artillery vainly + thundered from the ramparts, and in the field it could not advance, + because of the weakness of our attenuated horses. This was our way of + making war; this is what the civil service employes of Orenbourg called + prudence and foresight. + </p> + <p> + One day when we had routed and driven before us quite a large troop, I + overtook a straggling Cossack; my Turkish sabre was uplifted to strike him + when he doffed his cap and cried out: “Good day, Peter, how fares your + health?” + </p> + <p> + I recognized our Corporal. I was delighted to see him. + </p> + <p> + “Good day, Maxim. How long since you left Belogorsk?” + </p> + <p> + “Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Where is it?” I cried, delighted. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. “I promised Polacca + to try and give it to you.” He gave me a folded paper, and set off on a + gallop. I read with agitation the following lines: + </p> + <p> + “By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, I + know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my late + father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go and live + at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will force me to + become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying the trick of + passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die than be his wife. I + have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no mercy + from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if possible, + come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF.” + </p> + <p> + This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing the + spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind to + rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General’s and ran into + his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. Seeing me he + stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance. + </p> + <p> + “Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; + the happiness of my life depends upon it.” + </p> + <p> + “But what is it?” said the General; “what can I do for you?” + </p> + <p> + “Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a + hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk.” + </p> + <p> + “Storm the fortress?” said the General. + </p> + <p> + “I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go.” + </p> + <p> + “No, young man,” said he; “at so great a distance the enemy would easily + cut off all communication with the principal strategic point.” + </p> + <p> + I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him: + “Captain Mironoff’s daughter has written me, begging for relief. Alexis + threatens to compel her to be his wife!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in + twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress! + meantime patience.” + </p> + <p> + “Patience!” I cried; “in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey + him.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said the General, “that would not be a misfortune—it is better + that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When we + shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband.” + </p> + <p> + “I would rather die,” I said with fury, “than yield her to Alexis.” + </p> + <p> + “I understand it all now,” said the old man. “You are, no doubt, in love + yourself with Marie Mironoff. That’s another thing. Poor boy! Still, I can + not give you a battalion and fifty Cossacks. The thing is unreasonable.” I + hung my head in despair. But I had a plan of my own. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + </h2> + <p> + I left the General and hastened to my quarters. Saveliitch received me + with his usual remonstrance: “What pleasure, my lord, is there in fighting + these drunken brigands? If they were Turks or Swedes, all right; but these + sons of dogs—” + </p> + <p> + I interrupted him: “How much money have I in all?” + </p> + <p> + “You have plenty,” said he with a satisfied air. “I knew how to whisk it + out of sight of the rogues.” He drew from his pocket a long knitted purse + full of silver coin. + </p> + <p> + “Saveliitch, give me half of what you have there, and keep the rest for + yourself. I am off for the fortress of Belogorsk.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Peter!” said the old serf, “do you not fear God? The roads are cut + off. Have pity on your parents; wait a little; our troops will come and + disperse the brigands, and then you can go to the four quarters of the + world.” + </p> + <p> + “It is too late to reflect. I must go. Do not grieve, Saveliitch; I make + you a present of that money. Buy what you need. If I do not return in + three days—” + </p> + <p> + “My dear,” said the old man, “I will go with you, were it on foot. If you + go, I must first lose my senses before I will stay crouching behind stone + walls.” + </p> + <p> + There was never any use disputing with the old man. In half an hour I was + in the saddle, Saveliitch on an old, half-starved, limping rosinante, + which a citizen, not having fodder, had given for nothing to the serf. We + reached the city gates; the sentinels let us pass, and we were finally out + of Orenbourg. Night was falling. My road lay before the town of Berd, the + headquarters of Pougatcheff. This road was blocked up and hidden by snow; + but across the steppe were traces of horses, renewed from day to day, + apparently, and clearly visible. I was going at a gallop, Saveliitch could + scarcely keep up and shouted, “Not so fast! My nag can not follow yours.” + Very soon we saw the lights of Berd. We were approaching deep ravines, + which served as natural fortifications to the town. Saveliitch, without + however being left behind, never ceased his lamentations. I was in hopes + of passing safely the enemy’s place, when I saw through the darkness five + peasants armed with big sticks—Pougatcheff’s extreme outpost. + </p> + <p> + “<i>Qui vive</i>! Who goes there?” + </p> + <p> + Not knowing the watchword, I was for going on without answering. But one + of them seized my horse’s bridle. I drew my sabre and struck the peasant + of the head. His cap saved his life; he staggered and fell; the others, + frightened, let me pass. The darkness, which was deepening, might have + saved me from further hindrance; when, looking back, I saw that Saveliitch + was not with me. What was I to do? The poor old man, with his lame horse, + could not escape from the rascals. I waited a minute; then, sure that they + must have seized him, I turned my horse’s head to go and aid him. + Approaching the ravine I heard voices, and recognized that of Saveliitch. + Hastening my steps, was soon within sight of the peasants. They had + dismounted the old man, and were about to garrote him. They rushed upon + me; in an instant I was on foot. Their chief said I should be conducted to + the Czar. I made no resistance. We crossed the ravine to enter the town, + which was illuminated. The streets were crowded and noisy. We were taken + to a hut on the corner of two streets. There were some barrels of wine and + a cannon near the door. One of the peasants said: “Here is the palace; we + will announce you.” I glanced at Saveliitch; he was making signs of the + cross, and praying. We waited a long time. At last the peasant re-appeared + and said: “The Czar orders the officers to his presence.” + </p> + <p> + The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow candles. + The walls were hung with gold paper. But every thing else, the benches, + the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a nail in the wall, + the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly the same as in any + other cabin. Pougatcheff, wearing his scarlet cafetan and high Cossack + cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath the sacred pictures common to + every Russian abode. Around him stood several of his chiefs. I could see + that the arrival of an officer from Orenbourg had awakened some curiosity, + and that they had prepared to receive me with pomp. Pougatcheff recognized + me at once, and his assumed gravity disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?” + </p> + <p> + I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his people + arrested me. + </p> + <p> + “What business?” asked he. I did not know what to answer. Pougatcheff + thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his + comrades to leave. All obeyed except two. “Speak before these,” said he; + “conceal nothing from them.” + </p> + <p> + I glanced at these intimates of the usurper. One was an old man frail and + bent, remarkable for nothing but a blue riband crossed over his coarse + gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion. He was tall, + of powerful build, and seemed about forty-five. A thick red beard, + piercing gray eyes, a nose without nostrils, marks of the searing irons on + his forehead and cheeks, gave to his broad face, pitted by small-pox a + most fierce expression. He wore a red shirt, a Kirghis robe, and wide + Cossack pantaloons. Although wholly pre-occupied by my own feelings, yet + this company deeply impressed me. Pougatcheff recalled me to myself + quickly. + </p> + <p> + “What business brought you from Orenbourg?” + </p> + <p> + A bold idea suggested itself to my mind. It seemed to me that Providence, + leading me a second time before this robber, gave me the means of + accomplishing my work. I decided to seize the chance, and without + reflecting on the step, I replied: + </p> + <p> + “I am on the way to the fortress of Belogorsk to liberate an oppressed + orphan there.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff’s eyes flashed. “Who dares to oppress an orphan? Were he seven + feet high, he shall not escape my vengeance. Speak, who is the guilty + one?” + </p> + <p> + “Alexis; he holds in slavery that same young girl whom you saw at Father + Garasim’s, and wants to force her to marry him.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall give Alexis a lesson! I’ll teach him to oppress my subjects. I + shall hang him.” + </p> + <p> + “Permit me a word,” said the man without nostrils. “You were too hasty + giving the command to Alexis. You offended the Cossacks by giving them a + noble as chief; do not offend the gentlemen by hanging one of them on the + first accusation.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no need to pardon nor pity,” said the man with the blue riband. + “It would be no harm to hang Alexis, nor to question this gentleman. Why + does he visit us? If he does not acknowledge you as Czar he has no justice + to get at your hands; if he acknowledge you, why did he stay at Orenbourg + with your enemies? Will you not order him to prison, and have a fire + lighted there?” + </p> + <p> + The old rascal’s logic seemed plausible even to myself. I shuddered when I + remembered into whose hands I had fallen. Pougatcheff saw my trouble. + </p> + <p> + “Eh! eh! your lordship,” said he, winking, “it seems my field-marshal is + right. What do you think?” + </p> + <p> + The jesting tone of the chief restored my courage. I replied calmly that I + was in his power. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Pougatcheff, “tell me now the condition of your city?” + </p> + <p> + “It is, thank God, in a good state.” + </p> + <p> + “A good condition,” repeated the brigand, “when the people are dying of + hunger.” + </p> + <p> + The usurper was right, but according to the duty imposed by my oath, I + affirmed that it was a false report, and that the fort was sufficiently + provisioned. + </p> + <p> + “You see he deceives you,” interrupted the man with the riband. “All the + deserters are unanimous in saying that famine and pestilence are at + Orenbourg; that thistles are eaten as dainties there. If you wish to hang + Alexis, hang on the same gibbet this young fellow, that they may be + equal.” + </p> + <p> + These words seemed to shake the chief. Happily the other wretch opposed + this view. + </p> + <p> + “Silence,” said this powerful fellow. “You think of nothing but hanging + and strangling. It becomes <i>you</i> to play the hero. To look at you, no + one knows where your soul is.” + </p> + <p> + “And which of the saints are you?” replied the old man. + </p> + <p> + “Generals,” said Pougatcheff, with dignity, “an end to your quarrels. It + would be no great loss if all the mangy dogs from Orenbourg were dangling + their legs under the same cross-beam; but it would be a misfortune if our + own good dogs should bite each other.” + </p> + <p> + Feeling the necessity of changing the conversation, I turned to + Pougatcheff with a smile, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I forgot to thank you for the horse and touloup. Without your aid I + should not have reached the city. I would have died from cold on the + journey.” My trick succeeded. Pougatcheff regained his good humor. + </p> + <p> + “The beauty of debt is the payment thereof,” said he, winking. “Tell me + your story. What have you to do with the young girl that Alexis + persecutes? Has she caught your heart, too?” + </p> + <p> + “She is my promised bride,” said I, seeing no risk in speaking the truth. + </p> + <p> + “Your promised bride! Why did you not tell me sooner? We’ll marry you, and + be at your wedding. Listen, Field-marshal,” said he. “We are old friends, + his lordship and I. Lets us go to supper. Tomorrow we shall see what is to + be done with him. Night brings wisdom, and the morning is better than the + evening.” + </p> + <p> + I would gladly have excused myself from proposed honor, but it was + impossible. Two Cossacks girls covered the table with a white cloth, and + brought bread, soup made of fish, and pitchers of wine and beer. Thus, for + the second time, I was at table with Pougatcheff and his terrible + companions. The orgie lasted far into the night. Drunkenness at last + triumphed. Pougatcheff fell asleep in his place, and his companions signed + to me to leave him. I went out with them. The sentry locked me up in a + dark hole, where I found Saveliitch. He was so surprised by all that he + saw and heard, that he asked no questions. Lying in darkness, he soon fell + asleep. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Pougatcheff sent for me. Before his door stood a kibitka, + with three horses abreast. The street was crowded. Pougatcheff, whom I met + in the entry of his hut, was dressed for a journey, in a pelisse and + Kirghis cap. His guests of the previous night surrounded him, and wore a + look of submission which contrasted strongly with what I had seen on the + preceding evening. Pougatcheff bade me good-morning gaily, and ordered me + to sit beside him in the kibitka. We took our places. + </p> + <p> + “To the fortress of Belogorsk,” said Pougatcheff to the robust Tartar, + who, standing, drove his horses. My heart beat violently. The Tartar + horses shot off, the bells tinkled, the kibitka flew over the snow. + </p> + <p> + “Stop! stop!” cried a voice I knew too well. “O Peter! do not abandon me + in my old age, in the midst of the rob—” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you old owl!” said Pougatcheff, “sit up there in front.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks, Czar, may God give you a long life.” + </p> + <p> + The horses set off again. The people in the streets stopped and bowed low, + as the usurper passed. Pougatcheff saluted right and left. In an instant + we were out of the town, taking our way over a well-defined road. I was + silent. Pougatcheff broke in upon my reverie. “Why so silent, my lord?” + said he. + </p> + <p> + “I can not help thinking,” said I, “of the chain of events. I am an + officer, noble, yesterday at war with you; today I ride in the same + carriage with you, and all the happiness of my life depends on you.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you afraid?” + </p> + <p> + “You have already given me my life!” + </p> + <p> + “You say truly. You know how my fellows looked upon you; only today they + wanted to try you as a spy. The old one wanted to torture and then hang + you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of wine and your + touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say.” I remembered the + taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him. + </p> + <p> + “What do they say of me at Orenbourg?” + </p> + <p> + “It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must be + confessed that you have given us some work.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I am a great warrior. Do you think the King Prussia is as strong as + I?” + </p> + <p> + “What do you think yourself? Can you beat Frederick?” + </p> + <p> + “Frederick the Great? Why not? Wait till I march to Moscow!” + </p> + <p> + “You really intend to march on Moscow?” + </p> + <p> + “God knows,” said he, reflecting; “my road is narrow—my boys do not + obey—they are thieves—I must listen—keep my ears open; + at the first reverse they would save their own necks by my head.” + </p> + <p> + “Would it not be better,” I said, “to abandon them now, before it is too + late, and have recourse to the clemency of the Empress?” + </p> + <p> + He smiled bitterly. “No; the time is passed. I shall end as I began. Who + knows?” + </p> + <p> + Our Tartar was humming a plaintive air; Saveliitch, sound asleep, swayed + from side to side; our kibitka was gliding rapidly over the winter road. I + saw in the distance a village well known to my eyes, with its palisade and + church spire on the steep bank of the river Iaik. A quarter of an hour + after we entered the fortress of Belogorsk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII. MARIE. + </h2> + <p> + The kibitka stopped before the Commandant’s house. The inhabitants had + recognized the usurper’s bells and equipage, and had come out in crowds to + meet him. Alexis, dressed like a Cossack, and bearded like one, helped the + brigand to descend from his kibitka. The sight of me troubled him, but + soon recovering himself, he said: “You are one of us?” I turned my head + away without replying. My heart was wrung when we entered the room that I + know so well, where still upon the wall hung, like an epitaph, the diploma + of the deceased Commandant. Pougatcheff seated himself upon the same sofa + where many a time Ivan Mironoff had dozed to the hum of his wife’s voice. + Alexis’ own hand presented the brandy to his chief. Pougatcheff drank a + glass and said, pointing to me: “Offer a glass to his lordship.” Alexis + approached me, and again I turned my back upon him. Pougatcheff asked him + a few questions about the condition of the fortress, and then, in an + unpremeditated manner, said: “Tell me, who is this young girl that you + have under guard?” + </p> + <p> + Alexis became pale as death. “Czar,” said he, a tremor in his voice, “she + is in her own room; she is not locked up.” + </p> + <p> + “Take me to her room,” said the usurper, rising. + </p> + <p> + Hesitation was impossible. Alexis led the way to Marie’s room. I followed. + On the stairs Alexis stopped: “Czar, demand of me what you will, but do + not permit a stranger to enter my wife’s room.” + </p> + <p> + “You are married?” I shouted, ready to tear him to pieces. + </p> + <p> + “Silence!” interrupted the brigand, “this is my business. And you,” said + he, turning to Alexis, “do not be too officious. Whether she be your wife + or not, I shall take whom I please into her room. Your lordship, follow + me.” + </p> + <p> + At the door of the room Alexis stopped again: “Czar, she has had a fever + these three days; she is delirious.” + </p> + <p> + “Open,” said Pougatcheff. + </p> + <p> + Alexis fumbled in his pockets, and at last said that he had forgotten the + key. Pougatcheff kicked the door; the lock yielded, the door opened and we + entered. + </p> + <p> + I glanced into the room, and nearly fainted. On the floor, in the coarse + dress of a peasant, Marie was seated, pale, thin, her hair in disorder; + before her on the floor stood a pitcher of water covered by a piece of + bread. Upon seeing me, she started, and uttered a piercing shriek. + Pougatcheff glanced at Alexis, smiled bitterly, and said: “Your hospital + is in nice order?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, my little dove, why does your husband punish you in this way?” + </p> + <p> + “My husband! he is not my husband. I am resolved to die rather than marry + him; and I shall die, if not soon released.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff gave a furious look at Alexis, and said: “Do you dare to + deceive me, knave?” + </p> + <p> + Alexis fell on his knees. Contempt stifled all my feelings of hatred and + vengeance. I saw with disgust, a gentleman kneeling at the feet of a + Cossack deserter. + </p> + <p> + “I pardon you, this time,” said the brigand, “but remember, your next + fault will recall this one.” He turned to Marie, and said, gently: “Come + out, my pretty girl, you are free. I am the Czar!” + </p> + <p> + Marie looked at him, hid her face in her hands and fell on the floor + unconscious. She had no doubt divined that he had caused her parents’ + death. I rushed to aid her, when my old acquaintance, Polacca, boldly + entered, and hastened to revive her mistress. Pougatcheff, Alexis and I + went down to the reception room. + </p> + <p> + “Now, your lordship, we have released the pretty girl, what say you? Shall + we not send for Father Garasim, and have him perform the marriage ceremony + for his niece? If you like, I will be your father by proxy, Alexis your + groomsman; then we’ll shut the gates and make merry!” + </p> + <p> + As I anticipated, Alexis, hearing this speech, lost his self-control. + </p> + <p> + “Czar,” said he, in a fury, “I am guilty; I have lied to you, but Grineff + also deceives you. This young girl is not Father Garasim’s niece. She is + Ivan Mironoff’s daughter.” + </p> + <p> + Pougatcheff glared at me. “What does that mean?” said he to me. + </p> + <p> + “Alexis says truly,” I replied, firmly. + </p> + <p> + “You did not tell me that,” said the usurper, whose face darkened. + </p> + <p> + “Judge of it yourself. Could I declare before your people that Marie was + Captain Mironoff’s daughter? They would have torn her to pieces. No one + could have saved her.” + </p> + <p> + “You are right,” said Pougatcheff, “my drunkards would not have spared the + child. Accoulina did well to deceive them.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” I said, seeing his good humor, “I do not know your real name, + and I do not want to know it. But before God, I am ready to pay you with + my life, for what you have done for me. Only, ask me nothing contrary to + honor, and my conscience as a Christian. You are my benefactor. Let me go + with this orphan, and we, whatever happens to you, wherever you may be, we + shall pray God to save your soul.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it as you desire,” said he, “punish to the end, or pardon completely, + that’s my way. Take your promised bride wherever you choose, and may God + give you love and happiness.” He turned to Alexis, and ordered him to + write me a passport for all the forts subject to his power. Alexis was + petrified with astonishment. Pougatcheff went off to inspect the fortress; + Alexis followed him; I remained. + </p> + <p> + I ran up to Marie’s room. The door was closed. I knocked. + </p> + <p> + “Who is there?” asked Polacca. + </p> + <p> + I gave my name. I heard Marie say: “In an instant, Peter, I shall join you + at Accoulina’s.” + </p> + <p> + Father Garasim and Accoulina came out to welcome me. I was honored with + everything at the command of the hostess, whose voluble tongue never + ceased. It was not long before Marie entered, quite pale; she had laid + aside the peasant’s dress, and was, as usual, clad in simplicity, but with + neatness and taste. I seized her hand, unable to utter a word. We were + both silent from full hearts. Our hosts left us, and I could now speak of + plans for her safety. It was impossible that she should stay in a fortress + subject to Pougatcheff, and commanded by the infamous Alexis. Neither + could she find refuge at Orenbourg, suffering all the horrors of siege. I + proposed that she should go to my father’s country-seat. This surprised + her. But I assured her that my father would hold it a duty and an honor to + receive the daughter of a veteran who had died for his country. In + conclusion, I said: “My dear Marie; I consider thee as my wife; these + strange events have bound us for ever to each other.” + </p> + <p> + Marie listened with dignity; she felt as I did, but repeated that without + my parents’ consent she would never be my wife. I could not reply to this + objection. I folded her to my heart, and my project became our mutual + resolve. + </p> + <p> + An hour after, the Corporal brought me my passport, having the scratch + which served as Pougatcheff’s sign-manual, and told me that the Czar + awaited me. I found him ready for his journey. To this man—why not + tell the truth?—cruel and terrible to all but me, I was drawn by + strong sympathy. I wanted to snatch him from the horde of robbers, whose + chief he was; but the presence of Alexis and the crowd around him + prevented any expression of these feelings. Our parting was that of + friends. As the horses were moving, he leaned out of the kibitka and said + to me: “Adieu, again, your lordship; perhaps we may meet once more.” + </p> + <p> + We did meet again, but under what circumstances! + </p> + <p> + I returned to Father Garasim’s, where our preparations were soon + completed. Our baggage was put into the Commandant’s old equipage. The + horses were harnessed. Marie went, before setting off, to visit once more + the tomb in the church-yard, and soon returned, having wept in silence + over all that remained to her of her parents. Father Garasim and Accoulina + stood on the steps. Marie, Polacca, and I sat in the interior of the + kibitka. Saveliitch perched himself up in front. + </p> + <p> + “Adieu, Marie, sweet little dove! Adieu, Peter, our handsome falcon!” + exclaimed the kind Accoulina. + </p> + <p> + Passing the Commandant’s house, I saw Alexis, whose face expressed + determined hate. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIII. THE ARREST. + </h2> + <p> + In two hours we reached the neighboring fortress, which also belonged to + Pougatcheff. We there changed horses. By the celerity with which they + served us, and the eager zeal of the bearded Cossack, whom Pougatcheff had + made Commandant, I perceived that, thanks to the talk of our postilion, I + was supposed to be a favorite with their master. When we started off + again, it was dusk; we were drawing near a town where, according to the + bearded Commandant, there ought to be a very strong detachment of + Pougatcheff’s forces. The sentinels stopped us and to the demand: “Who + goes there?” our postilion answered in a loud voice: “A friend of the + Czar, traveling with his wife.” + </p> + <p> + We were at once surrounded by a detachment of Russian hussars, who swore + frightfully. + </p> + <p> + “Come out,” said a Russian officer, heavily mustached; “We’ll give you a + bath!” + </p> + <p> + I requested to be taken before the authorities. Perceiving that I was an + officer, the soldiers ceased swearing, and the officer took me to the + Major’s. Saveliitch followed, growling out: “We fall from the fire into + the flame!” + </p> + <p> + The kibitka came slowly after us. In five minutes we reached a small + house, all lighted up. The officer left me under a strong guard, and + entered to announce my capture. He returned almost instantly, saying that + I was ordered to prison, and her ladyship to the presence of the Major. + </p> + <p> + “Is he mad?” I cried. + </p> + <p> + “I can not tell, your lordship.” + </p> + <p> + I jumped up the steps—the sentinels had not time to stop me—and + burst into the room where six hussar officers were playing faro. The Major + kept the bank. I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who had + so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk. “Is it possible? is this you + Ivan Zourine?” + </p> + <p> + “Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks; I would rather have some apartments assigned me.” + </p> + <p> + “No need of apartments, stay with me.” + </p> + <p> + “I can not; I am not alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring your comrade with you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not with a comrade; I am with—a lady.” + </p> + <p> + “A lady! where did you fish her out?” and he whistled in so rollicking a + manner, that the rest burst out laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Zourine, “then you must have a house in the town. Here, boy! + why do you not bring in Pougatcheff’s friend?” + </p> + <p> + “What are you about,” said I. “It is Captain Mironoff’s daughter. I have + just obtained her liberty, and I am taking her to my father’s, where I + shall leave her.” + </p> + <p> + “In the name of Heaven, what are <i>you</i> talking about? Are <i>you</i> + Pougatcheff’s chum?” + </p> + <p> + “I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl, whom + your soldiers have horribly frightened.” + </p> + <p> + Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and explain + the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid in the best + house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as soon as we were + alone, I gave him the story of my adventures. + </p> + <p> + He shook his head. “That’s all very well; but why will you marry? As an + officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to me. The + road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can therefore + send the Captain’s daughter to your parents tomorrow, and remain yourself + in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you might fall again + into the hands of the rebels.” + </p> + <p> + I resolved to follow, in part, Zourine’s advice. Saveliitch came to + prepare my room for the night. I told him to be ready to set out in the + morning with Marie. + </p> + <p> + “Who will attend you, my lord?” + </p> + <p> + “My old friend,” said I, trying to soften him, “I do not need a servant + here, and in serving Marie, you serve me, for I shall marry her as soon as + the war is over.” + </p> + <p> + “Marry!” repeated he, with his hands crossed, and a look of inexpressible + blankness, “the child wants to marry! What will your parents say?” + </p> + <p> + “They will, no doubt, consent as soon as they know Marie. You will + intercede for us, will you not?” + </p> + <p> + I had touched the old man’s heart. “O Peter!” said he, “you are too young + to marry, but the young lady is an angel, and it would be a sin to let the + chance slip. I will do as you desire.” + </p> + <p> + The next day I made known my plans to Marie. As Zourine’s detachment was + to leave the city that same day, delay was impossible. I confided Marie to + my dear old Saveliitch, and gave him a letter for my father. Marie, in + tears, took leave of me. I did not dare to speak, lest the bystanders + should observe my feelings. + </p> + <p> + It was the end of the February; Winter, which had rendered manoeuvering + difficult was now at a close, and our generals were preparing for a + combined campaign. At the approach of our troops, revolted villages + returned to their duty, while Prince Galitzin defeated the usurper, and + raised the siege of Orenbourg, which was the death-blow to the rebellion. + We heard of Pougatcheff in the Ural regions, and on the way to Moscow. But + he was captured. The war was over. Zourine received orders to return his + troops to their posts. I jumped about the room like a boy. Zourine + shrugged his shoulders, and said: “Wait till you are married, and see how + foolish you are!” + </p> + <p> + I had leave of absence. In a few days I would be at home and united to + Marie. One day Zourine came into my room with a paper in his hand, and + sent away the servant. + </p> + <p> + “What’s the matter?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “A slight annoyance,” he answered, handing me the paper. “Read.” + </p> + <p> + It was confidential order addressed to all the chiefs of detachments to + arrest me, and send me under guard to Khasan before the Commission of + Inquiry, created to give information against Pougatcheff and his + accomplices. The paper fell from my hands. + </p> + <p> + “Do not be cast down,” said Zourine, “but set out at once.” + </p> + <p> + My conscience was easy, but the delay! It would be months, perhaps, before + I could get through the Commission. Zourine bade me an affectionate adieu. + I mounted the telega (Summer carriage), two hussars withdrawn swords + beside, and took the road to Khasan. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XIV. THE SENTENCE. + </h2> + <p> + I had no doubt that I was arrested for having left the fortress of + Orenbourg without leave, and felt sure that I could exculpate myself. Not + only were we not forbidden, but on the contrary, we were encouraged to + make forays against the enemy. My friendly relations with Pougatcheff, + however, wore a suspicious look. + </p> + <p> + Arriving at Khasan, I found the city almost reduced to ashes. Along the + streets there were heaps of calcined material of unroofed walls of houses—a + proof that Pougatcheff had been there. The fortress was intact. I was + taken there and delivered to the officer on duty. He ordered the + blacksmith to rivet securely iron shackles on my feet. I was then + consigned to a small, dark dungeon, lighted only by a loop-hole, barred + with iron. This did not presage anything good, yet I did not lose courage; + for, having tasted the delight of prayer, offered by a heart full of + anguish, I fell asleep, without a thought for the morrow. The next morning + I was taken before the Commission. Two soldiers crossed the yard with me, + to the Commandant’s dwelling. Stopping in the ante-chamber, they let me + proceed alone to the interior. + </p> + <p> + I entered quite a spacious room. At a table, covered with papers, sat tow + personages,—a General advanced in years, of stern aspect, and a + young officer of the Guards, of easy and agreeable manners. Near the + window, at another table, a secretary, pen on ear, bending over a paper, + was ready to take my deposition. + </p> + <p> + The interrogation began: “Your name and profession?” The General asked if + I was the son of Andrew Grineff, and upon my replying in the affirmative, + exclaimed: “It is a pity so honorable a man should have a son so unworthy + of him!” + </p> + <p> + I replied that I hoped to refute all charges against me, by a sincere + avowal of the truth. My assurance displeased him. + </p> + <p> + “You are a bold fellow,” said he, frowning; “but we have seen others like + you.” + </p> + <p> + The young officer asked how, and for what purpose I had entered the rebel + service. + </p> + <p> + I replied indignantly, that being an officer and a noble, I was incapable + of enlisting in the usurper’s army, and had never served him in any way. + </p> + <p> + “How is it,” said my judge, “that the ‘officer and noble’ is the only one + spared by Pougatcheff? How is it that the ‘officer and noble’ received + presents from the chief rebel, of a horse and a pelisse? Upon what is this + intimacy founded, if not on treason, or at least unpardonable cowardice?” + </p> + <p> + The words wounded me, and I undertook with warmth my own defense, finally + invoking the name of my General who could testify to my zeal during the + siege of Orenbourg. The severe old man took from the table an open letter, + and read: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “With regard to Ensign Griness, I have the honor to declare, + that he was in the service at Orenbourg from the month of + October, 1773, till the following February. Since then, he + has not presented himself.” + </pre> + <p> + Here the General said harshly: “What can you say now to justify your + conduct?” + </p> + <p> + My judges had listened with interest and even kindness, to the recital of + my acquaintance with the usurper, from the meeting in the snowdrift to the + taking of Belogorsk, where he gave me my life through gratitude. I was + going to continue my defense, by relating frankly my relations with Marie, + and her rescue. But if I spoke of her the Commission would force her to + appear, and her name would become the theme of no very delicate remarks by + the interrogated witnesses. These thoughts so troubled me that I + stammered, and at last was silent. + </p> + <p> + The judges were prejudiced against me by my evident confusion. The young + Guardsman asked that I should be confronted by my chief accuser. Some + minutes later the clank of iron fetters resounded, and Alexis entered. + </p> + <p> + He was pale and thin. His hair, formerly black as a raven’s wing, was + turning gray. He repeated his accusation in a weak but decided tone. + </p> + <p> + According to him, I was Pougatcheff’s spy. I heard him to the end in + silence, and rejoiced at one thing: he never pronounced the name of Marie + Mironoff. Was it that his self-love smarted from her contemptuous + rejection of him? or was there in his heart a spark of that same feeling + which made me also silent on that point? This confirmed me in my + resolution, and when asked what I had to answer to the charges of Alexis, + I merely said that I held to my first declaration, and had nothing more to + add. + </p> + <p> + The General remanded us to prison. I looked at Alexis. He smiled with + satisfied hate, raised up his shackles to hasten his pace and pass before + me. I had no further examination. I was not an eye-witness of what remains + to be told the reader; but I have so often heard the story, that the + minutest particulars are engraved on my memory. + </p> + <p> + Marie was received by my parents with the cordial courtesy which + distinguished the preceding generation. They became very much attached to + her, and my father no longer considered my love a folly. The news of my + arrest was a fearful blow; but Marie and Saveliitch had so frankly told + the origin of my connection with Pougatcheff, that the news did not seem + grave. My father could not be persuaded that I would take part in an + infamous revolt, whose object was the subversion of the throne and the + extinction of the nobility. So better news was expected, and several weeks + passed, when at last a letter came from our relative Prince B—-. + After the usual compliments, he told my father that the suspicions of my + complicity in the rebel plots were only too well founded, as had been + proved,—that an exemplary execution might have been my fate, were it + not that the Empress, out of consideration for the father’s white hair and + loyal services, had commuted the sentence of the criminal son. She had + exiled him for life to the depths of Siberia! + </p> + <p> + The blow nearly killed my father, his firmness gave way, and his usually + silent sorrow burst into bitter plaints: “What! my son plotting with + Pougatcheff! The Empress gives him his life! Execution not the worst thing + in the world! My grandfather died on the scaffold in defense of his + convictions! But, that a noble should betray his oath, unite with bandits, + knaves and revolted slaves! shame! shame forever on our face!” + </p> + <p> + Frightened by his despair, my mother did not dare to show her grief, and + Marie was more desolate than they. Persuaded that I could justify myself + if I chose, she divined the motive of my silence, and believed that she + was the cause of my suffering. + </p> + <p> + One evening, seated on his sofa, my father was turning over the leaves of + the “<i>Court Almanac</i>,” but his thoughts were far away, and the book + did not produce its usual effect upon him. My mother was knitting in + silence, and from time to time a furtive tear dropped upon her work. + Marie, who was sewing in the same room, without any prelude declared to my + parents that she was obliged to go to St. Petersburg, and begged them to + furnish her the means. + </p> + <p> + My mother said: “Why will you leave us?” + </p> + <p> + Marie replied that her fate depended on this journey; that she was going + to claim the protection of those in favor at Court, as the daughter of a + man who had perished a victim to his loyalty. + </p> + <p> + My father bowed his head. A word which recalled the supposed crime of his + son, seemed a sharp reproach. + </p> + <p> + “Go,” said he, at last, with a sigh; “we will not place an obstacle to + your happiness. May God give you an honorable husband and not a traitor!” + </p> + <p> + He rose and left the room. Alone with my mother, Marie confided to her, in + part, the object of her journey. My mother, in tears, kissed her and + prayed for the success of the project. A few days after, Marie, Polacca + and Saveliitch left home. + </p> + <p> + When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment in + residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo. She decided to stop + there, and obtained a small room at the post-house. The post mistress came + to chat with the new-comer. She told Marie, pompously, that she was the + niece of an official attached to the Court—her uncle having the + honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty’s abode! Marie soon knew at + what hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and went on the promenade; in + brief, the conversation of Anna was like a page from the memoirs of the + times, and would be very precious in our days. The two women went together + to the Imperial gardens, where Anna told Marie the romance of each pathway + and the history of every bridge over the artificial streams. Next day very + early Marie returned alone to the Imperial gardens. The weather was + superb. The sun gilded the linden tops, already seared by the Autumn + frosts. The broad lake sparkled, the swans, just aroused, came out gravely + from the shore. Marie was going to a charming green sward, when a little + dog, of English blood, came running to her barking. She was startled; but + a voice of rare refinement said: “He will not bite you; do not be afraid.” + </p> + <p> + A lady about fifty years of age was seated on a rustic bench. She was + dressed in a white morning-dress, a light cap and a mantilla. Her face, + full and florid, was expressive of calmness and seriousness. She was the + first to speak: “You are evidently a stranger here?” + </p> + <p> + “That is true, madam. I arrived from the country yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + “You are with your parents?” + </p> + <p> + “No, madam, alone.” + </p> + <p> + “You are too young to travel alone. Are you here on business?” + </p> + <p> + “My parents are dead. I came to present a petition to the Empress.” + </p> + <p> + “You are an orphan; you have to complain of injustice, or injury?” + </p> + <p> + “Madam, I came to ask for a pardon, not justice.” + </p> + <p> + “Permit me a question: Who are you?” + </p> + <p> + “I am the daughter of Captain Mironoff.” + </p> + <p> + “Of Captain Mironoff? of him who commanded one of the fortresses in the + province of Orenbourg?” + </p> + <p> + “The same, madam.” + </p> + <p> + The lady seemed touched. “Pardon me, I am going to Court. Explain the + object of your petition; perhaps I can aid you.” Marie took from her + pocket a paper which she handed to the lady, who read it attentively. + Marie, whose eyes followed every movement of her countenance, was alarmed + by the severe expression of face so calm and gracious a moment before. + </p> + <p> + “You intercede for Grineff?” said the lady, in an icy tone. “The Empress + can not pardon him. He went over to the usurper, not as an ignorant + believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “It is not true!” exclaimed Marie. + </p> + <p> + “What! not true?” said the lady, flushing to the eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was for + me only that exposed himself to all these misfortunes. If he did not clear + himself before his judges, it was because he would not drag me before the + authorities.” Marie then related with warmth all that the reader knows. + </p> + <p> + “Where do you lodge?” asked the lady, when the young girl had finished her + recital. Upon hearing that she was staying with the postmaster’s wife, she + nodded, and said with a smile: “Ah! I know her. Adieu! tell no one of our + meeting. I hope you will not have long to wait for the answer to your + petition.” + </p> + <p> + She rose and went away by a covered path. Marie went back to Anna’s, full + of fair hope. The postmaster’s wife was surprised that Marie took so early + a promenade, which might in Autumn, prove injurious to a young girl’s + health. She brought the <i>Somovar</i>, and with her cup of tea was going + to relate one of her interminable stories, when a carriage with the + imperial escutcheon stopped before the door. A lackey, wearing the + imperial livery, entered and announced that her Majesty deigned to order + to her presence the daughter of Captain Mironoff! + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” exclaimed Anna, “the Empress orders you to Court! How did she know + you were with me? You can not present yourself—you do not know how + to walk in courtly fashion! I ought to go with you. Shall I not send to + the doctor’s wife and get her yellow dress with flounces, for you?” + </p> + <p> + The lackey declared that he had orders to take Marie alone, just as she + was. Anna did not dare to disobey, and Marie set out. She had a + presentiment that her destiny was now to be decided. Her heart beat + violently. In a few minutes the carriage was at the palace, and Marie, + having crossed a long suite of apartments, vacant and sumptuous, entered + the <i>boudoir</i> of the Empress. The nobles who surrounded their + sovereign respectfully made way for the young girl. + </p> + <p> + The Empress, in whom Marie recognized the lady of the garden, said, + graciously: “I am pleased to be able to grant your prayer. Convinced of + the innocence of your betrothed, I have arranged everything. Here is a + letter for your future father-in-law.” + </p> + <p> + Marie, in tears, fell at the feet of the Empress, who raised her up and + kissed her, saying: + </p> + <p> + “I know that you are not rich; but I have to acquit myself of a debt to + the daughter of a brave man, Captain Mironoff.” Treating Marie with + tenderness, the Empress dismissed her. That day Marie set out for my + father’s country-seat, not having even glanced at Saint Petersburg. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + Here terminate the memoirs of Peter Grineff. We know by family tradition + that he was set free about the end of the year 1774. We know too, that he + was present at the execution of Pougatcheff, who, recognizing him in the + crowd, gave him one last sign with the head which, a moment after, was + shown to the people, bleeding and inanimate. + </p> + <p> + Peter Grineff became the husband of Marie Mironoff. Their descendents + still live, in the Province of Simbirsk, and in the hereditary manor is + still shown the autograph letter of the Empress Catherine II. It is + addressed to Andrew Grineff, and contains, with his son’s justification, a + touching and beautiful eulogium of Marie, the Captain’s daughter. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marie, by Alexander Pushkin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + +***** This file should be named 4344-h.htm or 4344-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/4/4344/ + +Produced by Hanh Vu, Douglas Levy, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Marie + +Author: Alexander Pushkin + +Release Date: August, 2003 [Etext# 4344] +Posting Date: January 11, 2010 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + + + + +Produced by Hanh Vu and Douglas Levy + + + + + +MARIE + +A Story of Russian Love + +By Alexander Pushkin + + +Translated by Marie H. de Zielinska + + + + +CONTENTS. + + I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + II. THE GUIDE. + III. THE FORTRESS. + IV. THE DUEL. + V. LOVE. + VI. POUGATCHEFF. + VII. THE ASSAULT. + VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + IX. THE SEPARATION. + X. THE SIEGE. + XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + XII. MARIE. + XIII. THE ARREST. + XIV. THE SENTENCE. + + + + +TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. + + +Alexander Pushkin, the most distinguished poet of Russia, was born at +Saint Petersburg, 1799. When only twenty-one years of age he entered +the civil service in the department of foreign affairs. Lord Byron's +writings and efforts for Greek independence exercised great influence +over Pushkin, whose "Ode to Liberty" cost him his freedom. He was exiled +to Bessarabia [A region of Moldova and western Ukraine] from 1820 to +1825, whence he returned at the accession of the new emperor, Nicholas, +who made him historiographer of Peter the Great. Pushkin's friends +now looked upon him as a traitor to the cause of liberty. It is not +improbable that an enforced residence at the mouth of the Danube +somewhat cooled his patriotic enthusiasm. Every Autumn, his favorite +season for literary production, he usually passed at his country seat +in the province Pekoff. Here from 1825 to 1829 he published "Pultowa," +"Boris Godunoff," "Eugene Onegin," and "Ruslaw and Ludmila," a tale +in verse, after the Manner of Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso." This is +considered as the first great poetical work in the Russian language, +though the critics of the day attacked it, because it was beyond their +grasp; but the public devoured it. + +In 1831 Pushkin married, and soon after appeared his charming novel, +"Marie," a picture of garrison life on the Russian plains. Peter and +Marie of this Northern story are as pure as their native snows, and +whilst listening to the recital, we inhale the odor of the steppe, and +catch glimpses of the semi-barbarous Kalmouk and the Cossack of the Don. + +A duel with his brother-in-law terminated the life of Pushkin in the +splendor of his talent. The emperor munificently endowed the poet's +family, and ordered a superb edition of all his works to be published at +the expense of the crown. His death was mourned by his countrymen as a +national calamity. M. H. de Z. + +Chicago, Nov. 1, 1876. + + + + + +MARIE. + + + + +I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + + +My father, Andrew Peter Grineff, having served in his youth under Count +Munich, left the army in 17--, with the grade of First Major. From that +time he lived on his estate in the Principality of Simbirsk, where he +married Avoditia, daughter of a poor noble in the neighborhood. Of +nine children, the issue of this marriage, I was the only survivor. My +brothers and sisters died in childhood. + +Through the favor of a near relative of ours, Prince B---, himself +a Major in the Guards, I was enrolled Sergeant of the Guards in the +regiment of Semenofski. It was understood that I was on furlough till my +education should be finished. From my fifth year I was confided to the +care of an old servant Saveliitch, whose steadiness promoted him to the +rank of my personal attendant. Thanks to his care, when I was twelve +years of age I knew how to read and write, and could make a correct +estimate of the points of a hunting dog. + +At this time, to complete my education, my father engaged upon a salary +a Frenchman, M. Beaupre, who was brought from Moscow with one year's +provision of wine and oil from Provence. His arrival of course +displeased Saveliitch. + +Beaupre had been in his own country a valet, in Prussia a soldier, then +he came to Russia to be a tutor, not knowing very well what the word +meant in our language. He was a good fellow, astonishingly gay and +absent-minded. His chief foible was a passion for the fair sex. Nor was +he, to use his own expression, an enemy to the bottle--that is to say, +_a la Russe_, he loved drink. But as at home wine was offered only at +table, and then in small glasses, and as, moreover, on these occasions, +the servants passed by the pedagogue, Beaupre soon accustomed himself +to Russian brandy, and, in time, preferred it, as a better tonic, to +the wines of his native country. We became great friends, and although +according to contract he was engaged to teach me French, German, and +_all the sciences_, yet he was content that I should teach him to +chatter Russian. But as each of us minded his own business, our +friendship was constant, and I desired no mentor. However, destiny very +soon separated us, in consequence of an event which I will relate. + +Our laundress, a fat girl all scarred by small-pox, and our dairymaid, +who was blind of an eye, agreed, one fine day, to throw themselves at my +mother's feet and accuse the Frenchman of trifling with their innocence +and inexperience! + +My mother would have no jesting upon this point, and she in turn +complained to my father, who, like a man of business, promptly ordered +"that dog of a Frenchman" into his presence. The servant informed him +meekly that Beaupre was at the moment engaged in giving me a lesson. + +My father rushed to my room. Beaupre was sleeping upon his bed the sleep +of innocence. I was deep in a most interesting occupation. They had +brought from Moscow, for me, a geographical map, which hung unused +against the wall; the width and strength of its paper had been to me +a standing temptation. I had determined to make a kite of it, and +profiting that morning by Beaupre's sleep, I had set to work. My father +came in just as I was tying a tail to the Cape of Good Hope! Seeing +my work, he seized me by the ear and shook me soundly; then rushing to +Beaupre's bed, awakened him without hesitating, pouring forth a volley +of abuse upon the head of the unfortunate Frenchman. In his confusion +Beaupre tried in vain to rise; the poor pedagogue was dead drunk! My +father caught him by the coat-collar and flung him out of the room. That +day he was dismissed, to the inexpressible delight of Saveliitch. + +Thus ended my education. I now lived in the family as the eldest son, +not of age whose career is yet to open; amusing myself teaching pigeons +to tumble on the roof, and playing leap-frog in the stable-yard with the +grooms. In this way I reached my sixteenth year. + +One Autumn day, my mother was preserving fruit with honey in the family +room, and I, smacking my lips, was looking at the liquid boiling; my +father, seated near the window, had just opened the _Court Almanac_ +which he received every year. This book had great influence over him; he +read it with extreme attention, and reading prodigiously stirred up his +bile. My mother, knowing by heart all his ways and oddities, used to try +to hide the miserable book, and often whole months would pass without a +sight of it. But, in revenge whenever he did happen to find it, he would +sit for hours with the book before his eyes. + +Well, my father was reading the _Court Almanac_, frequently shrugging +his shoulders, and murmuring: "'General!' Umph, he was a sergeant in +my company. 'Knight of the Orders of Russia.' Can it be so long since +we--?" + +Finally he flung the _Almanac_ away on the sofa and plunged into deep +thought; a proceeding that never presaged anything good. + +"Avoditia," said he, brusquely, to my mother, "how old is Peter?" + +"His seventeenth precious year has just begun," said my mother. "Peter +was born the year Aunt Anastasia lost her eye, and that was--" + +"Well, well," said my father, "it is time he should join the army. It is +high time he should give up his nurse, leap-frog and pigeon training." + +The thought of a separation so affected my poor mother that she let the +spoon fall into the preserving pan, and tears rained from her eyes. + +As for me, it is difficult to express my joy. The idea of army service +was mingled in my head with that of liberty, and the pleasures offered +by a great city like Saint Petersburg. I saw myself an officer in the +Guards, which, in my opinion was the height of felicity. + +As my father neither liked to change his plans, nor delay their +execution, the day of my departure was instantly fixed. That evening, +saying that he would give me a letter to my future chief, he called for +writing materials. + +"Do not forget, Andrew," said my mother, "to salute for me Prince B. +Tell him that I depend upon his favor for my darling Peter." + +"What nonsense," said my father, frowning, "why should I write to Prince +B.?" + +"You have just said that you would write to Peter's future chief." + +"Well, what then?" + +"Prince B. is his chief. You know very well that Peter is enrolled in +the Semenofski regiment." + +"Enrolled! what's that to me? Enrolled or not enrolled, he shall not go +to Saint Petersburg. What would he learn there? Extravagance and folly. +No! let him serve in the army, let him smell powder, let him be a +soldier and not a do-nothing in the Guards; let him wear the straps of +his knapsack out. Where is the certificate of his birth and baptism?" + +My mother brought the certificate, which she kept in a little box with +my baptismal robe, and handed it to my father. He read it, placed it +before him on the table, and commenced his letter. + +I was devoured by curiosity. Where am I going, thought I, if not to +Saint Petersburg? I did not take my eyes from the pen which my father +moved slowly across the paper. + +At last, the letter finished, he put it and my certificate under the +same envelope, took off his spectacles, called me and said: + +"This letter is addressed to Andrew Karlovitch, my old friend and +comrade. You are going to Orenbourg to serve under orders." + +All my brilliant dreams vanished. In place of the gay life of Saint +Petersburg, ennui awaited me in a wild and distant province of the +empire. Military life seemed now a calamity. + +The next morning a kibitka was at the door; my trunk was placed on it, +and also a case holding tea and a tea-service, with some napkins full +of rolls and pastry, the last sweet bits of the paternal home. Both my +parents gave me their solemn benediction. My father said, "Adieu, Peter. +Serve faithfully him to whom your oath is given; obey your chiefs; +neither seek favor, nor solicit service, but do not reject them; and +remember the proverb: 'Take care of thy coat whilst it is new, and thy +honor whilst it is fresh.'" + +My darling mother, all in tears, told me to take care of my health; and +counseled Saveliitch to guard her child from danger. + +I was wrapped up in a short touloup lined with hare-skin, and over that +a pelisse lined fox-skin. I took my seat in the kibitka with Saveliitch, +and shedding bitter tears, set out for my destination. + +That night I arrived at Simbirsk, where I was to stay twenty-four hours, +in order that Saveliitch might make various purchases entrusted to him. +Early in the morning Saveliitch went to the shops, whilst I stayed in +the inn. Tired of gazing out of the window upon a dirty little street, +I rambled about the inn, and at last entered the billiard-room. I +found there a tall gentleman, some forty years of age, with heavy black +moustaches, in his dressing-gown, holding a cue and smoking his pipe. +He was playing with the marker, who was to drink a glass of brandy and +water if he gained, and if he lost was to pass, on all-fours, under the +billiard table. I watched them playing. The more they played the more +frequent became the promenades on all-fours, so that finally the marker +stayed under the table. The gentleman pronounced over him some energetic +expression, as a funeral oration, and then proposed that I should play +a game with him. I declared that I did not know how to play billiards. +That seemed strange to him. He looked at me with commiseration. + +However, we opened a conversation. I learned that his name was Ivan +Zourine; that he was a chief of a squadron of Hussars stationed then at +Simbirsk recruiting soldiers, and that his quarters were at my inn. He +invited me to mess with him, soldier-fashion, pot-luck. I accepted with +pleasure, and we sat down to dinner. Zourine drank deeply, and invited +me to drink also, saying that I must become accustomed to the service. +He told stories of garrison life which made me laugh till I held my +sides, and we rose from the table intimate friends. He then proposed +to teach me how to play billiards. "It is," said he, "indispensable +for soldiers like ourselves. For example, suppose we arrive in a town, +what's to be done? We can not always make sport of the Jews. As a last +resort there is the inn and the billiard-room; but to play billiards, +one must know how." These reasons convinced me, and I set about learning +with enthusiasm. + +Zourine encouraged me in a loud tone; he was astonished at my rapid +progress, and after a few lesson he proposed to play for money, were it +only two kopecks, not for the gain, merely to avoid playing for nothing, +which was, according to him, a very bad habit. I agreed. Zourine ordered +punch, which he advised me to taste in order to become used to the +service, "for," said he, "what kind of service would that be without +punch?" + +I took his advice, and we continued to play; the more I tasted of my +glass the bolder I grew. I made the balls fly over the cushions; I was +angry with the marker who was counting. Heaven knows why. I increased +the stake, and behaved, altogether, like a boy just cut free, for the +first time, from his mother's apron-strings. The time passed quickly. At +last, Zourine glanced at the clock, laid down his cue, and said that I +had lost a hundred roubles to him. + +I was in great confusion, because my money was all in the hands of +Saveliitch. I began to mumble excuses, when Zourine exclaimed, "Oh! +well! Good God! I can wait till morning; don't be distressed about +it. Now let us go to supper." What could I do? I finished the day as +foolishly as I began it. + +Zourine never ceased pouring out drinks for me; advising me to become +accustomed to the service. Rising from table, I could scarcely stand. At +midnight Zourine brought me back to the inn. + +Saveliitch met us at the door, and uttered a cry of horror when he saw +the unmistakable signs of my "zeal for the service." + +"What has happened to thee?" said he, in heart-broken accents; "where +have you been filling yourself like a sack? Oh! heavenly father! a +misfortune like this never came before." + +"Silence! old owl," said I, stammering, "I am sure you are drunk +yourself; go to bed, but first put me there." + +I awoke next morning with a severe headache; the events of the evening +I recalled vaguely, but my recollections became vivid at the sight of +Saveliitch who came to me with a cup of tea. + +"You begin young, Peter Grineff," said the old men, shaking his head. +"Eh! from whom do you inherit it? Neither your father nor grandfather +were drunkards. Your mother's name can not be mentioned; she never +deigned to taste any thing but cider. Whose fault is it then? That +cursed Frenchman's; he taught three fine things, that miserable +dog--that pagan--for thy teacher, as if his lordship, thy father, had +not people of his own." + +I was ashamed before the old man; I turned my face away saying, "I +do not want any tea, go away, Saveliitch." It was not easy to stop +Saveliitch, once he began to preach. + +"Now, Peter, you see what it is to play the fool. You have a headache, +you have no appetite, a drunkard is good for nothing. Here, take some of +this decoction of cucumber and honey, or half a glass of brandy to sober +you. What do you say to that?" + +At that instant a boy entered the room with a note for me from Zourine. +I unfolded it and read as follows: + +"Do me the favor, my dear Peter, to send me by my servant the hundred +roubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am horribly in want of money. +Your devoted. ZOURINE." + +As I was perfectly in his power, I assumed an air of indifference, and +ordered Saveliitch to give a hundred roubles to the boy. + +"What? why?" said the old man, surprised. + +"I owe that sum," said I, coolly. + +"You owe it? When had you time enough to contract such a debt?" said +he, with redoubled astonishment. "No, no, that's impossible. Do what you +like, my lord, but I can not give the money." + +I reflected that if in this decisive moment I did not oblige the +obstinate old fellow to obey me, it would be impossible in the future to +escape from his tutelage. Looking at him therefore, haughtily, I said, +"I am thy master; thou art my servant. The money is mine, and I lost +because I chose to lose it; I advise thee to obey when ordered, and not +assume the airs of a master." + +My words affected Saveliitch so much that he clasped his hands and stood +bowed down mute and motionless. + +"What are you doing there like a post?" I cried out, angrily. + +Saveliitch was in tears. + +"Oh! my dear master Peter," stammered he, with trembling voice, "do not +kill me with grief. Oh my light, listen to me, an old man; write to +that brigand that you were jesting, that we never had so much money. A +hundred roubles! God of goodness! Tell him thy parents strictly forbade +thee to play for any thing but nuts." + +"Silence," said I, with severity, "give the money or I'll chase you out +of the room." + +Saveliitch looked at me with agony, and went for the money. I pitied the +good old man, but I wanted to emancipate myself, and prove that I was no +longer a child. Saveliitch sent the money to Zourine, and then hastened +our departure from that cursed inn. + +I left Simbirsk with a troubled conscience; a secret remorse oppressed +me. I took no leave of my teacher, not dreaming that I should ever meet +him again. + + + + +II. THE GUIDE. + + +My reflections during the journey were not very agreeable. According to +the value of money at that time my loss was of some importance. I could +not but admit to myself that my conduct at the inn at Simbirsk had been +very silly, and I felt guilty toward Saveliitch. The old man was seated +on the front of the vehicle in dull silence; from time to time turning +his head and coughing a cough of ill humor. I had firmly resolved to +make friends with him, but I did not know which way to begin. At last I +said to him, "Come, come Saveliitch, let us put an end to this; I know I +was wrong; I was a fool yesterday, and offended you without cause, but +I promise to listen to you in future. Come, do not be angry, let us make +friends!" + +"Ah! My dear Peter," said he with a sigh, "I am angry with myself. It's +I who was wrong in every thing. How could I have left you alone at +the inn? How could it have been avoided? The devil had a hand in it! I +wanted to go and see the deacon's wife, who is my god-mother, and as the +proverb says: 'I left the house and fell into the prison.'" + +What a misfortune! what a misfortune! How can I appear before the eyes +of my masters? What will they say, when they shall hear that their child +is a drunkard and a gambler. To console dear old Saveliitch, I gave +him my word, that for the future I would not dispose of single kopeck +without his consent. Little by little he became calm, which did not, +however, prevent him from grumbling out, now and then shaking his head: +"A hundred roubles! It is easy to talk!" + +I drew near the place of my destination. Around me extended a desert, +sad and wild, broken be little hills and deep ravines, all covered with +snow. The sun was setting. + +My kibitka followed the narrow road, or rather trace, left by peasants' +sledges. Suddenly my coachman, looking at a certain point and addressing +me, "My lord," said he, taking off his cap, "do you not command us to +retrace our steps?" + +"What for?" + +"The weather is uncertain. There is some wind ahead; do you see it drive +the snow on the surface?" + +"What matter?" + +"And do you not see what is over yonder?" pointing with his whip to the +east. + +"I see nothing more than the white steppes and the clear sky." + +"There! there! that little cloud!" + +I saw indeed upon the horizon a little white cloud that I had at first +taken for a distant hill. My coachman explained to me that this little +cloud foretold a _chasse-neige_--a snowdrift. I had heard of the +drifting snows of this region, and I know that at times, storms +swallowed up whole caravans. Saveliitch agreed with the coachman, and +advised our return. + +But to me the wind did not seem very strong. I hoped to arrive in time +for the next relay of horses. I gave orders, therefore, to redouble our +speed. The coachman put his horses to the gallop, and kept his eyes to +the east. + +The wind blew harder and harder. The little cloud soon became a great +white mass, rising heavily, growing, extending, and finally invading the +whole sky. A fine snow began to fall, which suddenly changed to immense +flakes. The wind whistled and howled. It was a _chasse-neige_--a +snowdrift. + +In an instant the somber sky was confounded with the sea of snow which +the wind raised up from the earth. Every thing was indistinguishable. + +"Woe, to us! my lord," cried the coachman, "it is a whirlwind of snow!" + +I put my head out of the kibitka--darkness and storm. The wind blew with +an expression so ferocious that it seemed a living creature. + +The snow fell in large flakes upon us, covering us. The horses went at a +walking pace, but very soon stood still. + +"Why do you not go on?" I said to the coachman. + +"Go where?" he replied, as he got down from the kibitka. "God knows +where we are now! There is no road; all is darkness." + +I began to scold him. Saveliitch took up his defense: + +"Why did you not listen to him," said he, angrily; "you could have +returned, taken some tea and slept till morning; the storm would have +been over, and we could then have set out. Why this haste? as if you +were going to your wedding?" + +Saveliitch was right. What was to be done? The snow continued to fall; +it was heaped up around the kibitka; the horses stood motionless, now +and then shivering. The coachman walked around them adjusting their +harness, as if he had nothing else to do. + +Saveliitch grumbled. + +I strained my eyes in every direction, hoping to see signs of a +dwelling, or of a road, but I could only see the whirling of the +snow-drift. All at once I thought I saw some thing black. "Halloo! +coachman," I cried out, "what is that black thing yonder?" + +The coachman looked attentively where I indicated. "God knows, my lord," +he replied, re-mounting to his seat; "it is not a kibitka, nor a tree; +it seems to be moving. It must be a wolf or a man!" + +I ordered him to go in the direction of the unknown object which was +coming toward us. In two minutes we were on a line with it, and I +recognized a man. + +"Halloo! good man!" shouted my coachman; "tell us, do you know the +road?" + +"This is the road," replied the man. "I am on solid ground, but what the +devil is the good of that." + +"Listen, my good peasant," said I; "do you know this country? Can you +lead us to a shelter for the night?" + +"This country! Thank God, I have been over it on foot and in carriage, +from one end to the other. But one can not help losing the road in this +weather. It is better to stop here and wait till the hurricane ceases: +then the sky will clear, and we can find the way by the stars." + +His coolness gave me courage. I had decided to trust myself to the mercy +of God and pass the night on the steppe, when the traveler, seating +himself on the bench which was the coachman's seat, said to the driver: + +"Thank God, a dwelling is near. Turn to the right and go on." + +"Why should I turn to the right?" said the coachman, sulkily, "where do +you see a road?" + +"Must I say to you these horses, as well as the harness, belong to +another? then use the whip without respite." + +I thought my coachman's view rational. + +"Why do you believe," said I to the new-comer, "that a dwelling is not +far off?" + +"The wind blows from that quarter," said he, "and I have smelled +smoke--proof that a dwelling is near." + +His sagacity, the delicacy of his sense of smell, filled me with +admiration; I ordered my coachman to go wherever the other wished. The +horses walked heavily through the deep snow. The kibitka advanced but +slowly, now raised on a hillock, now descending into a hollow, swaying +from side like a boat on a stormy sea. + +Saveliitch, falling over on me every instant, moaned. I pulled down the +hood of the kibitka, wrapped myself up in my pelisse, and fell asleep, +rocked by the swaying of the vehicle, and lulled by the chant of the +tempest. + +The horses stopped. Saveliitch was holding my hand. + +"Come out, my lord," said he, "we have arrived." + +"Where have we arrived?" said I, rubbing my eyes. + +"At the shelter. God has helped us; we have stumbled right upon +the hedge of the dwelling. Come out, my lord, quick; come and warm +yourself." + +I descended from the kibitka; the hurricane had not ceased, but it had +moderated; sight was useless, it was so dark. The master of the house +met us at the door, holding a lantern under the flaps of his long coat, +the Cossack cafetan. He led us into a small, though no untidy room, +lighted by a pine torch. In the centre hung a carabine and a high +Cossack cap. + +Our host, a Cossack from the river Iaik, was a peasant of some sixty +years, still fresh and green. + +Saveliitch brought in the case containing my tea-service; he asked for +fire to make me a few cups of tea, of which I never had greater need. +The host hastened to serve us. + +"Where is our guide?" I asked of Saveliitch. + +"Here, your lordship," replied a voice from above. I raised my eyes to +the loft, and saw a black beard and two sparkling black eyes. + +"Well, are you cold?" + +"How could I help being cold in this little cafetan full of holes. +What's the use of concealment? I had a touloup, but I left it yesterday +in pledge with the liquor-seller; then the cold did not seem so great." + +At this moment our host entered with the portable furnace and boiler, +the Russian _Somovar_. I offered our guide a cup of tea. Down he came +at once. As he stood in the glare of the pine torch his appearance was +remarkable. A man about forty years of age, medium height, slight but +with broad shoulders. His black beard was turning grey; large, quick, +restless eyes, gave him an expression full of cunning, and yet not at +all disagreeable. He was dressed in wide Tartar pantaloons and an old +jacket. His hair was cut evenly round. + +I offered him a cup of tea. He tasted it and made a grimace. + +"Do me the favor, my lord, to order me a glass of brandy; tea is not the +Cossack's drink." + +I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a +closet a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full in +the face, said: + +"Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought +you?" + +My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the +well-know proverb: "'The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed; +the grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.' And you? how are all +yours?" + +"How are we?" said the host, and continuing in proverbs: "'They began to +ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest's wife forbade it. The priest +went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.'" + +"Be silent, uncle," said the vagabond. + +"'When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there +shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy +hatchet behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.'" + +"To your lordship's health." Taking the glass, he made the sign of the +cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted me and +remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this thief's +slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they spoke of +the affairs of the army of the Iaik, which had just been reduced to +obedience after the revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened and glanced +suspiciously from host to guide. + +The species of inn where we were sheltered was in the very heart of the +steppes, far from the road and every inhabited spot, and looked very +much like a rendezvous of robbers. But to set off again on our journey +was impossible. The disgust of Saveliitch amused not a little; however, +he finally decided to mount upon the roof of the stove, the ordinary bed +of the Russian peasant. The warm bricks of the hot-air chamber of the +stove diffused a grateful heat, and soon the old man and the host, who +had laid himself on the floor, were snoring. I stretched myself upon +a bench, and slept like a dead. Awaking next morning quite late, I saw +that the hurricane was over. The sun shone out, the snow extended in the +distance like a sheet of dazzling white damask. The horses were already +at the door, harnessed. I paid our host, who asked so small a pittance +that even Saveliitch did not, as usual, haggle over the price. His +suspicions of the evening before had entirely disappeared. I called the +guide to thank him for the service he had done us, and told Saveliitch +to give him half a rouble. Saveliitch frowned. + +"Half a rouble," said he; "What for? Because you yourself deigned to +bring him to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have not a +rouble to spare. If we begin by giving drink money to every one we shall +end by dying of hunger." + +It was useless to argue with him; my money, according to my promise, was +entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to be able to +reward a man who had extricated me from danger, perhaps death. + +"Well," said I, coolly, "if you will not give him half a rouble, give +one of my coats--he is too thinly clad; give him the hare-skin touloup." + +"Have mercy on me! My dear Peter," said Saveliitch, "what does he want +with your touloup? He will drink its price, the dog, at the first inn." + +"That, my good old man, is none of your business," said the vagabond; +"his lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a +coat from his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, but to +obey." + +"You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are," said Saveliitch, +angrily; "you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason, +and there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart. You +can not even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders." + +"Come," said I, "do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly." + +"Oh, Lord!" said the old man, moaning--"a touloup of hare-skin! Quite +new,--to give it to a drunkard in rags." + +It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It +was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it +on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams. +Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the +threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present. +He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow: +"Thanks, my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your +goodness." + +He went his way,--I set out on mine, paying no attention to the +sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as +well as the touloup of hare-skin. + +Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He was +a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn-out +uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his +speech betrayed a strong German accent. + +I gave him my father's letter. + +Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. "Mein Gott," said he, "it is +so short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a +fine fellow of a son he has. Ah! time! time!" He opened the letter and +began to run it over with a commentary of remarks. + +"'Sir, I hope your Excellency,'--What is this; what is the meaning of +this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the way +to write to an old friend? Hum--'Field-marshal Munich--little +Caroline--brother.' Ah! then he remembers--'Now to business. I send you +my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.' + +"What does that mean?" said he, "that must be a Russian proverb." + +"It means," said I, with an air of innocence, "to treat a person mildly, +to give one liberty." + +"Hum!" said he, reading, "'and give him no liberty.' No," he continued, +"your proverb does not mean liberty. Well, my son," said he, having +finished the letter, "every thing shall be done for you. You shall be an +officer in the ---- regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow to the +fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave +and honest man. There you will see service and learn discipline. You +have nothing to do here at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a +young man. Today I invite you to dine with me." + +From bad to worse, thought I. What was the use of being a Sergeant in +the Guards almost from my mother's womb? To what has it led? To the +regiment of ----, and an abandoned fortress on the frontier of the +steppes! + +I dined at the General's in company with his old Aid-de-camp. Severe +German economy reigned at table, and I think the fear of having an +occasional guest the more had something to do with sending me to a +distant garrison. + +The next day I took my leave of the General and set out for Belogorsk. + + + + +III. THE FORTRESS. + + +The fortress of Belogorsk is situated forty versts from Orenbourg. The +route from this city is along the high banks of the river Iaik. The +stream was not yet frozen, and its lead-colored waters took a black tint +between banks whitened by the snow. Before me lay the Kirghis steppes. I +fell into a moody train of thought, for to me garrison life offered few +attractions. I tried to picture my future chief, Captain Mironoff. +I imagined a severe, morose old man, knowing nothing outside of the +service, ready to arrest me for the least slip. Dusk was falling; we +were advancing rapidly. + +"How far is it from here to the fortress?" said I to the coachman. + +"You can see it now," he answered. + +I looked on all sides, expecting to see high bastions, a wall, and +a ditch. I saw nothing but a little village surrounded by a wooden +palisade. On one side stood some hay-stacks half covered with snow; on +the other a wind-mill, leaning to one side; the wings of the mill, made +of the heavy bark of the linden tree, hung idle. + +"Where is the fortress?" I asked, astonished. + +"There it is," said the coachman, pointing to the village which we had +just entered. I saw near the gate an old iron cannon. The streets were +narrow and winding, and nearly all the huts were thatched with straw. +I ordered the coachman to drive to the Commandant's, and almost +immediately my kibitka stopped before a wooden house built on an +eminence near the church, which was also of wood. From the front door +I entered the waiting-room. An old pensioner, seated on a table, was +sewing a blue piece on the elbow of a green uniform. I told him to +announce me. + +"Enter, my good sir," said he, "our people are at home." + +I entered a very neat room, furnished in the fashion of other days. On +one side stood a cabinet containing the silver. Against the wall hung +the diploma of an officer, with colored engravings arranged around its +frame; notably, the "Choice of the Betrothed," the "Taking of Kurstrin," +and the "Burial of the Cat by the Mice." Near the window sat an old +woman in a mantilla, her head wrapped in a handkerchief. She was winding +a skein of thread held on the separated hands of a little old man, blind +of one eye, who was dressed like an officer. + +"What do you desire, my dear sir?" said the woman to me, without +interrupting her occupation. I told her that I had come to enter the +service, and that, according to rule, I hastened to present myself to +the captain. In saying this, I turned to the one-eyed old man, whom I +took for the commandant. The good lady interrupted the speech which I +had prepared in advance: + +"Ivan Mironoff is not at home; he is gone to visit Father Garasim; +but it is all the same; I am his wife. Deign to love us and have us in +favor! Take a seat, my dear sir." She ordered a servant to send her the +Corporal. The little old man gazed at me curiously, with his only eye. + +"May I dare to ask," said he, "in what regiment you have deigned to +serve?" + +I satisfied him on that point. + +"And may I dare to ask why you changed from the Guards to our garrison?" + +I replied that it was by the orders of authority. + +"Probably for actions little becoming an officer of the Guards?" resumed +the persistent questioner. + +"Will you stop your stupidities?" said the Captain's wife to him. "You +see the young man is fatigued by the journey; he has something else to +do besides answering you. Hold your hands better! And you my dear sir," +continued she, turning to me, "do not be too much afflicted that you are +thrust into our little town; you are not the first, and will not be the +last. Now, there is Alexis Chabrine, who has been transferred to us for +a term of four years for murder. God knows what provocation he had. He +and a lieutenant went outside the city with their swords, and before two +witnesses Alexis killed the lieutenant. Ah! misfortune has no master." + +Just then the Corporal entered, a young and handsome Cossack. "Maxim," +said the Captain's wife, "give this officer a clean lodging." + +"I obey, Basilia," replied the Cossack; "shall I lodge him with Ivan +Pologoff?" + +"You are doting, Maxim, he has too little space now; besides, he is +my child's godfather; and, moreover, he never forgets that we are his +chiefs. What is your name, my dear sir?" + +"Peter Grineff." + +"Then conduct Peter Grineff to the quarters of Simeon Kieff. That rascal +let his horse into my vegetable garden. Is all right, Maxim?" + +"Thank God, all is quiet, except that Corporal Kourzoff quarreled with +the woman Augustina about a pail of warm water." + +"Ignatius," said the Captain's wife to the one-eyed man, "judge between +the two--decide which one is guilty, and punish both. Go, Maxim, God be +with you. Peter Grineff, Maxim will conduct you to your lodgings." + +I took my leave; the Corporal led me to a cabin placed on the high bank +near the river's edge, at the end of the fortress. Half of the cabin was +occupied by the family of Simeon Kieff, the other was given up to me. +My half of the cabin was a large apartment divided by a partition. +Saveliitch began at once to install us, whilst I looked out of the +narrow window. Before me stretched the bleak and barren steppe; nearer +rose some cabins; at the threshold of one stood a woman with a bowl in +her hand calling the pigs to feed; no other objects met my sight, save +a few chickens scratching for stray kernels of corn in the street. And +this was the country to which I was condemned to pass my youth! I turned +from the window, seized by bitter sadness, and went to bed without +supper, notwithstanding the supplications of Saveliitch, who with +anguish cried aloud: "Oh! he will not deign to eat! O Lord! what will my +mistress say, if the child should fall ill!" + +The next morning I had scarcely begun to dress, when a young officer +entered my room. He was of small size, with irregular features, but his +sun-burned face had remarkable vivacity. "Pardon me," said he in French, +"that I come so unceremoniously to make your acquaintance. I learned +yesterday of your arrival, and the desire of seeing at last a human +face so took possession of me that I could wait no longer. You will +understand this when you shall have lived here some time!" + +I easily guessed that he was the officer dismissed from the Guards for +the affair of the duel--Alexis Chabrine. He was very intelligent; his +conversation was sprightly and interesting. He described with impulse +and gayety the Commandant's family, society, and in general the whole +country round. I was laughing heartily, when Ignatius, the same +old pensioner whom I had seen mending his uniform in the Captain's +waiting-room, entered, and gave me an invitation to dinner from Basilia +Mironoff, the Captain's wife. Alexis declared that he would accompany +me. + +Approaching the Commandant's house we saw on the square some twenty +little old pensioners, with long queues and three-cornered hats. +These old men were drawn up in line of battle. Before them stood +the Commandant, a fresh and vigorous old man of high stature, in +dressing-gown and cotton cap. As soon as he saw us, he approached, +addressed me a few affable words, and then resumed his drill. We +were going to stay to see the manoeuvering, but he begged us to go on +immediately to the house, promising to join us at once; "for," said he, +"there is really nothing to be seen here." + +Basilia received us kindly, and with simplicity, treating me like an +old acquaintance. The pensioner and the maid Polacca were laying the +table-cloth. + +"What is the matter with my dear Ivan Mironoff, today, that he is so +long instructing his troops?" said the mistress. "Polacca, go and +bring him to dinner. And where is my child, Marie?" Scarcely had she +pronounced this name, than a young girl about sixteen entered the +room;--a rosy, round-faced girl, wearing her hair in smooth bandeaux +caught behind her ears, which were red with modesty and shyness. She did +not please me very much at the first glance; I was prejudiced against +her by Alexis, who had described the Captain's daughter to me as a fool. +Marie seated herself in a corner and began to sew. The soup was brought +on the table. Basilia, not seeing her husband coming, sent the maid a +second time to call him. + +"Tell the master that his inspection can wait; the soup is cooling. +Thank God! the drills need not be lost; there will be time enough yet to +use his voice at his leisure." + +The captain soon appeared with his one-eyed officer. + +"What's this, my dear," said Basilia; "the table has been served some +time, and no one could make you come." + +"You see, Basilia, I was busy with the service, instructing my good +soldiers." + +"Come, come, Ivan Mironoff, that's boasting. The service does not suit +them, and as for you, you know nothing about it. You should have stayed +at home and prayed God, that suits you much better. My dear guests, to +table." + +We took our places for dinner. Basilia was not silent a moment; she +overwhelmed me with questions: Who were my parents? Were they living? +Where did they reside? What was their fortune? When she learned that my +father owned three hundred serfs, she exclaimed: + +"You see there are some rich people in the world--and we, my dear sir, +in point of souls, we possess only the maid Polacca. Yet, thank God, we +live, somehow or other. We have but one care, that is Marie, a girl that +must be married off. And what fortune has she? The price of two baths +per annum. If only she could find a worthy husband. If not, there she +is, eternally a maid." + +I glanced at Marie; she blushed, tears were dropping into her soup. I +pitied her, and hastened to change the conversation. "I have heard that +the Bashkirs intend to attack your fortress?" + +"Who said so," replied Ivan Mironoff. + +"I heard it at Orenbourg." + +"All nonsense," said Ivan, "we have not heard the least word about it; +the Bashkirs are an intimidated people; and the Kirghis have also had +some good lessons. They dare not attack us, and if they should even +dream of it, I would give them so great a fright that they would not +move again for ten years." + +"Do you not fear," I continued, addressing Basilia, "to stay in a +fortress exposed to these dangers?" + +"A matter of habit, my dear," she replied, "twenty years ago, when we +were transferred here from the regiment, you could not believe how I +feared the pagans. If I chanced to see their fur caps, if I heard their +shouts, believe me, my heart was ready to faint; but now I am so used +to this life, that if told that the brigands were prowling around us, I +would not stir from the fortress." + +"Basilia is a very brave lady," observed Alexis, gravely. "Ivan Mironoff +knows some thing about it." + +"Oh, you see," said Ivan, "she does not belong to the regiment of +poltroons." + +"And Marie," I asked of her mother "is she as bold as you?" + +"Marie?" said the lady. "No! Marie is a coward. Up to the present she +has not heard the report of a gun without trembling in every limb. +Two years ago Ivan had a pleasant fancy to fire off his cannon on my +birthday; the poor pigeon was so frightened that she almost went into +the next world. Since that day the miserable cannon has not spoken." + +We rose from the table. The captain and his wife went to take their +siesta. I went with Alexis to his room, where we passed the evening +together. + + + + +IV. THE DUEL. + + +Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became not +only supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of the +family in the Commandant's house. The husband and wife were excellent +people. Ivan Mironoff, from being the adopted child of the regiment, +rose to officer's rank. He was a plain, simple, uneducated man, but +thoroughly good and loyal. His wife governed him, and that suited his +natural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the garrison, as she +did her household, and commanded through the fortress as she did in +her own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we became +better acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection and +intelligence. Little by little I became deeply attached to this good +family. + +I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not +oppress me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to +do, no guard to mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his own +amusement, the Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet succeeded +in teaching them which was the right flank and which the left. + +Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so +that a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and +essayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every day +I dined at the Commandant's, where, as a general thing, I spent the +rest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife, +Accoulina, the greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I met +daily, yet gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual jokes upon +the Commandant's family, and above all his biting remarks about Marie, +rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had no other +society than this family in the fortress, and I desired no other. All +predictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, and peace +reigned around us. + +I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. One +day I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is well +known that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek a +kindly audience. I copied my little song and took it to Alexis, the +only one in the fortress who could appreciate a poetical work. After +preluding a little, I drew my pages from my pocket and read my verses to +him. + +"How do you like that?" said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. To +my great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my writings, +declared frankly that my song was worth nothing. + +"What do you mean?" said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper out +of my hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every word, +tearing me up in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. I snatched +the paper from him, declaring that never again would I show him any of +my compositions. + +"We shall see," said he, "if you can keep your word; poets need a +listener as Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. Who +is this Marie to whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it not be +Marie Mironoff?" + +"That is none of your business," said I, frowning. "I want neither your +advice nor supposition." + +"Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover," continued Alexis, irritating me +more and more, "listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed do +not confine yourself to songs." + +"What do you mean, sir? Explain!" + +"With pleasure," he replied. "I mean that if you wish to form an +intimacy with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair of +earrings instead of your lackadaisical verses." + +All my blood boiled. "Why have you this opinion of her?" I asked, with +much effort restraining my anger. + +"Because," said he, "of my own experience." + +"You lie, wretch," I cried, with furry, "you lie, shamelessly." + +Alexis was enraged. + +"That shall not pass so," he said, grasping my hand. "You shall give me +satisfaction." + +"When ever you like," I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was +ready to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom +I found with a needle in his hand. According to orders from the +Commandant's wife, he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried for +winter use. + +"Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends +you here?" + +In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him, +Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great +attention, opening wide his only eye. + +"You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I should +witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?" + +"Precisely." + +"Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harsh +word can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, give +him the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, you +a third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if you +fight--well, if _you_ should kill _him_, God be with him! for I do not +like him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece of +business! Then who will pay for the broken pots?" + +The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution. + +"Do as you like," said Ignatius, "but what's the use of having me as a +witness? People fight--that's nothing extraordinary--I have often been +quite close to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of color." + +I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, or +could not understand me. "Follow your own fashion," said he, "if I were +to meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan Mironoff, +according to rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress for the +commission of a criminal action--one contrary to the interests of the +crown." + +I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. He +gave me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. As +usual I passed the evening at the Commandant's, forcing myself to +be calm and gay, in order not to awaken suspicions and to avoid +questioning. I confess that I had not the coolness of which people boast +who have been in a similar position. I was disposed to tenderness. Marie +Mironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The idea that perhaps I saw +her for the last time, gave her a touching grace. + +Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation with +Ignatius. + +"What's the good of seconds," said he, dryly. "We can do without them." + +We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o'clock. + +Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us. +"You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a +good quarrel." + +"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playing +patience in a corner, "I do not quite understand?" + +Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confused +and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: "He approves of +peace." + +"With whom had you quarreled?" said she. + +"With Peter Grineff--a few high words." + +"Why?" + +"For a mere nothing--a song." + +"Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened." + +"Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang +his song for me. Then I chanted mine: + + + 'Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.' + + +As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every +one is at liberty to sing what he pleases." + +The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood +his allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general. +The Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, and +advised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service, +and leading to nothing good. + +As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take +leave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried +its point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the +morning at six o'clock. + +The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting my +adversary, who did not fail to appear. "We may be surprised," he +said; "be quick." We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the +scabbards, when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from +behind a haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of the +Commandant. We obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius conducted +us in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity. We entered +the Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, and exclaimed +with emphasis: "They are taken!" + +Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassination +in our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, give +up your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you; +are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he was +transferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish; +and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour." + +Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see! +You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code." + +Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not +help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said +to Basilia: "Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you take +useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to Ivan +Mironoff; it is his business." + +"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the same +flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boys +instantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water, to expel this +stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on order +that they may repent before God and man." + +Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The +tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to +embrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the +house, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us. + +"Are you not ashamed of yourself," I said to him, "to have denounced us +to the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?" + +"As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all +from me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of +the Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did." He went to his room; I +remained with Alexis. + +"Our affair can not end thus," I remarked. + +"Certainly not," replied Alexis. "You shall pay me with your blood for +your impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign +for a few days. Until then, adieu!" + +We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant's, +and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and her +mother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Marie +reproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. "My +heart failed me," she said, "when I heard you were going to fight with +swords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready to strangle each +other, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but even the honor and +happiness of those who-- I am sure you did not begin the quarrel? Alexis +was the aggressor?" + +"Why do you think so?" + +"Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not +displease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me." + +"What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?" + +Marie blushed. "It seems," said she, "that I please him." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because he made me an offer of marriage." + +"He made you an offer of marriage! When?" + +"Last year, two months before your arrival." + +"You did not accept?" + +"Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of an +excellent family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that beneath +the crown, on my marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss him before +every one! No! no! not for any thing in the world." + +Marie's words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexis +in aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutual +inclination, and was trying to turn us from each other. The words which +had provoked our quarrel seemed to me the more infamous, as instead of +being a vulgar joke, it was deliberate calumny. The desire to punish +this shameless liar became so strong that I waited impatiently the +favorable moment. I had not long to wait. The next day, occupied +composing an elegy, biting my pen in the expectation of a rhyme, Alexis +knocked at my window. I put down my pen, took my sword, and went out of +the house. + +"Why defer?" said Alexis, "we are no longer watched, let us go down to +the river-side; there none will hinder us." + +We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at +the water's edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I in +the use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who had +been, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. Alexis did +not expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous a character. + +For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but +at last noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him +energetically, and almost drove him backward into the river, when +suddenly I heard my name pronounced in a high voice. Turning my head +rapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the path. As I turned +my head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right shoulder, +and I fell, unconscious. + + + + +V. LOVE. + + +When I came to myself, I neither knew what had happened nor where I was. +I felt very weak; the room was strange, there was Saveliitch standing +before me, a light in his hand, and some one arranging the bandages that +bound my chest and shoulder. Gradually I recalled my duel, and easily +divined that I had been wounded. The door at this instant moaned gently +on its hinges. + +"Well, how is he?" whispered a voice that made me start. + +"Still in the same state," sighed Saveliitch, "now unconscious four +days." I wanted to turn on my bed, but I had not the strength. "Where +am I?" said I, with effort, "who is here?" Marie approached, and bending +over me said, gently, "How do you feel?" + +"Thank God, I am well. Is that Marie? tell me--?" I could not finish. +Saveliitch uttered a cry of joy, his delight showing plainly in his +face. "He recovers! he recovers! Thanks to thee, O God! Peter, how you +frightened me!--four days! It is easy to talk--!" + +Marie interrupted him: "Do not, Saveliitch, speak too much to him; he is +still very weak." She went out, shutting the door noiselessly. I must be +in the Commandant's house, or Marie could not come to see me. I wished +to question Saveliitch, but the old man shook his head and put his +fingers in his ears. I closed my eyes from ill-humor--and fell asleep. + +Upon awaking, I called Saveliitch; instead of him, I saw before me +Marie, whose gentle voice greeted me. I seized her hand and bathed it +with my tears. Marie did not withdraw it, and suddenly I felt upon my +cheek the impression, humid and delicious, of her lips! A thrill shot +through my whole being. + +"Dear, good Marie, be my wife, and make me the happiest of men!" + +"In the name of heaven be calm," she said, withdrawing her hand, "your +wound may reopen; for my sake be careful." + +She left the room. I was in a daze. I felt life returning. "She will be +mine!" I kept repeating, "she loves me!" I grew better, hour by hour. +The barber of the regiment dressed my wounds, for there was no other +physician in the fortress, and thank God, he did not merely play the +doctor. Youth and nature completed the cure. + +The Commandant's whole family surrounded me with care. Marie scarcely +ever left me. I need not say that I took the first favorable moment to +continue my interrupted declaration. This time Marie listened with more +patience. She frankly acknowledged her affection for me. And added +that her parents would be happy in her happiness; "but," she continued, +"think well of it? Will there be no objection on the part of your +family?" + +I did not doubt my mother's tenderness, but knowing my father's +character, I foresaw that my love would not be received by him +favorably, and that in all probability he would treat it as one of my +youthful follies. This I avowed plainly to Marie, but nevertheless I +resolved to write to my father as eloquently as possible, and ask his +blessing on our marriage. I showed the letter to Marie, who thought +it so touching and convincing that she did not doubt of success, and +abandoned herself, with all the confidence of youth and love, to the +feelings of her heart. + +I made peace with Alexis in the first days of my convalescence. Ivan +Mironoff said, reproaching me for the duel: "You see, Peter, I ought +to put you under arrest, but indeed you have been well punished without +that. Alexis is, by my orders, under guard in the barn, and his sword is +under lock and key in Basilia's keeping." + +I was too happy to harbor spite, so I entreated for Alexis, and the kind +Commandant, with his wife's permission, consented to set him at liberty. +Alexis came at once to see me. He expressed regret for all that had +happened, confessing that the fault was all his, and begged me to +forget the past. Being naturally incapable of revenge, I pardoned him, +forgiving both our quarrel and my wound. In his calumny I now saw the +irritation of wounded vanity and despised love. I generously forgave my +unfortunate rival. As soon as completely cured I returned to my lodging. +I awaited impatiently the reply to my letter, not daring to hope, yet +trying to stifle all sad presentiments. I had not yet had an explanation +with Basilia and her husband, but my suit could not surprise them. +Neither Marie nor I had concealed our feelings, and we were sure in +advance of their consent. + +At last, one pleasant day Saveliitch came to my room, letter in hand. +The address was written in my father's hand. This sight prepared me for +something grave, for usually my mother wrote me, and he only added a few +lines at the end. Long I hesitated to break the seal. I read again and +again the solemn superscription: + + "To my Son, + Peter Grineff, + Principality of Orenbourg, + Fortress of Belogorsk." + +I tried to discover by my father's writing his mood of mind when he +wrote that letter. At last I broke that seal. I saw from the first lines +that our hopes were crushed! Here is the letter: + + +"MY SON PETER: We received the 15th of this month the letter in which +you ask our paternal benediction and consent to your marriage with +Mironoff's daughter. Not only have I no intention of giving either my +consent or benediction, but I have a great mind to go to you and punish +you for your childish follies, notwithstanding your officer's rank, +because you have proved that you are not worthy to bear the sword which +was given you for the defense of your country, and not for the purpose +of fighting a duel with a fool of your own stamp. I shall write +instantly to Andrew Karlovitch to transfer you from the fortress of +Belogorsk to some still more distant place. Upon hearing of your wound +your mother was taken ill, and is still confined to her bed. What will +become of you? I pray God to reform you, but can scarcely hope for so +much from his goodness. Your father, A.G." + + +The harsh expressions which my father had not spared, wounded me sorely; +the contempt with which he treated Marie seemed to me as unjust as it +was undignified. Then the mere idea of being sent from this fortress +alarmed me; but above all, I grieved for my mother's illness. Saveliitch +came in for a share of my indignation, not doubting but that he informed +my parents of the duel. After having paced up and down my little +chamber, I stopped suddenly before the old man and said: "It seems that +it is not enough that you caused my wound, and brought me almost to the +brink of the grave, but that you want to kill my mother too!" + +Saveliitch was as motionless as if lightning had struck him. "Have mercy +on me! my lord," said he, "what do you deign to tell me? I caused your +wound? God sees that I was running to put my breast before you, to +receive the sword of Alexis. This cursed age of mine hindered me. But +what have I done to your mother?" + +"What have you done? Who charged you to write an accusation against me? +Were you taken into my service to play the spy on me?" + +"I write an accusation?" replied the old man, quite broken down, "O God! +King of heaven! Here, read what the master writes me, and you shall see +if I denounced thee." At the same time he drew from his pocket a letter +which he gave me, and I read what follows: + +"Shame upon you, you old dog, that notwithstanding my strict orders +you wrote me nothing regarding my son, leaving to strangers the duty of +telling me of his follies. Is it thus you do your duty and fulfill your +master's will? I shall send you to keep the pigs, for having concealed +the truth, and for your condescension to the young man. Upon receipt of +this letter inform me immediately of the state of his health, which is, +I hear, improving, and tell me precisely the place of his wound, and +whether he has well attended." + +Evidently Saveliitch was not in the wrong, and I had offended him by my +suspicions and reproaches. I asked him to forgive me, but the old man +was inconsolable. "See to what I have lived!" he repeated; "see what +thanks I have merited from my masters for all my long services! I am an +old dog! I am a swine-herd, and more than all that, I caused your wound. +No, no, Peter, I am not in fault, it is the cursed Frenchman who taught +thee to play with these steel blades, and to stamp and dance, as if by +thrusting and dancing you could defend yourself from a bad man." + +Now, then, who had taken the pains to accuse me to my father? The +General, Andrew Karlovitch? He did not trouble himself much about me; +moreover, Ivan Mironoff had not thought it worth while to report my duel +to him. My suspicions fell on Alexis. He only would find some advantage +in this information, the consequence of which might be my dismissal from +the fortress and separation from the Commandant's family. I went to tell +every thing to Marie. She met me on the doorstep. + +"What has happened to you? how pale you are!" + +"All's over," I replied, handing her my father's letter. + +It was her turn to blanch. Having read the letter she returned it, and +said in a trembling voice: "It was not my destiny. Your parents do not +wish me in their family; may the will of God be done! He knows better +than we what is best for us. There is nothing to be done in the matter, +Peter; you, at least, may be happy." + +"It shall not be so," I exclaimed, taking her hand. "You love me, I am +ready for any fate. Let us go and throw ourselves at your parents' feet. +They are simple people; they are neither haughty nor cruel; they will +give us their benediction; we will marry; and in time, I am sure, we +will soften my father. My mother will intercede for us, and he will +pardon me." + +"No, Peter, I will not marry you without the benediction of your +parents. You would not be happy without their blessing. Let us submit to +the will of God. If you meet another bride, if you love her, may God be +with you! I, Peter, I will pray for both of you." Tears interrupted her, +and she went away; I wished to follow her into the house, but I was +not master of myself, and I went to my own quarters. I was plunged in +melancholy, when Saveliitch came to interrupt my reflections. + +"There, my lord," said he, presenting me a sheet of paper all covered +with writing, "see if I am a spy on my master, and if I try to embroil +father and son." + +I took the paper from his hand; it was his reply to my father's letter. + +I could not help smiling at the old man's letter. I was in no condition +to write to my father, and to calm my mother his letter seemed +sufficient. + +From that day, Marie scarcely spoke to me, and even tried to avoid me. +The Commandant's house became insupportable, and I accustomed myself, +little by little, to remain alone in my room. At first Basilia reasoned +with me, but seeing my persistency she let me alone. I saw Ivan Mironoff +only when the service required it. I had but rare interviews with +Alexis, for whom my antipathy increased, because I thought I discovered +in him a secret enmity which confirmed my suspicions. Life became a +burden; I gave myself up to a melancholy which was fed by solitude and +inaction. Love burned on in silence and tortured me, more and more. +I lost all taste for reading and literature; I let myself become +completely depressed; and I feared that I should either become a lunatic +or rush into dissipation, when events occurred that had great influence +on my life and give a strong and healthy tone to my mind. + + + + +VI. POUGATCHEFF. + + +Before beginning the recital of the strange events of which I was +witness, I ought to say a few words about the situation of affairs +toward the end of the year 1773. The rich and vast province of Orenbourg +was inhabited by a number of tribes, half civilized, who had just +recognized the sovereignty of the Russian Czars. Their continual +revolts, their impatience of law and civilized life, their inconstancy +and cruelty, demanded on the part of the government a constant +watchfulness to reduce them to obedience. Fortresses had been erected in +favorable places, and Cossacks, the former possessors of the shores of +the Iaik, in many places formed a part of the garrisons. But these very +Cossacks, who should have guaranteed the peace and security of their +districts, were restless and dangerous subjects of the empire. In 1772 +a riot occurred in one of their chief towns. This riot was caused by the +severity of the measures employed by General Traubenberg to bring the +army to obedience. The only result of these measures was the barbarous +murder of Traubenberg, a change of Imperial officers, and in the end, by +force of grape and canister, the suppression of the riot. + +This happened shortly before my arrival at the fortress of Belogorsk. +Then all seemed quiet. But the authorities had too easily believed in +the feigned repentance of the rebels, who nursed their hate in silence, +and only awaited a propitious moment to recommence the struggle. + +I return to my story. Once evening, it was in the month of October, +1773, I was alone in the house, listening to the whistling of the Autumn +winds, and watching the clouds gliding rapidly before the moon. An +order came from the Commandant, calling me to his presence. I went +that instant. I found there Alexis, Ignatius and the Corporal of the +Cossacks, but neither the wife nor daughter of the Commandant. My chief +bade me good evening, had the door closed, and every one seated, except +the Corporal who remained standing; then he drew a paper from his pocket +and said to us: + +"Gentlemen, important news! Listen to what the General writes." He put +on his spectacles and read: + +"To the Commandant of the Fortress of Belogorsk, Captain Mironoff. +_Confidential_. I hereby inform you that the deserter and turbulent +Cossack of the Don, Imiliane Pougatcheff, after having been guilty of +the unpardonable insolence of usurping the name of the deceased Emperor +Peter III, has assembled a troop of brigands, disturbed the villages of +the Iaik, and has even taken and destroyed several fortresses, at the +same time committing everywhere robberies and assassinations. Therefore, +upon the receipt of this, you will, Captain, bethink you of the measures +to be taken to repulse the said robber and usurper; and if possible, +in case he turn his arms against the fortress confided to your care, to +completely exterminate him." + +"It is easy to talk," said the Commandant, taking off his spectacles, +and folding the paper; "but we must use every precaution. The rascal +seems strong, and we have only 130 men, even adding the Cossacks, +upon whom there is no dependence, be it said without reproach to thee, +Maxim." The Corporal of the Cossacks smiled. "Gentlemen, let us do our +part; be vigilant, post sentries, establish night patrols; in case of an +attack, shut the gates and call out the soldiers. Maxim, watch well your +Cossacks. It is necessary to examine the cannon and clean it; and above +all to keep the secret, that no one in the fortress should know any +thing before the time." + +Having given his orders, Ivan Mironoff dismissed us. I went out with +Alexis, speculating on what we had heard. "What do you think of it? How +will this end?" I asked him. + +"God knows," he replied, "we shall see. At present there is no danger." +And he began, as if thinking, to hum a French air. + +Notwithstanding our precautions the news of the apparition of +Pougatcheff spread through the fortress. However great the respect of +Ivan Mironoff for his wife, he would not reveal to her for anything in +the world a military secret. When he had received the General's letter +he very adroitly rid himself of Basilia by telling her that the Greek +priest had received from Orenbourg extraordinary news which he kept a +great mystery. Thereupon Basilia desired to pay a visit to Accouline, +the clergyman's wife, and by Mironoff's advice Marie went also. Master +of the situation, Ivan Mironoff locked up the maid in the kitchen and +assembled us. + +Basilia came home without news, and learned that during her absence a +council of war had been held, and that Polacca was imprisoned in +the kitchen. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and +overwhelmed him with questions. He was prepared for the attack, and +stoutly replied to his curious better-half: + +"You see, my dear, the women about the country have been using straw +to kindle their fires; now as that might be dangerous, I assembled my +officers, and gave them orders to prevent these women lighting fires +with anything but fagots and brushwood." + +"And why did you lock up Polacca in the kitchen till my return?" Ivan +Mironoff had not foreseen that question, and muttered some incoherent +words. Basilia saw at once her husband's perfidy, but knowing that +she could extract nothing from him at that moment, she ceased her +questioning, and spoke of the pickled cucumbers which Accouline knew +how to prepare in a superior fashion. That night Basilia never closed an +eye, unable to imagine what it was that her husband knew that she could +not share with him. + +The next day, returning from mass, she saw Ignatius cleaning the cannon, +taking out rags, pebbles, bits of wood, and all sorts of rubbish +which the small boys had stuffed there. "What means these warlike +preparations?" thought the Commandant's wife? "Is an attack from the +Kirghis feared? Is it possible that Mironoff would hide from me so +mere a trifle?" She called Ignatius, determined to know the secret that +excited her woman's curiosity. Basilia began by making some remarks +about household matters, like a judge who begins his interrogation with +questions foreign to the affair, in order to reassure the accused, and +throw him off his guard. Then having paused a moment she sighed and +shook her head, saying: "O God! what news! what news! What will become +of us?" + +"My dear lady," said Ignatius, "the Lord is merciful; we have soldiers +and plenty of powder; I have cleaned the cannon. We may repulse this +Pougatcheff. If the Lord is with us, the wolf will eat no one here." + +"Who is Pougatcheff?" asked the Commandant's wife. + +Ignatius saw that he had gone too far, and he bit his tongue. But it was +too late. Basilia constrained him to tell her all, having given her word +to keep the secret. She kept her word, and indeed told no one except +Accoulina, whose cow was still on the steppe and might be carried off by +the brigands. Soon every one talked of Pougatcheff, the current reports +being very different. The Commandant sent out the Corporal to pick up +information about him in all the neighboring villages and little forts. +The Corporal returned after an absence of two days, and declared that +he had seen on the steppe, sixty versts from the fortress, a great many +fires, and that he had heard the Bashkirs say that an innumerable force +was advancing. He could not tell anything definitely, having been afraid +to venture farther. + +Great agitation was soon after this observed amongst the Cossacks of +our garrison. They assembled in groups in the streets, speaking in a +low tone amongst themselves, and dispersing as soon as they perceived +a dragoon or other Russian soldier. Orders were given to watch them. +Zoulac, a baptized Kalmouk, made a very grave revelation to the +Commandant. According to the Kalmouk, the Cossack made a false report; +for to his comrades the perfidious Corporal said that he had advanced to +the rebel camp, had been presented to their rebel chief, had kissed his +hand and conversed with him. The Commandant ordered the Corporal under +arrest, and replaced him by the Kalmouk. This change was received by +the Cossacks with visible discontent. They openly murmured and Ignatius, +when executing the Commandant's order, heard them say, with his own +ears, "wait, garrison rat, wait!" + +The Commandant decided to examine the Corporal that same day, but he +had escaped, no doubt, by the aid of his brother Cossacks. Another +event increased the Captain's uneasiness. A Bashkir was seized bearing +seditious letters. Upon this occasion, the Commandant decided to call +at once a council, and in order to do so, wished to send away his wife +under some specious pretext. But as Mironoff was the simplest and most +truthful of men, he could think of no other device than that already +employed. + +"You see, Basilia," said he, coughing several times, "Father Garasim +has, it is said, been to the city--" + +"Silence! silence!" interrupted his wife; "you are going to call another +council and talk in my absence of Imiliane Pougatcheff, but this time +you can not deceive me." + +The Captain stared; "Eh! well! my dear," said he, "since you know all, +stay; we may as well speak before you." + +"You cannot play the fox," said his wife; "send for the officers." + +We assembled again. The Commandant read, before his wife, Pougatcheff's +proclamation, written by some half-educated Cossack. The brigand +declared to us his intention of marching directly upon our fortress, +inviting the Cossacks and soldiers to join him, and advising the +chiefs not to resist, threatening, in that case, extremest torture. The +proclamation was written in vulgar but energetic terms, and must have +produced an impression upon simple-minded people. + +"What a rascal!" exclaimed the Captain's wife. "Just see what he +proposes. To go out and meet him and lay our flags at his feet. Ah! the +son of a dog! He does not know that we have been forty years in service, +and that, thank God, we have seen all sorts of military life. Is it +possible to find a Commandant cowardly enough to obey this robber?" + +"It ought not to be," replied the Captain, "but it is said that the +villain has taken possession of several fortress." + +"It appears he is quite strong," said Alexis. + +"We shall instantly know his real force," continued the Commandant; +"Basilia, give me the key of the garret. Ignatius, bring the Bashkir +here, and tell Zoulac to bring the rods." + +"Wait a little, my dear," said the Commandant's wife, leaving her seat; +"let me take Marie out of the house, or else she will hear the screams +and be frightened. And, to tell the truth, I am, myself, not very +curious about such investigations. Until I see you again, adieu." + +Torture was then so rooted in the customs of justice, that the humane +Ukase of Catherine II, who had ordered its abolition, remained long +without effect. It was thought that the confession of the accused was +indispensable to his condemnation, an idea not only unreasonable, but +contrary to the most simple good sense in matters of jurisprudence; for +if the denial of the accused is not accepted as proof of his innocence, +the confession which is torn from him by torture ought to serve still +less as proof of his guilt. Even now I sometimes hear old judges regret +the abolition of this barbarous custom. But in the time of our story no +one doubted the necessity of torture, neither the judges nor the accused +themselves. For this reason the Captain's order did not astonish any +of us. Ignatius went for the Bashkir, and a few minutes later he +was brought to the waiting-room. The Commandant ordered him into the +council-room where we were. + +The Bashkir crossed the threshold with difficulty, for his feet were +shackled. He took off his high Cossack cap and stood near the door. I +looked at him and shuddered, involuntarily. Never shall I forget that +man; he seemed at least seventy years of age, and had neither nose nor +ears. His head was shaved; a few sparse gray hairs took the place of +beard. He was small of stature, thin and bent; but his Tartar eyes still +sparkled. + +"Eh! eh!" said the Commandant, who recognized by these terrible signs +one of the rebels punished in 1741. "You are an old wolf, I see; you +have already been caught in our snares. This is not your first offense, +for your head is so well planed off." + +The old Bashkir was silent, and looked at the Commandant with an air of +complete imbecility. + +"Well! why are you silent?" continued the Captain; "do you not +understand Russian? Zoulac, ask him, in your tongue, who sent him into +our fortress." + +The Kalmouk repeated in the Tartar language the Captain's question. But +the Bashkir looked at him with the same expression and without answering +a word. + +"I will make you answer," exclaimed the Captain, with a Tartar oath. +"Come, take off his striped dressing-gown, his fool's garment, and +scourge him well." + +Two pensioners commenced to remove the clothing from the shoulders of +the old man. Then, sore distress was vividly depicted on the face of +the unfortunate man. He looked on all sides, like a poor little animal +caught by children. But when one of the pensioners seized his hands to +turn them around his neck and lift up the old man on his shoulders; when +Zoulac took the rods and raised his hand to strike, then the Bashkir +uttered a low, but penetrating moan, and raising his head, opened his +mouth, where, in place of a tongue, moved a short stump! + +We were still debating, when Basilia rushed breathlessly into the room +with a terrified air. "What has happened to you?" asked the Commandant, +surprised. + +"Misfortune! misfortune!" replied she. "A fort was taken this morning; +Father Garasim's boy has just returned. He saw how it was captured. +The Commandant and all the officers are hanged, all the soldiers made +prisoners, and the rebels are coming here." + +This unexpected news made a deep impression on me, for I knew the +Commandant of that fortress. Two months ago, the young man, traveling +with his bride coming from Orenbourg, had paid a visit to Captain +Mironoff. The fort he commanded was only twenty-five versts from ours, +so that from hour to hour we might expect an attack from Pougatcheff. + +My imagination pictured the fate of Marie, and I trembled for her. + +"Listen, Captain Mironoff," said I to the Commandant, "our duty is to +defend the fortress to our last breath; that is understood, but the +safety of the women must be thought of; send them to a more distant +fortress,--to Orenbourg, if the route be still open." + +Mironoff turned to his wife. "You see my dear! indeed it would be well +to send you somewhere farther off until we shall have defeated the +rebels." + +"What nonsense!" replied she. "Where is the fortress that balls have +not reached? In what respect is our fortress unsafe? Thank God, we have +lived here twenty and one years. We have seen Bashkirs and Kirghis; +Pougatcheff can not be worse than they." + +"My dear, stay if you will, since your faith is so great in our +fortress. But what shall we do with Marie? It will be all well if we +can keep off the robber, or if help reach us in time. If the fortress, +however, be taken--" + +Basilia could only stammer a few words, and was silent, choked by her +feelings. + +"No, Basilia," continued the Commandant, who remarked that his words +made a deep impression on his wife, perhaps for the first time in his +life, "it is not advisable that Marie stay here. Let us send her to +Orenbourg, to her god-mother's. That is a well-manned fortress, with +stone walls and plenty of cannon. I would advise you to go there +yourself; think what might happen to you were your fortress to be taken +by assault." + +"Well! well! let us send Marie away," said the Captain's wife, "but do +not dream of asking me to go, for I will do nothing of the kind. It is +not becoming, in my old age, to separate myself from thee and seek a +solitary grave in a strange place. We have lived together; let us die +together." + +"You are right," said the Commandant. "Go, and equip Marie; there is no +time to lose; tomorrow, at the dawn of day, she shall set out; she must +have a convoy, though indeed there is no one to spare. Where is she?" + +"She is at Accoulina's," said his wife. "She fainted upon hearing that +the fortress had been taken." + +Basilia went to prepare for her daughter's departure. The discussion +still continued at the Commandant's, but I took no further part in +it. Marie reappeared at supper with eyes red from tears. We supped +in silence and rose from the table sooner than usual. Having bade the +family good night, each one sought his room. I forgot my sword, on +purpose, and went back for it; I anticipated finding Marie alone. In +truth she met me at the door and gave me my sword. + +"Adieu, Peter," she said, weeping, "they send me to Orenbourg. Be happy. +Perhaps God will permit us to meet again; if not--" + +She burst into tears. I folded her in my arms. + +"Adieu, my angel!" I said, "adieu my cherished, my beloved; what ever +happens, be sure that my last thought, my last prayer, will be for +thee." Leaning of my breast, Marie wept. I kissed her and rushed out. + + + + +VII. THE ASSAULT. + + +I could not sleep during the night, and did not even undress. I intended +to be at the fortress gates at day-dawn to see Marie set out, and bid +her a last adieu. I was completely changed. Excitement was less painful +than my former melancholy, for with the grief of separation there +mingled vague but secret hope, impatient expectation of danger, and a +high ambition. Night passed quickly. I was on the point of going out, +when my door opened, and the Corporal entered, saying that our Cossacks +had deserted the fortress during the night, forcing with them Zoulac, +the Christian Kalmouk, and that all around our ramparts, unknown people +were riding. The idea that Marie had not been able to get off, froze me +with terror. I gave, in haste, a few instructions to the Corporal, and +ran to the Commandant's. + +Day was breaking. I was going down the street swiftly when I heard my +name called. I stopped. + +"Where are you going, dare I ask?" said Ignatius, catching up with me; +"the Captain is on the rampart and sends me for you. Pougatcheff is +here." + +"Is Marie gone?" I said, shuddering. + +"She was not ready in time; communication with Orenbourg is cut off; the +fortress is surrounded. Peter, this is bad work." + +We went to the rampart--a small height formed by nature and fortified +by a palisade. The garrison was there under arms. The cannon had been +dragged there the evening before. The Commandant was walking up and down +before his little troop--the approach of danger had restored to the old +warrior extraordinary vigor. On the steppe, not far from the fortress, +there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; but amongst +them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized by their caps and quivers. +The Commandant passed before the ranks of his small army and said to the +soldiers: "Come, boys, let us fight today for our mother the Empress, +and show the world that we are brave men and faithful to our oath." + +The soldiers, with loud shouts, testified their good will. Alexis was +standing by me examining the enemy. The people on the steppe, seeing, no +doubt, some movement in our fort, collected in groups and spoke amongst +themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the cannon upon +them, he himself applying the light. The ball whistled over their heads +without doing them any harm. The horsemen dispersed at once, setting +off on a gallop, and the steppe became deserted. At this moment Basilia +appeared on the rampart, followed by Marie, who would not leave her. + +"Well," said the Captain's wife, "how is the battle going? Where is the +enemy?" + +"The enemy is not far off," replied Ivan, "but if God wills it, all will +be well; and thou, Marie, art thou afraid?" + +"No, papa," said Marie, "I am more afraid by myself in the house." She +glanced at me, and tried to smile. I pressed my sword, remembering that +I had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her defense. +My heart was on fire. I fancied myself her knight, and longed to prove +myself worthy of her trust. I awaited the decisive moment impatiently. + +Suddenly coming from behind a hill, eight versts from the fortress, +appeared new groups of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe was covered +by men armed with lances and arrows. Amongst them, wearing a scarlet +cafetan, sword in hand, could be distinguished a man mounted on a white +horse. This was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded by his +followers, and very soon, probably by his orders, four men left the +crowd and galloped to our ramparts. We recognized among them our +traitors. One of them raised a sheet of paper above his cap and another +carried on the point of his lance Zoulac's head, which he threw to us +over the palisade. The poor Kalmouk's head rolled at the feet of the +Commandant. + +The traitors shouted to us: "Do not fire, come out and receive the Czar. +The Czar is here." + +"Fire!" shouted the Captain as sole reply. + +The soldiers discharged their pieces. The Cossack who held the letter, +tottered and fell from his horse; the others fled. I glanced at Marie. +Petrified by horror at the sight of the Kalmouk's head, dizzy from the +noise of the discharge, she seemed lifeless. The Commandant ordered the +Corporal to take the letter from the hand of the dead Cossack. Ignatius +sallied out and returned, leading by the bridle the man's horse. He gave +the letter to Ivan, who read it in a low voice and tore it up. Meantime +the rebels were preparing for an attack. Very soon balls whistled about +our ears, and arrows fell around us, buried deep in the ground. + +"Basilia," said the Captain, "women have nothing to do here; take away +Marie; you see the child is more dead than alive." Basilia, whom the +sound of the balls had rendered more yielding, glanced at the steppe +where much movement was visible, and said: "Ivan, life and death are +from God; bless Marie; come, child, to thy father." + +Pale and trembling, Marie came and knelt, bending low before him. The +old Commandant made three times the sign of the cross over her, then +raising, kissed her, and said in a broken voice: "Oh! my dear Marie! +pray to God, he will never abandon thee. If an honest man seek thee, may +God give you both love and goodness. Live together as we have lived; my +wife and I. Adieu! my dear Marie! Basilia, take her away quickly." + +Marie put her arms around his neck and sobbed. The Captain's wife, in +tears, said: "Embrace us also; adieu, Ivan; if ever I have crossed you, +forgive me." + +"Adieu! adieu! my dear," said the Commandant, kissing his old companion. +"Come! enough! go to the house, and if you have time dress Marie in her +best; let her wear a sarafan, embroidered in gold, as is our custom for +burial." + +Ivan Mironoff returned to us, and fixed all his attention upon the +enemy. The rebels collected around their chief and suddenly began to +advance. "Be firm, boys," said the Commandant, "the assault begins." At +that instant savage war-cries were heard. The rebels were approaching +the fortress with their accustomed fleetness. Our cannon was charged +with grape and canister. The Commandant let them come within short +range, and again put a light to his piece. The shot struck in the midst +of the force, which scattered in every direction. Only their chief +remained in advance, and he, waving his sabre, seemed to be rallying +them. Their piercing shouts, which had ceased an instant, redoubled +again. "Now, children," ordered the Captain, "open the gate, beat the +drum, and advance! Follow me, for a sortie!" + +The Captain, Ignatius and I were in an instant beyond the parapet. But +the frightened garrison had not moved from the square. "What are you +doing, my children?" shouted the Captain; "if we must die, let us die; +the imperial service demands it!" + +At this moment the rebels fell upon us, and forced the entrance to the +citadel. The drum was silent; the garrison threw down their arms. I had +been knocked down, but I rose and entered, pell-mell, with the crowds +into the fortress. I saw the Commandant wounded on the head, and closed +upon by a small troop of bandits, who demanded the keys. I was running +to his aid when several powerful Cossacks seized me and bound me with +their long sashes, crying out: "Wait there, traitor to the Czar, till we +know what to do with you." + +We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants came out of their +houses offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. Suddenly, shouts +announced that the Czar was on the square, awaiting to receive the oaths +of the prisoners. + +Pougatcheff was seated in an arm-chair on the steps of the Commandant's +house. He was robed in an elegant Cossack cafetan embroidered on the +seams. A high cap of martin-skin, ornamented with gold tassels, covered +his brow almost to his flashing eyes. His face seemed to me not unknown. +Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Father Garasim, pale and trembling, +stood, the cross in his hand, at the foot of the steps, and seemed to +supplicate in silence for the victims brought before him. + +On the square itself, a gallows was hastily erected. When we approached, +the Bashkirs opened a passage through the crowd and presented us to +Pougatcheff. The bells ceased; the deepest silence prevailed. "Which is +the Commandant?" asked the usurper. Our Corporal came out of the crowd +and pointed to Mironoff. Pougatcheff looked at the old man with a +terrible expression, and said to him: "How did you dare to oppose me, +your emperor?" + +The Commandant, weakened by his wound, collected all his energy, and +said, in a firm but faint voice: "You are not my emperor; you are a +usurper and a brigand." + +Pougatcheff frowned and raised his white handkerchief. Immediately the +old Captain was seized by Cossacks and dragged to the gibbet. Astride +the cross-beam of the gallows, sat the mutilated Bashkirs who we had +questioned; he held a rope in his hand, and I saw, an instant after, +poor Ivan Mironoff suspended in the air. Then Ignatius was brought up +before Pougatcheff. + +"Take the oath to the emperor, Peter Fedorovitch." + +"You are not our emperor," replied the Lieutenant, repeating his +Captain's words, "you are a brigand and a usurper." + +Pougatcheff again made a signal with his handkerchief, and the kind +Ignatius hung beside his ancient chief. It was my turn. I looked boldly +at Pougatcheff, preparing to repeat the words of my brave comrades, when +to my inexpressible astonishment I saw Alexis amongst the rebels. He had +had time to cut his hair round, and exchange his uniform for a Cossack +cafetan. He approached Pougatcheff and whispered to him. "Let him be +hung," said Pougatcheff, not deigning to look at me. A rope was put +around my neck. I uttered a prayer to God in a low voice, expressing +sincere repentance for my sins, and imploring him to save all those dear +to my heart. I was led beneath the gibbet. A shout was heard, "Stop! +Stop!" The executioners paused. I looked. Saveliitch was kneeling at +Pougatcheff's feet. "O my lord and master," said my dear old serf, "what +do you want with that nobleman's child? Set him free, you will get a +good ransom for his life; but for an example, and to frighten the rest, +command that I, an old man, shall be hung." + +Pougatcheff made a sign. They unbound me at once. "Our emperor pardons +you," they said. At the moment I did not know that my deliverance was a +cause for joy or for sorrow. My mind was too confused. I was taken again +before the usurper and made to kneel at his feet. Pougatcheff offered me +his muscular hand. "Kiss his hand! Kiss his hand!" cried out all +around me. But I would have preferred the most atrocious torture to a +degradation so infamous. "My dear Peter," whispered Saveliitch, who was +standing behind me, "do not play the obstinate; what does it cost? Kiss +the brigand's hand." + +I did not move. Pougatcheff drew back his hand: "His lordship is +stupefied with joy; raise him up," said he. I was at liberty. Then I +witnessed the continuation of the infamous comedy. + +The inhabitants began to take the oath. They went one by one to kiss the +cross and salute the usurper. After them came the garrison soldiers. +The company's tailor, armed with his great blunt-pointed shears, cut off +their queues; they shook their heads and kissed the hand of Pougatcheff, +who declared them pardoned and received into his troops. This lasted for +nearly three hours. At last Pougatcheff rose from his arm-chair and went +down the steps, followed by his chiefs. A white horse richly caparisoned +was led to him; tow Cossacks helped him into the saddle. He signified +to Father Garasim that he would dine with him. At this moment wild +heart-rending shrieks from a woman filled the air. Basilia, without her +mantle, her hair in disorder, was dragged out on the steps; one the +brigands had on her mantle; the others were carrying away her chests, +her linen, and other household goods. "O good men," she cried, "let +me go, take me to Ivan Mironoff." Suddenly she saw the gibbet and +recognized her husband. "Wretches," she cried, "What have you done? O my +light, Ivan! Brave soldier! no Prussian ball, nor Turkish sabre killed +thee, but a vile condemned deserter." + +"Silence that old sorceress," said Pougatcheff. + +A young Cossack struck her with his sabre on the head. She fell dead at +the foot of the steps. Pougatcheff rode off, all the people following. + + + + +VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + + +I stood in the vacant square, unable to collect my thoughts, disturbed +by so many terrible emotions. Uncertainty about Marie's fate tortured +me. Where is she? Is she concealed? Is her retreat safe? I went to the +Commandant's house. It was in frightful disorder; the chairs, tables, +presses had been burned up and the dishes were in fragments. I rushed up +the little stairs leading to Marie's room, which I entered for the +first time in my life. A lamp still burned before the shrine which +had enclosed the sacred objects revered by all true believers. The +clothes-press was empty, the bed broke up. The robbers had not taken the +little mirror hanging between the door and the window. What had become +of the mistress of this simple, virginal abode? A terrible thought +flashed through my mind. Marie in hands of the brigands! My heart was +torn, and I cried aloud: "Marie! Marie!" I heard a rustle. Polacca, +quite pale, came from her hiding-place behind the clothes-press. + +"Ah! Peter," said she, clasping her hands, "what a day! what horrors!" + +"Marie?" I asked impatiently, "Marie--where is she?" + +"The young lady is alive," said the maid, "concealed at Accoulina's, at +the house of the Greek priest." + +"Great God!" I cried, with terror, "Pougatcheff is there!" + +I rushed out of the room, made a bound into the street and ran wildly +to the priest's house. It was ringing with songs, shouts and laughter. +Pougatcheff was at table there with his men. Polacca had followed me; +I sent her in to call out Accoulina secretly. Accoulina came into the +waiting-room, an empty bottle in her hand. + +"In the name of heaven, where is Marie?" I asked with agitation. + +"The little dove is lying on my bed behind the partition. Oh! Peter, +what danger we have just escaped! The rascal had scarcely seated himself +at table than the poor thing moaned. I thought I should die of fright. +He heard her. 'Who is moaning in your room, old woman?' 'My niece, +Czar.' 'Let me see your niece, old woman.' I saluted him humbly; 'My +niece, Czar, has not strength to come before your grace.' 'Then I will +go and see her.' And will you believe it, he drew the curtains and +looked at our dove, with his hawk's eyes! The child did not recognize +him. Poor Ivan Mironoff! Basilia! Why was Ignatius taken, and you +spared? What do you think of Alexis? He has cut his hair and now hobnobs +with them in there. When I spoke of my sick niece he looked at me as if +he would run me through with his knife. But he said nothing, and we must +be thankful for that." + +The drunken shouts of the guests, and the voice of Father Garasim now +resounded together; the brigands wanted more wine, and Accoulina was +needed. "Go back to your house, Peter," said she, "woe to you, if you +fall into his hands!" + +She went to serve her guests; I, somewhat quieted, returned to my room. +Crossing the square, I saw some Bashkirs stealing the boots from the +bodies of the dead. I restrained my useless anger. The brigands had been +through the fortress and had pillaged the officers' houses. + +I reached my lodging. Saveliitch met me at the threshold. "Thank God!" +he cried. "Ah! master, the rascals have taken everything; but what +matter, since they did not take your life. Did you not recognize their +chief, master?" + +"No, I did not; who is he?" + +"What, my dear boy, have you forgotten the drunkard who cheated you +out of the touloup the day of the snow-drift--a hare-skin touloup?--the +rascal burst all the seams putting it on." + +My eyes were opened. The resemblance between the guide and Pougatcheff +was striking. I now understood the pardon accorded me. I recalled with +gratitude the lucky incident. A youth's touloup given to a vagabond had +saved my neck; and this drunkard, capturing fortress, had shaken the +very empire. + +"Will you not deign to eat something?" said Saveliitch, true to his +instincts; "there is nothing in the house, it is true, but I will find +something and prepare it for you." + +Left alone, I began to reflect that not to leave the fortress, now +subject to the brigand, or to join his troops, would be unworthy of an +officer. Duty required me to go and present myself where I could still +be useful to my country. But love counseled me, with no less force, to +stay near Marie, to be her protector and champion. Although I foresaw +a near and inevitable change in the march of events, still I could not, +without trembling, contemplate the danger of her position. + +My reflections were interrupted by the entrance of a Cossack, who came +to announce that the "great Czar" called me to his presence. "Where is +he?" I asked, preparing to obey. "In the commandant's house," replied +the Cossack. "After dinner the Czar went to the vapor baths. It must be +confessed that all his ways are imperial! He can do more than others; at +dinner he deigned to eat two roast milk-pigs; afterward at the bath he +endured the highest degree of heat; even the attendant could not stand +it; he handed the brush to another and was restored to consciousness +only by the application of cold water. It is said that in the bath, the +marks of the true Czar were plainly seen on his breast--a picture of his +own face and a double-headed eagle." + +I did not think it necessary to contradict the Cossack, and I followed +him to the Commandant's, trying to fancy in advance my interview with +Pougatcheff, and its result. The reader may imagine that I was not quite +at ease. Night was falling as I reached the house. The gibbet with +its victims still stood, black and terrible. The poor body of our good +Basilia was lying under the steps, near which two Cossacks mounted +guard. He who had brought me, entered to announce my arrival; he +returned at once, and led me to the room where the evening before I had +taken leave of Marie. At a table covered with a cloth, and laden with +bottles and glasses, sat Pougatcheff, surrounded by some ten Cossack +chiefs in colored caps and shirts, with flushed faces and sparkling +eyes, the effect, no doubt, of the wine-cup. + +I saw neither of our traitors, Alexis or the Corporal, amongst them. + +"Ah! your lordship, it is you?" said their chief, on seeing me. "Be +welcome! Honor and place at the table!" + +The guests drew closer together. I took a place at the end of the table. +My neighbor, a young Cossack of slender form and handsome face, +poured out a bumper of brandy for me. I did not taste it. I was busy +considering the assembly. Pougatcheff was seated in the place of honor, +elbow on table, his heavy, black beard resting upon his muscular hand. +His features, regular and handsome, had no ferocious expression. He +often spoke to a man of some fifty years, calling him now Count, again +Uncle. All treated each other as comrades, showing no very marked +deference for their chief. They talked of the assault that morning; of +the revolt, its success, and of their next operations. Each one boasted +of his prowess, gave his opinions, and freely contradicted Pougatcheff. +In this strange council of war, they resolved to march upon Orenbourg, a +bold move, but justified by previous successes. The departure was fixed +for the next day. Each one drank another bumper, and rising, took leave +of Pougatcheff. I wished to follow them, but the brigand said: "Wait, I +want to speak to you." + +Pougatcheff looked at me fixedly in silence for a few seconds, winking +his left eye with the most cunning, mocking expression. At last he burst +into a long peal of laughter, so hearty, that I, just from seeing him, +began to laugh, without knowing why. + +"Well, my lord," said he, "confess that you were frightened, when my +boys put the rope around your neck? The sky must have seemed to you then +as big as a sheep-skin. And if not for your servant, you would have +been swinging up there from the cross-beam; but at that very instant I +recognized the old owl. Would you have thought that the man who led you +to a shelter on the steppe was the great Czar himself?" Saying these +words, he assumed a grave and mysterious air. "You have been very +guilty," continued he, "but I have pardoned you, for having done me a +kindness, when I was obliged to hide from my enemies. I shall load you +with favors, when I shall have regained my empire. Do you promise to +serve me with zeal?" + +The bandit's question and impudence made me smile. + +"Why do you laugh?" said he, frowning, "do you not believe that I am the +great Czar? Answer frankly." + +I was troubled. I could not recognize a vagabond as the emperor; to +call him an impostor to his face was to doom myself to death; and the +sacrifice which I was ready to make under the gibbet that morning, +before all the people, in the first flush of indignation, seemed now +a useless bravado. Pougatcheff awaited my answer in fierce silence. At +last (I still remember with satisfaction that duty triumphed over human +weakness) I replied to Pougatcheff. + +"I will tell you the truth and let you decide. Should I recognize you +as the Czar, as you are a man of intelligence, you would see that I am +lying." + +"Then who am I? in your opinion." + +"God knows, but whoever you are, you are playing a dangerous game." + +Pougatcheff gave me a sharp, quick glance. "You do not believe that I am +the emperor, Peter III? Be it so. Have not bold men succeeded before me +and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but stay with +me. What matters it whom you serve? Success is right. Serve under me, +and I will make you a field-marshal, a prince. What say you?" + +"No," said I. "I am a nobleman. I have taken an oath to her majesty, the +Empress; I can not serve with you. If truly you wish me well, send me to +Orenbourg." + +Pougatcheff reflected. "If I send you there, you will, at least, promise +not to bear arms against me?" + +"How can I promise that? If I am ordered to march against you, I must +go. You are now a chief; you desire your subordinates to obey you. No, +my life is in your hand; if you give me liberty, thanks; if you put me +to death, may God judge you." + +My frankness pleased him. "Be it so," said he, slapping me on the +shoulders, "pardon or punish to the end. You can go the four quarters of +the world, and do as you like. Come tomorrow, and bid me good-bye. Now +go to bed--I require rest myself." + +I went out into the street. The night was clear and cold; the moon and +stars shone out in all their brightness, lighting up the square and the +gibbet. All was quiet and dark in the rest of the fortress. At the inn +some lights were visible, and belated drinkers broke the stillness by +their shouts. I glanced at Accoulina's house; the doors and windows were +closed, and all seemed perfectly quiet there. I went to my room, and +found Saveliitch deploring my absence. I told him of my freedom. "Thanks +to thee, O God!" said he, making the sign of the cross; "tomorrow we +shall set out at daybreak. I have prepared something for you; eat +and then sleep till morning, tranquil as if in the bosom of the Good +Shepherd." + +I followed his advice, and after having supped, fell asleep on the bare +floor, as fatigued in mind as in body. + + + + +IX. THE SEPARATION. + + +The drum awoke me early the next morning. I went out on the square. +Pougatcheff's troops were there, falling into rank, around the gibbet, +to which still hung the victims of yesterday. The Cossacks were mounted; +the infantry and artillery, with our single gun, were accoutred ready +for the march. The inhabitants were also assembled there awaiting the +usurper. Before the steps of the Commandant's house a Cossack held by +the bridle a magnificent white horse. My eyes sought the body of our +good Basilia. It had been dragged aside and covered with an old bark +mat. At last Pougatcheff came out on the steps, and saluted the crowd. +All heads were bared. One of the chiefs handed him a bag of copper coin, +which he threw by the handful among the people. Perceiving me in the +crowd, he signed to me to approach. + +"Listen," said he, "go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to the +Governor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. Counsel +them to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise they shall +not escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you." The principal +followers of Pougatcheff surrounded him, Alexis amongst others. The +usurper turned to the people, and pointing to Alexis, said: "Behold your +new Commandant; obey him in every thing; he is responsible for you and +for the fortress." + +The words made me shudder. What would become of Marie? Pougatcheff +descended the steps and vaulted quickly into his saddle without the aid +of his attendant Cossacks. At that moment Saveliitch came out of the +crowd, approached the usurper, and presented him a sheet of paper. + +"What is this?" asked Pougatcheff, with dignity. + +"Read, you will deign to see," replied the serf. + +Pougatcheff examined the paper. "You write very illegibly; where is my +Secretary?" + +A boy in corporal's uniform came running to the brigand. "Read aloud," +said he. I was curious to know for what purpose the old man had written +to Pougatcheff. The Secretary began to spell out in a loud voice what +follows: + +"Two dressing-gowns, one in percale, the other in striped silk, six +roubles." + +"What does this mean?" said Pougatcheff, frowning. + +"Command him to read on," replied Saveliitch, with perfect calmness. + +The Secretary continued: "One uniform in fine green cloth, seven +roubles; one pair of white cloth pantaloons, five roubles; twelve +shirts of Holland linen, with cuffs, ten roubles; one case containing a +tea-service, two roubles." + +"What nonsense is this?" said Pougatcheff. + +"What have I to do with tea-sets and Holland cuffs?" + +Saveliitch coughed to clear his voice, and began to explain: "That, my +lord, deign to understand, is the bill of my master's goods carried off +by the thieves." + +"What thieves?" asked Pougatcheff, with a terrible air. + +"Pardon me," said Saveliitch. "Thieves? No, they were not thieves; my +tongue slipped; yet your boys went through everything and carried off +plenty. That can not be denied. Do not be angry. The horse has four legs +and yet he stumbles. Command that he read to the end." + +"Well, read," said Pougatcheff. + +"One Persian blanket, one quilt of wadded silk, four roubles; one +pelisse of fox-skin, covered with red ratine, forty roubles; one small +touloup of hare-skin left with your grace, on the steppe, fifteen +roubles." + +"What?" cried Pougatcheff, with flashing eyes. + +I must say I feared for the old man, who was beginning new explanations, +when the brigand interrupted him: + +"How dare you annoy me with these trifles?" said he, snatching the paper +from the Secretary and throwing it in the old man's face. "You have been +despoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God that you are not +hanging up there, with the other rebels, both you and your master. I'll +give you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know that I will have you flayed +alive, that touloups may be made of you?" + +"As you please," replied Saveliitch; "but I am not a free man, and I am +responsible for my master's goods." + +Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his head +and set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him. +The whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming an +escort. I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in his +hand the bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not help +laughing. + +"Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished again, +we shall see if it be a laughing matter." + +I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sad +piece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poor +girl. Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious and +did not recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her countenance. +The position of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders, alarmed me as +much as my inability to protect grieved me. Alexis, above all, was to +be feared. Chief, invested with the usurper's authority, in the fortress +with this unhappy girl, he was capable of any crime. What ought I to +do to deliver her? To set out at once for Orenbourg, to hasten the +deliverance of Belogorsk, and to co-operate in it, if possible. I took +leave of Father Garasim and Accoulina, recommending to them Marie, who I +already looked upon as my wife. I kissed the young girl's hand, and left +the room. + +"Adieu, Peter Grineff," said Accoulina. "Do not forget us. Except you, +Marie has no support or consolation." Choked by emotion, I did not +reply. Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet. With +bare head I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road to +Orenbourg, accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me. Thus +plunged in thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind me, I +turned my head and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a horse, and +making signs to me that I should wait. I recognized our Corporal. Having +caught up with us, he dismounted from his own horse, and giving me the +bridle of the other, said: "Our Czar makes you a gift of a horse, and +a pelisse from his own shoulder." To the saddle was tied a sheep-skin +touloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking Saveliitch up behind me. +"You see, my lord," said my serf, "that my petition to the bandit was +not useless! And although this old hack and this peasant's touloup are +not worth half what the rascals stole, yet they are better than nothing. +'A worthless dog yields even a handful of hair.'" + + + + +X. THE SIEGE. + + +Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads and +faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At that time +red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the condemned. +They were working at the fortifications of the place under the +supervision of the garrison pensioners. Some carried away in +wheel-barrows the rubbish that filled the ditch, others threw up the +earth, while masons were examining and repairing the walls. The sentry +stopped us at the gate and asked for our passports. When the sergeant +heard that we were from Belogorsk he took me at once to the General, who +was in his garden. I found him examining the apple trees, which +autumnal winds had already despoiled of their leaves; assisted by an +old gardener, he covered them carefully with straw. His face expressed +calmness, good humor and health. He seemed very glad to see me, and +questioned me about the terrible events I had witnessed. The old man +heard me attentively, and whilst listening, cut off the dead branches. + +"Poor Mironoff!" said he, when I had finished my story; "it is a pity; +he was a brave officer; and Madame Mironoff a kind lady, an expert in +pickling mushrooms. What has become of Marie, the Captain's daughter?" + +"She is in the fortress, at the house of the Greek priest." + +"Aye! aye! aye!" exclaimed the General. "That's bad, very bad; for it is +impossible to depend upon the discipline of brigands." + +I observed that the fortress of Belogorsk was not far off, and that +probably his Excellency would send a detachment of troops to deliver the +poor inhabitants. + +The General shook his head, doubtfully. "We shall see! we shall see! +there is plenty of time to talk about it; come, I beg you, to take tea +with me. Tonight there will be a council of war; you can give us some +precise information regarding this Pougatcheff and his army. Meantime, +go and rest." + +I went to my allotted quarters, where I found Saveliitch already +installed. I awaited impatiently the hour indicated, and the reader may +believe that I did not fail to be present at this council, which was +to influence my whole life. I found at the General's a custom-house +officer, the Director, as well as I can remember a little old man, +red-faced and fat, wearing a robe of black watered silk. He questioned +me about the fate of the Captain Mironoff, whom he called his chum, +and often interrupted me by sententious remarks, which, if they did +not prove him to be a man well versed in war, showed his natural +intelligence and shrewdness. During this time other guests arrived. When +all had taken their places, and to each had been offered a cup of tea, +the General carefully stated the questions to be considered. + +"Now, gentlemen," said he, "we must decide what action is to be taken +against the rebels. Shall we act offensively, or defensively? Each of +these ways has its advantages and disadvantages. Offensive war presents +more hope of a rapid extermination of the enemy, but defensive war +is safer and offers fewer dangers. Let us then take the vote in legal +order; that is, consult first the youngest in rank. Ensign," continued +he, addressing me, "deign to give your opinion." + +I rose, and in a few words depicted Pougatcheff and his army. I affirmed +that the usurper was not in a condition to resist disciplined forces. +My opinion was received by the civil service employes with visible +discontent. They saw nothing in it but the levity of a young man. A +murmur arose, and I heard distinctly the word "hare-brained" murmured in +a low voice. The General turned to me smiling, and said: + +"Ensign, the first votes (the youngest) in war councils, are for +offensive measures. Now let us continue to collect the votes. The +College Director will give us his opinion." + +The little old man in black silk, a College Director, as well as a +customs officer, swallowed his third cup of tea, well dashed with a +strong dose of rum, and hastened to speak: + +"Your Excellency," said he, "I think that we ought to act neither +offensively nor defensively." + +"What's that, sir?" said the General, stupefied; "military tactics +present no other means; we must act either offensively or defensively." + +"Your Excellency, act _subornatively_." + +"Eh! eh! Your opinion is judicious," said the General; "subornative +acts--that is to say, indirect acts--are also admitted by the science +of tactics, and we will profit by your counsel. We might offer for the +rascal's head seventy or even a hundred roubles, to be taken out of the +secret funds." + +"And then," interrupted the man in silk, "may I be a Kirghis ram, +instead of a College Director, if the thieves do not bring their chief +to you, chained hand and foot." + +"We can think about it," said the General. "But let us, in any case, +take some military measures. Gentlemen, give your votes in legal order." + +All the opinions were contrary to mine. All agreed, that it was better +to stay behind a strong stone wall, protected by cannon, than to tempt +fortune in the open field. Finally, when all the opinions were known, +the General shook the ashes from his pipe and pronounced the following +discourse: + +"Gentlemen, I am of the Ensign's opinion, for it is according to the +science of military tactics, which always prefers offensive movements to +defensive." He stopped and stuffed the tobacco into his pipe. I glanced +exultingly at the civil service employes, who, with discontented looks, +were whispering to each other. + +"But, gentlemen," continued he, giving out with a sigh a long puff of +smoke, "I dare not assume the responsibility. I go with the majority, +which has decided that we await in this city the threatened siege, +and repulse the enemy by the power of artillery, and if possible, by +well-directed sorties." + +The council broke up. I could not but deplore the weakness of the worthy +soldier, who, contrary to his own convictions, decided to follow the +opinion of ignorant inexperience. + +Some days after this famous council of war, Pougatcheff, true to his +word, approached Orenbourg. From the top of the city walls I made a +reconnaissance of the rebel army. It seemed to me that their number had +increased ten-fold. They had more artillery, taken from the small forts +captured by Pougatcheff. Remembering our council, I foresaw a long +captivity behind the walls of Orenbourg, and I was ready to cry with +chagrin. Far from me the intention of describing the siege of Orenbourg, +which belongs to history and not to family memoirs. Suffice it to say, +that this siege was disastrous to the inhabitants, who had to +suffer hunger and privations of every kind. Life at Orenbourg became +insupportable. The decision of fate was awaited with anguish. Food was +scarce; bombshells fell upon the defenseless houses of citizens. The +attacks of Pougatcheff made very little excitement. I was dying of +_ennui_. I had promised Accoulina that I would correspond with her, but +communication was cut off, and I could not send or receive a letter +from Belogorsk. My only pastime consisted in military sorties. Thanks +to Pougatcheff I had an excellent horse, and I shared my meager pittance +with it. I went out every day beyond the ramparts to skirmish with +Pougatcheff's advance guards. The rebels had the best of it; they +had plenty of food and were well mounted. Our poor cavalry were in no +condition to oppose them. Sometimes our half-starved infantry went +into the field; but the depth of the snow hindered them from acting +successfully against the flying cavalry of the enemy. The artillery +vainly thundered from the ramparts, and in the field it could not +advance, because of the weakness of our attenuated horses. This was our +way of making war; this is what the civil service employes of Orenbourg +called prudence and foresight. + +One day when we had routed and driven before us quite a large troop, I +overtook a straggling Cossack; my Turkish sabre was uplifted to strike +him when he doffed his cap and cried out: "Good day, Peter, how fares +your health?" + +I recognized our Corporal. I was delighted to see him. + +"Good day, Maxim. How long since you left Belogorsk?" + +"Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you." + +"Where is it?" I cried, delighted. + +"Here," replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. "I promised +Polacca to try and give it to you." He gave me a folded paper, and set +off on a gallop. I read with agitation the following lines: + +"By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, +I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my late +father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go and live +at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will force me to +become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying the trick of +passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die than be his wife. +I have three days to accept his offer; after that I need expect no +mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send us help, and if +possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF." + +This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing the +spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind to +rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran into +his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. Seeing me +he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance. + +"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; +the happiness of my life depends upon it." + +"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?" + +"Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a +hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk." + +"Storm the fortress?" said the General. + +"I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go." + +"No, young man," said he; "at so great a distance the enemy would easily +cut off all communication with the principal strategic point." + +I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him: +"Captain Mironoff's daughter has written me, begging for relief. Alexis +threatens to compel her to be his wife!" + +"Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in +twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress! +meantime patience." + +"Patience!" I cried; "in the interval Marie will be compelled to obey +him." + +"Oh," said the General, "that would not be a misfortune--it is better +that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When we +shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband." + +"I would rather die," I said with fury, "than yield her to Alexis." + +"I understand it all now," said the old man. "You are, no doubt, in love +yourself with Marie Mironoff. That's another thing. Poor boy! Still, +I can not give you a battalion and fifty Cossacks. The thing is +unreasonable." I hung my head in despair. But I had a plan of my own. + + + + +XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + + +I left the General and hastened to my quarters. Saveliitch received +me with his usual remonstrance: "What pleasure, my lord, is there in +fighting these drunken brigands? If they were Turks or Swedes, all +right; but these sons of dogs--" + +I interrupted him: "How much money have I in all?" + +"You have plenty," said he with a satisfied air. "I knew how to whisk +it out of sight of the rogues." He drew from his pocket a long knitted +purse full of silver coin. + +"Saveliitch, give me half of what you have there, and keep the rest for +yourself. I am off for the fortress of Belogorsk." + +"Oh, Peter!" said the old serf, "do you not fear God? The roads are cut +off. Have pity on your parents; wait a little; our troops will come and +disperse the brigands, and then you can go to the four quarters of the +world." + +"It is too late to reflect. I must go. Do not grieve, Saveliitch; I make +you a present of that money. Buy what you need. If I do not return in +three days--" + +"My dear," said the old man, "I will go with you, were it on foot. If +you go, I must first lose my senses before I will stay crouching behind +stone walls." + +There was never any use disputing with the old man. In half an hour +I was in the saddle, Saveliitch on an old, half-starved, limping +rosinante, which a citizen, not having fodder, had given for nothing to +the serf. We reached the city gates; the sentinels let us pass, and we +were finally out of Orenbourg. Night was falling. My road lay before the +town of Berd, the headquarters of Pougatcheff. This road was blocked up +and hidden by snow; but across the steppe were traces of horses, renewed +from day to day, apparently, and clearly visible. I was going at a +gallop, Saveliitch could scarcely keep up and shouted, "Not so fast! My +nag can not follow yours." Very soon we saw the lights of Berd. We were +approaching deep ravines, which served as natural fortifications to the +town. Saveliitch, without however being left behind, never ceased his +lamentations. I was in hopes of passing safely the enemy's place, when +I saw through the darkness five peasants armed with big +sticks--Pougatcheff's extreme outpost. + +"_Qui vive_! Who goes there?" + +Not knowing the watchword, I was for going on without answering. But one +of them seized my horse's bridle. I drew my sabre and struck the peasant +of the head. His cap saved his life; he staggered and fell; the others, +frightened, let me pass. The darkness, which was deepening, might +have saved me from further hindrance; when, looking back, I saw that +Saveliitch was not with me. What was I to do? The poor old man, with his +lame horse, could not escape from the rascals. I waited a minute; then, +sure that they must have seized him, I turned my horse's head to go and +aid him. Approaching the ravine I heard voices, and recognized that of +Saveliitch. Hastening my steps, was soon within sight of the peasants. +They had dismounted the old man, and were about to garrote him. They +rushed upon me; in an instant I was on foot. Their chief said I should +be conducted to the Czar. I made no resistance. We crossed the ravine +to enter the town, which was illuminated. The streets were crowded and +noisy. We were taken to a hut on the corner of two streets. There were +some barrels of wine and a cannon near the door. One of the peasants +said: "Here is the palace; we will announce you." I glanced at +Saveliitch; he was making signs of the cross, and praying. We waited a +long time. At last the peasant re-appeared and said: "The Czar orders +the officers to his presence." + +The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow candles. +The walls were hung with gold paper. But every thing else, the benches, +the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a nail in the wall, +the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly the same as in any +other cabin. Pougatcheff, wearing his scarlet cafetan and high Cossack +cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath the sacred pictures common to +every Russian abode. Around him stood several of his chiefs. I could +see that the arrival of an officer from Orenbourg had awakened +some curiosity, and that they had prepared to receive me with pomp. +Pougatcheff recognized me at once, and his assumed gravity disappeared. + +"Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?" + +I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his +people arrested me. + +"What business?" asked he. I did not know what to answer. Pougatcheff +thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his +comrades to leave. All obeyed except two. "Speak before these," said he; +"conceal nothing from them." + +I glanced at these intimates of the usurper. One was an old man frail +and bent, remarkable for nothing but a blue riband crossed over his +coarse gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion. He +was tall, of powerful build, and seemed about forty-five. A thick red +beard, piercing gray eyes, a nose without nostrils, marks of the searing +irons on his forehead and cheeks, gave to his broad face, pitted by +small-pox a most fierce expression. He wore a red shirt, a Kirghis robe, +and wide Cossack pantaloons. Although wholly pre-occupied by my own +feelings, yet this company deeply impressed me. Pougatcheff recalled me +to myself quickly. + +"What business brought you from Orenbourg?" + +A bold idea suggested itself to my mind. It seemed to me that +Providence, leading me a second time before this robber, gave me the +means of accomplishing my work. I decided to seize the chance, and +without reflecting on the step, I replied: + +"I am on the way to the fortress of Belogorsk to liberate an oppressed +orphan there." + +Pougatcheff's eyes flashed. "Who dares to oppress an orphan? Were he +seven feet high, he shall not escape my vengeance. Speak, who is the +guilty one?" + +"Alexis; he holds in slavery that same young girl whom you saw at Father +Garasim's, and wants to force her to marry him." + +"I shall give Alexis a lesson! I'll teach him to oppress my subjects. I +shall hang him." + +"Permit me a word," said the man without nostrils. "You were too hasty +giving the command to Alexis. You offended the Cossacks by giving them +a noble as chief; do not offend the gentlemen by hanging one of them on +the first accusation." + +"There is no need to pardon nor pity," said the man with the blue +riband. "It would be no harm to hang Alexis, nor to question this +gentleman. Why does he visit us? If he does not acknowledge you as Czar +he has no justice to get at your hands; if he acknowledge you, why +did he stay at Orenbourg with your enemies? Will you not order him to +prison, and have a fire lighted there?" + +The old rascal's logic seemed plausible even to myself. I shuddered when +I remembered into whose hands I had fallen. Pougatcheff saw my trouble. + +"Eh! eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it seems my field-marshal is +right. What do you think?" + +The jesting tone of the chief restored my courage. I replied calmly that +I was in his power. + +"Well," said Pougatcheff, "tell me now the condition of your city?" + +"It is, thank God, in a good state." + +"A good condition," repeated the brigand, "when the people are dying of +hunger." + +The usurper was right, but according to the duty imposed by my oath, I +affirmed that it was a false report, and that the fort was sufficiently +provisioned. + +"You see he deceives you," interrupted the man with the riband. "All +the deserters are unanimous in saying that famine and pestilence are +at Orenbourg; that thistles are eaten as dainties there. If you wish to +hang Alexis, hang on the same gibbet this young fellow, that they may be +equal." + +These words seemed to shake the chief. Happily the other wretch opposed +this view. + +"Silence," said this powerful fellow. "You think of nothing but hanging +and strangling. It becomes _you_ to play the hero. To look at you, no +one knows where your soul is." + +"And which of the saints are you?" replied the old man. + +"Generals," said Pougatcheff, with dignity, "an end to your quarrels. +It would be no great loss if all the mangy dogs from Orenbourg were +dangling their legs under the same cross-beam; but it would be a +misfortune if our own good dogs should bite each other." + +Feeling the necessity of changing the conversation, I turned to +Pougatcheff with a smile, and said: + +"Ah! I forgot to thank you for the horse and touloup. Without your aid +I should not have reached the city. I would have died from cold on the +journey." My trick succeeded. Pougatcheff regained his good humor. + +"The beauty of debt is the payment thereof," said he, winking. "Tell +me your story. What have you to do with the young girl that Alexis +persecutes? Has she caught your heart, too?" + +"She is my promised bride," said I, seeing no risk in speaking the +truth. + +"Your promised bride! Why did you not tell me sooner? We'll marry you, +and be at your wedding. Listen, Field-marshal," said he. "We are old +friends, his lordship and I. Lets us go to supper. Tomorrow we shall +see what is to be done with him. Night brings wisdom, and the morning is +better than the evening." + +I would gladly have excused myself from proposed honor, but it was +impossible. Two Cossacks girls covered the table with a white cloth, and +brought bread, soup made of fish, and pitchers of wine and beer. Thus, +for the second time, I was at table with Pougatcheff and his terrible +companions. The orgie lasted far into the night. Drunkenness at last +triumphed. Pougatcheff fell asleep in his place, and his companions +signed to me to leave him. I went out with them. The sentry locked me +up in a dark hole, where I found Saveliitch. He was so surprised by all +that he saw and heard, that he asked no questions. Lying in darkness, he +soon fell asleep. + +The next morning Pougatcheff sent for me. Before his door stood a +kibitka, with three horses abreast. The street was crowded. Pougatcheff, +whom I met in the entry of his hut, was dressed for a journey, in a +pelisse and Kirghis cap. His guests of the previous night surrounded +him, and wore a look of submission which contrasted strongly with what +I had seen on the preceding evening. Pougatcheff bade me good-morning +gaily, and ordered me to sit beside him in the kibitka. We took our +places. + +"To the fortress of Belogorsk," said Pougatcheff to the robust Tartar, +who, standing, drove his horses. My heart beat violently. The Tartar +horses shot off, the bells tinkled, the kibitka flew over the snow. + +"Stop! stop!" cried a voice I knew too well. "O Peter! do not abandon me +in my old age, in the midst of the rob--" + +"Ah, you old owl!" said Pougatcheff, "sit up there in front." + +"Thanks, Czar, may God give you a long life." + +The horses set off again. The people in the streets stopped and bowed +low, as the usurper passed. Pougatcheff saluted right and left. In an +instant we were out of the town, taking our way over a well-defined +road. I was silent. Pougatcheff broke in upon my reverie. "Why so +silent, my lord?" said he. + +"I can not help thinking," said I, "of the chain of events. I am an +officer, noble, yesterday at war with you; today I ride in the same +carriage with you, and all the happiness of my life depends on you." + +"Are you afraid?" + +"You have already given me my life!" + +"You say truly. You know how my fellows looked upon you; only today they +wanted to try you as a spy. The old one wanted to torture and then hang +you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of wine and your +touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say." I remembered the +taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him. + +"What do they say of me at Orenbourg?" + +"It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must be +confessed that you have given us some work." + +"Yes; I am a great warrior. Do you think the King Prussia is as strong +as I?" + +"What do you think yourself? Can you beat Frederick?" + +"Frederick the Great? Why not? Wait till I march to Moscow!" + +"You really intend to march on Moscow?" + +"God knows," said he, reflecting; "my road is narrow--my boys do not +obey--they are thieves--I must listen--keep my ears open; at the first +reverse they would save their own necks by my head." + +"Would it not be better," I said, "to abandon them now, before it is too +late, and have recourse to the clemency of the Empress?" + +He smiled bitterly. "No; the time is passed. I shall end as I began. Who +knows?" + +Our Tartar was humming a plaintive air; Saveliitch, sound asleep, swayed +from side to side; our kibitka was gliding rapidly over the winter road. +I saw in the distance a village well known to my eyes, with its palisade +and church spire on the steep bank of the river Iaik. A quarter of an +hour after we entered the fortress of Belogorsk. + + + + +XII. MARIE. + + +The kibitka stopped before the Commandant's house. The inhabitants had +recognized the usurper's bells and equipage, and had come out in crowds +to meet him. Alexis, dressed like a Cossack, and bearded like one, +helped the brigand to descend from his kibitka. The sight of me troubled +him, but soon recovering himself, he said: "You are one of us?" I turned +my head away without replying. My heart was wrung when we entered +the room that I know so well, where still upon the wall hung, like an +epitaph, the diploma of the deceased Commandant. Pougatcheff seated +himself upon the same sofa where many a time Ivan Mironoff had dozed to +the hum of his wife's voice. Alexis' own hand presented the brandy to +his chief. Pougatcheff drank a glass and said, pointing to me: "Offer a +glass to his lordship." Alexis approached me, and again I turned my back +upon him. Pougatcheff asked him a few questions about the condition of +the fortress, and then, in an unpremeditated manner, said: "Tell me, who +is this young girl that you have under guard?" + +Alexis became pale as death. "Czar," said he, a tremor in his voice, +"she is in her own room; she is not locked up." + +"Take me to her room," said the usurper, rising. + +Hesitation was impossible. Alexis led the way to Marie's room. I +followed. On the stairs Alexis stopped: "Czar, demand of me what you +will, but do not permit a stranger to enter my wife's room." + +"You are married?" I shouted, ready to tear him to pieces. + +"Silence!" interrupted the brigand, "this is my business. And you," said +he, turning to Alexis, "do not be too officious. Whether she be your +wife or not, I shall take whom I please into her room. Your lordship, +follow me." + +At the door of the room Alexis stopped again: "Czar, she has had a fever +these three days; she is delirious." + +"Open," said Pougatcheff. + +Alexis fumbled in his pockets, and at last said that he had forgotten +the key. Pougatcheff kicked the door; the lock yielded, the door opened +and we entered. + +I glanced into the room, and nearly fainted. On the floor, in the coarse +dress of a peasant, Marie was seated, pale, thin, her hair in disorder; +before her on the floor stood a pitcher of water covered by a piece +of bread. Upon seeing me, she started, and uttered a piercing shriek. +Pougatcheff glanced at Alexis, smiled bitterly, and said: "Your hospital +is in nice order?" + +"Tell me, my little dove, why does your husband punish you in this way?" + +"My husband! he is not my husband. I am resolved to die rather than +marry him; and I shall die, if not soon released." + +Pougatcheff gave a furious look at Alexis, and said: "Do you dare to +deceive me, knave?" + +Alexis fell on his knees. Contempt stifled all my feelings of hatred +and vengeance. I saw with disgust, a gentleman kneeling at the feet of a +Cossack deserter. + +"I pardon you, this time," said the brigand, "but remember, your next +fault will recall this one." He turned to Marie, and said, gently: "Come +out, my pretty girl, you are free. I am the Czar!" + +Marie looked at him, hid her face in her hands and fell on the floor +unconscious. She had no doubt divined that he had caused her parents' +death. I rushed to aid her, when my old acquaintance, Polacca, boldly +entered, and hastened to revive her mistress. Pougatcheff, Alexis and I +went down to the reception room. + +"Now, your lordship, we have released the pretty girl, what say you? +Shall we not send for Father Garasim, and have him perform the marriage +ceremony for his niece? If you like, I will be your father by proxy, +Alexis your groomsman; then we'll shut the gates and make merry!" + +As I anticipated, Alexis, hearing this speech, lost his self-control. + +"Czar," said he, in a fury, "I am guilty; I have lied to you, but +Grineff also deceives you. This young girl is not Father Garasim's +niece. She is Ivan Mironoff's daughter." + +Pougatcheff glared at me. "What does that mean?" said he to me. + +"Alexis says truly," I replied, firmly. + +"You did not tell me that," said the usurper, whose face darkened. + +"Judge of it yourself. Could I declare before your people that Marie was +Captain Mironoff's daughter? They would have torn her to pieces. No one +could have saved her." + +"You are right," said Pougatcheff, "my drunkards would not have spared +the child. Accoulina did well to deceive them." + +"Listen," I said, seeing his good humor, "I do not know your real name, +and I do not want to know it. But before God, I am ready to pay you with +my life, for what you have done for me. Only, ask me nothing contrary to +honor, and my conscience as a Christian. You are my benefactor. Let me +go with this orphan, and we, whatever happens to you, wherever you may +be, we shall pray God to save your soul." + +"Be it as you desire," said he, "punish to the end, or pardon +completely, that's my way. Take your promised bride wherever you choose, +and may God give you love and happiness." He turned to Alexis, and +ordered him to write me a passport for all the forts subject to his +power. Alexis was petrified with astonishment. Pougatcheff went off to +inspect the fortress; Alexis followed him; I remained. + +I ran up to Marie's room. The door was closed. I knocked. + +"Who is there?" asked Polacca. + +I gave my name. I heard Marie say: "In an instant, Peter, I shall join +you at Accoulina's." + +Father Garasim and Accoulina came out to welcome me. I was honored with +everything at the command of the hostess, whose voluble tongue never +ceased. It was not long before Marie entered, quite pale; she had laid +aside the peasant's dress, and was, as usual, clad in simplicity, but +with neatness and taste. I seized her hand, unable to utter a word. We +were both silent from full hearts. Our hosts left us, and I could now +speak of plans for her safety. It was impossible that she should stay in +a fortress subject to Pougatcheff, and commanded by the infamous Alexis. +Neither could she find refuge at Orenbourg, suffering all the horrors of +siege. I proposed that she should go to my father's country-seat. This +surprised her. But I assured her that my father would hold it a duty +and an honor to receive the daughter of a veteran who had died for his +country. In conclusion, I said: "My dear Marie; I consider thee as my +wife; these strange events have bound us for ever to each other." + +Marie listened with dignity; she felt as I did, but repeated that +without my parents' consent she would never be my wife. I could not +reply to this objection. I folded her to my heart, and my project became +our mutual resolve. + +An hour after, the Corporal brought me my passport, having the scratch +which served as Pougatcheff's sign-manual, and told me that the Czar +awaited me. I found him ready for his journey. To this man--why not +tell the truth?--cruel and terrible to all but me, I was drawn by strong +sympathy. I wanted to snatch him from the horde of robbers, whose chief +he was; but the presence of Alexis and the crowd around him prevented +any expression of these feelings. Our parting was that of friends. As +the horses were moving, he leaned out of the kibitka and said to me: +"Adieu, again, your lordship; perhaps we may meet once more." + +We did meet again, but under what circumstances! + +I returned to Father Garasim's, where our preparations were soon +completed. Our baggage was put into the Commandant's old equipage. The +horses were harnessed. Marie went, before setting off, to visit once +more the tomb in the church-yard, and soon returned, having wept in +silence over all that remained to her of her parents. Father Garasim and +Accoulina stood on the steps. Marie, Polacca, and I sat in the interior +of the kibitka. Saveliitch perched himself up in front. + +"Adieu, Marie, sweet little dove! Adieu, Peter, our handsome falcon!" +exclaimed the kind Accoulina. + +Passing the Commandant's house, I saw Alexis, whose face expressed +determined hate. + + + + +XIII. THE ARREST. + + +In two hours we reached the neighboring fortress, which also belonged +to Pougatcheff. We there changed horses. By the celerity with which they +served us, and the eager zeal of the bearded Cossack, whom Pougatcheff +had made Commandant, I perceived that, thanks to the talk of our +postilion, I was supposed to be a favorite with their master. When +we started off again, it was dusk; we were drawing near a town where, +according to the bearded Commandant, there ought to be a very strong +detachment of Pougatcheff's forces. The sentinels stopped us and to the +demand: "Who goes there?" our postilion answered in a loud voice: "A +friend of the Czar, traveling with his wife." + +We were at once surrounded by a detachment of Russian hussars, who swore +frightfully. + +"Come out," said a Russian officer, heavily mustached; "We'll give you a +bath!" + +I requested to be taken before the authorities. Perceiving that I was +an officer, the soldiers ceased swearing, and the officer took me to the +Major's. Saveliitch followed, growling out: "We fall from the fire into +the flame!" + +The kibitka came slowly after us. In five minutes we reached a small +house, all lighted up. The officer left me under a strong guard, and +entered to announce my capture. He returned almost instantly, saying +that I was ordered to prison, and her ladyship to the presence of the +Major. + +"Is he mad?" I cried. + +"I can not tell, your lordship." + +I jumped up the steps--the sentinels had not time to stop me--and burst +into the room where six hussar officers were playing faro. The Major +kept the bank. I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who had +so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk. "Is it possible? is this you +Ivan Zourine?" + +"Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?" + +"Thanks; I would rather have some apartments assigned me." + +"No need of apartments, stay with me." + +"I can not; I am not alone." + +"Bring your comrade with you." + +"I am not with a comrade; I am with--a lady." + +"A lady! where did you fish her out?" and he whistled in so rollicking a +manner, that the rest burst out laughing. + +"Well," said Zourine, "then you must have a house in the town. Here, +boy! why do you not bring in Pougatcheff's friend?" + +"What are you about," said I. "It is Captain Mironoff's daughter. I have +just obtained her liberty, and I am taking her to my father's, where I +shall leave her." + +"In the name of Heaven, what are _you_ talking about? Are _you_ +Pougatcheff's chum?" + +"I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl, whom +your soldiers have horribly frightened." + +Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and explain +the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid in the +best house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as soon as we +were alone, I gave him the story of my adventures. + +He shook his head. "That's all very well; but why will you marry? As an +officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to +me. The road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can +therefore send the Captain's daughter to your parents tomorrow, and +remain yourself in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you +might fall again into the hands of the rebels." + +I resolved to follow, in part, Zourine's advice. Saveliitch came to +prepare my room for the night. I told him to be ready to set out in the +morning with Marie. + +"Who will attend you, my lord?" + +"My old friend," said I, trying to soften him, "I do not need a servant +here, and in serving Marie, you serve me, for I shall marry her as soon +as the war is over." + +"Marry!" repeated he, with his hands crossed, and a look of +inexpressible blankness, "the child wants to marry! What will your +parents say?" + +"They will, no doubt, consent as soon as they know Marie. You will +intercede for us, will you not?" + +I had touched the old man's heart. "O Peter!" said he, "you are too +young to marry, but the young lady is an angel, and it would be a sin to +let the chance slip. I will do as you desire." + +The next day I made known my plans to Marie. As Zourine's detachment was +to leave the city that same day, delay was impossible. I confided Marie +to my dear old Saveliitch, and gave him a letter for my father. Marie, +in tears, took leave of me. I did not dare to speak, lest the bystanders +should observe my feelings. + +It was the end of the February; Winter, which had rendered manoeuvering +difficult was now at a close, and our generals were preparing for a +combined campaign. At the approach of our troops, revolted villages +returned to their duty, while Prince Galitzin defeated the usurper, +and raised the siege of Orenbourg, which was the death-blow to the +rebellion. We heard of Pougatcheff in the Ural regions, and on the +way to Moscow. But he was captured. The war was over. Zourine received +orders to return his troops to their posts. I jumped about the room +like a boy. Zourine shrugged his shoulders, and said: "Wait till you are +married, and see how foolish you are!" + +I had leave of absence. In a few days I would be at home and united to +Marie. One day Zourine came into my room with a paper in his hand, and +sent away the servant. + +"What's the matter?" said I. + +"A slight annoyance," he answered, handing me the paper. "Read." + +It was confidential order addressed to all the chiefs of detachments to +arrest me, and send me under guard to Khasan before the Commission +of Inquiry, created to give information against Pougatcheff and his +accomplices. The paper fell from my hands. + +"Do not be cast down," said Zourine, "but set out at once." + +My conscience was easy, but the delay! It would be months, perhaps, +before I could get through the Commission. Zourine bade me an +affectionate adieu. I mounted the telega (Summer carriage), two hussars +withdrawn swords beside, and took the road to Khasan. + + + + +XIV. THE SENTENCE. + + +I had no doubt that I was arrested for having left the fortress of +Orenbourg without leave, and felt sure that I could exculpate myself. +Not only were we not forbidden, but on the contrary, we were +encouraged to make forays against the enemy. My friendly relations with +Pougatcheff, however, wore a suspicious look. + +Arriving at Khasan, I found the city almost reduced to ashes. Along +the streets there were heaps of calcined material of unroofed walls +of houses--a proof that Pougatcheff had been there. The fortress was +intact. I was taken there and delivered to the officer on duty. He +ordered the blacksmith to rivet securely iron shackles on my feet. I was +then consigned to a small, dark dungeon, lighted only by a loop-hole, +barred with iron. This did not presage anything good, yet I did not lose +courage; for, having tasted the delight of prayer, offered by a heart +full of anguish, I fell asleep, without a thought for the morrow. The +next morning I was taken before the Commission. Two soldiers crossed +the yard with me, to the Commandant's dwelling. Stopping in the +ante-chamber, they let me proceed alone to the interior. + +I entered quite a spacious room. At a table, covered with papers, sat +tow personages,--a General advanced in years, of stern aspect, and a +young officer of the Guards, of easy and agreeable manners. Near the +window, at another table, a secretary, pen on ear, bending over a paper, +was ready to take my deposition. + +The interrogation began: "Your name and profession?" The General +asked if I was the son of Andrew Grineff, and upon my replying in the +affirmative, exclaimed: "It is a pity so honorable a man should have a +son so unworthy of him!" + +I replied that I hoped to refute all charges against me, by a sincere +avowal of the truth. My assurance displeased him. + +"You are a bold fellow," said he, frowning; "but we have seen others +like you." + +The young officer asked how, and for what purpose I had entered the +rebel service. + +I replied indignantly, that being an officer and a noble, I was +incapable of enlisting in the usurper's army, and had never served him +in any way. + +"How is it," said my judge, "that the 'officer and noble' is the only +one spared by Pougatcheff? How is it that the 'officer and noble' +received presents from the chief rebel, of a horse and a pelisse? +Upon what is this intimacy founded, if not on treason, or at least +unpardonable cowardice?" + +The words wounded me, and I undertook with warmth my own defense, +finally invoking the name of my General who could testify to my zeal +during the siege of Orenbourg. The severe old man took from the table an +open letter, and read: + + "With regard to Ensign Griness, I have the honor to declare, + that he was in the service at Orenbourg from the month of + October, 1773, till the following February. Since then, he + has not presented himself." + +Here the General said harshly: "What can you say now to justify your +conduct?" + +My judges had listened with interest and even kindness, to the recital +of my acquaintance with the usurper, from the meeting in the snowdrift +to the taking of Belogorsk, where he gave me my life through gratitude. +I was going to continue my defense, by relating frankly my relations +with Marie, and her rescue. But if I spoke of her the Commission would +force her to appear, and her name would become the theme of no very +delicate remarks by the interrogated witnesses. These thoughts so +troubled me that I stammered, and at last was silent. + +The judges were prejudiced against me by my evident confusion. The young +Guardsman asked that I should be confronted by my chief accuser. Some +minutes later the clank of iron fetters resounded, and Alexis entered. + +He was pale and thin. His hair, formerly black as a raven's wing, was +turning gray. He repeated his accusation in a weak but decided tone. + +According to him, I was Pougatcheff's spy. I heard him to the end in +silence, and rejoiced at one thing: he never pronounced the name of +Marie Mironoff. Was it that his self-love smarted from her contemptuous +rejection of him? or was there in his heart a spark of that same +feeling which made me also silent on that point? This confirmed me in +my resolution, and when asked what I had to answer to the charges of +Alexis, I merely said that I held to my first declaration, and had +nothing more to add. + +The General remanded us to prison. I looked at Alexis. He smiled with +satisfied hate, raised up his shackles to hasten his pace and pass +before me. I had no further examination. I was not an eye-witness of +what remains to be told the reader; but I have so often heard the story, +that the minutest particulars are engraved on my memory. + +Marie was received by my parents with the cordial courtesy which +distinguished the preceding generation. They became very much attached +to her, and my father no longer considered my love a folly. The news of +my arrest was a fearful blow; but Marie and Saveliitch had so frankly +told the origin of my connection with Pougatcheff, that the news did not +seem grave. My father could not be persuaded that I would take part in +an infamous revolt, whose object was the subversion of the throne and +the extinction of the nobility. So better news was expected, and several +weeks passed, when at last a letter came from our relative Prince B---. +After the usual compliments, he told my father that the suspicions of +my complicity in the rebel plots were only too well founded, as had been +proved,--that an exemplary execution might have been my fate, were it +not that the Empress, out of consideration for the father's white hair +and loyal services, had commuted the sentence of the criminal son. She +had exiled him for life to the depths of Siberia! + +The blow nearly killed my father, his firmness gave way, and his usually +silent sorrow burst into bitter plaints: "What! my son plotting with +Pougatcheff! The Empress gives him his life! Execution not the worst +thing in the world! My grandfather died on the scaffold in defense of +his convictions! But, that a noble should betray his oath, unite with +bandits, knaves and revolted slaves! shame! shame forever on our face!" + +Frightened by his despair, my mother did not dare to show her grief, and +Marie was more desolate than they. Persuaded that I could justify myself +if I chose, she divined the motive of my silence, and believed that she +was the cause of my suffering. + +One evening, seated on his sofa, my father was turning over the leaves +of the "_Court Almanac_," but his thoughts were far away, and the book +did not produce its usual effect upon him. My mother was knitting in +silence, and from time to time a furtive tear dropped upon her work. +Marie, who was sewing in the same room, without any prelude declared to +my parents that she was obliged to go to St. Petersburg, and begged them +to furnish her the means. + +My mother said: "Why will you leave us?" + +Marie replied that her fate depended on this journey; that she was going +to claim the protection of those in favor at Court, as the daughter of a +man who had perished a victim to his loyalty. + +My father bowed his head. A word which recalled the supposed crime of +his son, seemed a sharp reproach. + +"Go," said he, at last, with a sigh; "we will not place an obstacle +to your happiness. May God give you an honorable husband and not a +traitor!" + +He rose and left the room. Alone with my mother, Marie confided to her, +in part, the object of her journey. My mother, in tears, kissed her and +prayed for the success of the project. A few days after, Marie, Polacca +and Saveliitch left home. + +When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment +in residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo. She decided to stop +there, and obtained a small room at the post-house. The post mistress +came to chat with the new-comer. She told Marie, pompously, that she +was the niece of an official attached to the Court--her uncle having the +honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty's abode! Marie soon +knew at what hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and went on the +promenade; in brief, the conversation of Anna was like a page from the +memoirs of the times, and would be very precious in our days. The two +women went together to the Imperial gardens, where Anna told Marie +the romance of each pathway and the history of every bridge over the +artificial streams. Next day very early Marie returned alone to the +Imperial gardens. The weather was superb. The sun gilded the linden +tops, already seared by the Autumn frosts. The broad lake sparkled, the +swans, just aroused, came out gravely from the shore. Marie was going +to a charming green sward, when a little dog, of English blood, came +running to her barking. She was startled; but a voice of rare refinement +said: "He will not bite you; do not be afraid." + +A lady about fifty years of age was seated on a rustic bench. She was +dressed in a white morning-dress, a light cap and a mantilla. Her face, +full and florid, was expressive of calmness and seriousness. She was the +first to speak: "You are evidently a stranger here?" + +"That is true, madam. I arrived from the country yesterday." + +"You are with your parents?" + +"No, madam, alone." + +"You are too young to travel alone. Are you here on business?" + +"My parents are dead. I came to present a petition to the Empress." + +"You are an orphan; you have to complain of injustice, or injury?" + +"Madam, I came to ask for a pardon, not justice." + +"Permit me a question: Who are you?" + +"I am the daughter of Captain Mironoff." + +"Of Captain Mironoff? of him who commanded one of the fortresses in the +province of Orenbourg?" + +"The same, madam." + +The lady seemed touched. "Pardon me, I am going to Court. Explain the +object of your petition; perhaps I can aid you." Marie took from her +pocket a paper which she handed to the lady, who read it attentively. +Marie, whose eyes followed every movement of her countenance, was +alarmed by the severe expression of face so calm and gracious a moment +before. + +"You intercede for Grineff?" said the lady, in an icy tone. "The Empress +can not pardon him. He went over to the usurper, not as an ignorant +believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing." + +"It is not true!" exclaimed Marie. + +"What! not true?" said the lady, flushing to the eyes. + +"Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was +for me only that exposed himself to all these misfortunes. If he did +not clear himself before his judges, it was because he would not drag +me before the authorities." Marie then related with warmth all that the +reader knows. + +"Where do you lodge?" asked the lady, when the young girl had finished +her recital. Upon hearing that she was staying with the postmaster's +wife, she nodded, and said with a smile: "Ah! I know her. Adieu! tell no +one of our meeting. I hope you will not have long to wait for the answer +to your petition." + +She rose and went away by a covered path. Marie went back to Anna's, +full of fair hope. The postmaster's wife was surprised that Marie took +so early a promenade, which might in Autumn, prove injurious to a young +girl's health. She brought the _Somovar_, and with her cup of tea was +going to relate one of her interminable stories, when a carriage with +the imperial escutcheon stopped before the door. A lackey, wearing the +imperial livery, entered and announced that her Majesty deigned to order +to her presence the daughter of Captain Mironoff! + +"Ah!" exclaimed Anna, "the Empress orders you to Court! How did she know +you were with me? You can not present yourself--you do not know how to +walk in courtly fashion! I ought to go with you. Shall I not send to the +doctor's wife and get her yellow dress with flounces, for you?" + +The lackey declared that he had orders to take Marie alone, just as +she was. Anna did not dare to disobey, and Marie set out. She had a +presentiment that her destiny was now to be decided. Her heart beat +violently. In a few minutes the carriage was at the palace, and Marie, +having crossed a long suite of apartments, vacant and sumptuous, entered +the _boudoir_ of the Empress. The nobles who surrounded their sovereign +respectfully made way for the young girl. + +The Empress, in whom Marie recognized the lady of the garden, said, +graciously: "I am pleased to be able to grant your prayer. Convinced of +the innocence of your betrothed, I have arranged everything. Here is a +letter for your future father-in-law." + +Marie, in tears, fell at the feet of the Empress, who raised her up and +kissed her, saying: + +"I know that you are not rich; but I have to acquit myself of a debt +to the daughter of a brave man, Captain Mironoff." Treating Marie with +tenderness, the Empress dismissed her. That day Marie set out for my +father's country-seat, not having even glanced at Saint Petersburg. + + +***** + + +Here terminate the memoirs of Peter Grineff. We know by family tradition +that he was set free about the end of the year 1774. We know too, that +he was present at the execution of Pougatcheff, who, recognizing him in +the crowd, gave him one last sign with the head which, a moment after, +was shown to the people, bleeding and inanimate. + +Peter Grineff became the husband of Marie Mironoff. Their descendents +still live, in the Province of Simbirsk, and in the hereditary manor +is still shown the autograph letter of the Empress Catherine II. It is +addressed to Andrew Grineff, and contains, with his son's justification, +a touching and beautiful eulogium of Marie, the Captain's daughter. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marie, by Alexander Pushkin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARIE *** + +***** This file should be named 4344.txt or 4344.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/4/4344/ + +Produced by Hanh Vu and Douglas Levy + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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When only twenty-one years of age he +entered the civil service in the department of foreign affairs. +Lord Byron's writings and efforts for Greek independence exercised +great influence over Pushkin, whose "Ode to Liberty" cost him his +freedom. He was exiled to Bessarabia [A region of Moldova and +western Ukraine] from 1820 to 1825, whence he returned at the +accession of the new emperor, Nicholas, who made him historiographer +of Peter the Great. Pushkin's friends now looked upon him as a +traitor to the cause of liberty. It is not improbable that an +enforced residence at the mouth of the Danube somewhat cooled his +patriotic enthusiasm. Every Autumn, his favorite season for literary +production, he usually passed at his country seat in the province +Pekoff. Here from 1825 to 1829 he published "Pultowa," "Boris +Godunoff," "Eugene Onegin," and "Ruslaw and Ludmila," a tale in +verse, after the Manner of Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso." This is +considered as the first great poetical work in the Russian language, +though the critics of the day attacked it, because it was beyond +their grasp; but the public devoured it. + +In 1831 Pushkin married, and soon after appeared his charming novel, +"Marie," a picture of garrison life on the Russian plains. Peter +and Marie of this Northern story are as pure as their native snows, +and whilst listening to the recital, we inhale the odor of the +steppe, and catch glimpses of the semi-barbarous Kalmouk and the +Cossack of the Don. + +A duel with his brother-in-law terminated the life of Pushkin in +the splendor of his talent. The emperor munificently endowed the +poet's family, and ordered a superb edition of all his works to be +published at the expense of the crown. His death was mourned by +his countrymen as a national calamity. M. H. de Z. + +Chicago, Nov. 1, 1876. + + + + + +MARIE. + + + +I. THE SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS. + + +My father, Andrew Peter Grineff, having served in his youth under +Count Munich, left the army in 17--, with the grade of First Major. +From that time he lived on his estate in the Principality of Simbirsk, +where he married Avoditia, daughter of a poor noble in the +neighborhood. Of nine children, the issue of this marriage, I was +the only survivor. My brothers and sisters died in childhood. + +Through the favor of a near relative of ours, Prince B---, himself +a Major in the Guards, I was enrolled Sergeant of the Guards in the +regiment of Semenofski. It was understood that I was on furlough +till my education should be finished. From my fifth year I was +confided to the care of an old servant Saveliitch, whose steadiness +promoted him to the rank of my personal attendant. Thanks to his +care, when I was twelve years of age I knew how to read and write, +and could make a correct estimate of the points of a hunting dog. + +At this time, to complete my education, my father engaged upon a +salary a Frenchman, M. Beaupre, who was brought from Moscow with +one year's provision of wine and oil from Provence. His arrival +of course displeased Saveliitch. + +Beaupre had been in his own country a valet, in Prussia a soldier, +then he came to Russia to be a tutor, not knowing very well what +the word meant in our language. He was a good fellow, astonishingly +gay and absent-minded. His chief foible was a passion for the fair +sex. Nor was he, to use his own expression, an enemy to the bottle +--that is to say, _a la Russe_, he loved drink. But as at home wine +was offered only at table, and then in small glasses, and as, +moreover, on these occasions, the servants passed by the pedagogue, +Beaupre soon accustomed himself to Russian brandy, and, in time, +preferred it, as a better tonic, to the wines of his native country. +We became great friends, and although according to contract he was +engaged to teach me French, German, and _all the sciences_, yet he +was content that I should teach him to chatter Russian. But as each of +us minded his own business, our friendship was constant, and I desired +no mentor. However, destiny very soon separated us, in consequence +of an event which I will relate. + +Our laundress, a fat girl all scarred by small-pox, and our dairymaid, +who was blind of an eye, agreed, one fine day, to throw themselves +at my mother's feet and accuse the Frenchman of trifling with their +innocence and inexperience! + +My mother would have no jesting upon this point, and she in turn +complained to my father, who, like a man of business, promptly +ordered "that dog of a Frenchman" into his presence. The servant +informed him meekly that Beaupre was at the moment engaged in +giving me a lesson. + +My father rushed to my room. Beaupre was sleeping upon his bed the +sleep of innocence. I was deep in a most interesting occupation. +They had brought from Moscow, for me, a geographical map, which +hung unused against the wall; the width and strength of its paper +had been to me a standing temptation. I had determined to make a +kite of it, and profiting that morning by Beaupre's sleep, I had set +to work. My father came in just as I was tying a tail to the Cape +of Good Hope! Seeing my work, he seized me by the ear and shook me +soundly; then rushing to Beaupre's bed, awakened him without +hesitating, pouring forth a volley of abuse upon the head of the +unfortunate Frenchman. In his confusion Beaupre tried in vain to +rise; the poor pedagogue was dead drunk! My father caught him by +the coat-collar and flung him out of the room. That day he was +dismissed, to the inexpressible delight of Saveliitch. + +Thus ended my education. I now lived in the family as the eldest +son, not of age whose career is yet to open; amusing myself teaching +pigeons to tumble on the roof, and playing leap-frog in the stable- +yard with the grooms. In this way I reached my sixteenth year. + +One Autumn day, my mother was preserving fruit with honey in the +family room, and I, smacking my lips, was looking at the liquid +boiling; my father, seated near the window, had just opened the +_Court Almanac_ which he received every year. This book had great +influence over him; he read it with extreme attention, and reading +prodigiously stirred up his bile. My mother, knowing by heart all +his ways and oddities, used to try to hide the miserable book, and +often whole months would pass without a sight of it. But, in revenge +whenever he did happen to find it, he would sit for hours with the +book before his eyes. + +Well, my father was reading the _Court Almanac_, frequently shrugging +his shoulders, and murmuring: "'General!' Umph, he was a sergeant +in my company. 'Knight of the Orders of Russia.' Can it be so long +since we--?" + +Finally he flung the _Almanac_ away on the sofa and plunged into deep +thought; a proceeding that never presaged anything good. + +"Avoditia," said he, brusquely, to my mother, "how old is Peter?" + +"His seventeenth precious year has just begun," said my mother. +"Peter was born the year Aunt Anastasia lost her eye, and that +was--" + +"Well, well," said my father, "it is time he should join the army. +It is high time he should give up his nurse, leap-frog and pigeon +training." + +The thought of a separation so affected my poor mother that she let +the spoon fall into the preserving pan, and tears rained from her eyes. + +As for me, it is difficult to express my joy. The idea of army +service was mingled in my head with that of liberty, and the +pleasures offered by a great city like Saint Petersburg. I saw +myself an officer in the Guards, which, in my opinion was the +height of felicity. + +As my father neither liked to change his plans, nor delay their +execution, the day of my departure was instantly fixed. That +evening, saying that he would give me a letter to my future chief, +he called for writing materials. + +"Do not forget, Andrew," said my mother, "to salute for me Prince B. +Tell him that I depend upon his favor for my darling Peter." + +"What nonsense," said my father, frowning, "why should I write to +Prince B.?" + +"You have just said that you would write to Peter's future chief." + +"Well, what then?" + +"Prince B. is his chief. You know very well that Peter is enrolled +in the Semenofski regiment." + +"Enrolled! what's that to me? Enrolled or not enrolled, he shall +not go to Saint Petersburg. What would he learn there? Extravagance +and folly. No! let him serve in the army, let him smell powder, let +him be a soldier and not a do-nothing in the Guards; let him wear the +straps of his knapsack out. Where is the certificate of his birth +and baptism?" + +My mother brought the certificate, which she kept in a little box with +my baptismal robe, and handed it to my father. He read it, placed it +before him on the table, and commenced his letter. + +I was devoured by curiosity. Where am I going, thought I, if not to +Saint Petersburg? I did not take my eyes from the pen which my father +moved slowly across the paper. + +At last, the letter finished, he put it and my certificate under the +same envelope, took off his spectacles, called me and said: + +"This letter is addressed to Andrew Karlovitch, my old friend and +comrade. You are going to Orenbourg to serve under orders." + +All my brilliant dreams vanished. In place of the gay life of Saint +Petersburg, ennui awaited me in a wild and distant province of the +empire. Military life seemed now a calamity. + +The next morning a kibitka was at the door; my trunk was placed on +it, and also a case holding tea and a tea-service, with some napkins +full of rolls and pastry, the last sweet bits of the paternal home. +Both my parents gave me their solemn benediction. My father said, +"Adieu, Peter. Serve faithfully him to whom your oath is given; +obey your chiefs; neither seek favor, nor solicit service, but do +not reject them; and remember the proverb: 'Take care of thy coat +whilst it is new, and thy honor whilst it is fresh.'" + +My darling mother, all in tears, told me to take care of my health; +and counseled Saveliitch to guard her child from danger. + +I was wrapped up in a short touloup lined with hare-skin, and over +that a pelisse lined fox-skin. I took my seat in the kibitka with +Saveliitch, and shedding bitter tears, set out for my destination. + +That night I arrived at Simbirsk, where I was to stay twenty-four +hours, in order that Saveliitch might make various purchases entrusted +to him. Early in the morning Saveliitch went to the shops, whilst +I stayed in the inn. Tired of gazing out of the window upon a +dirty little street, I rambled about the inn, and at last entered +the billiard-room. I found there a tall gentleman, some forty years +of age, with heavy black moustaches, in his dressing-gown, holding a +cue and smoking his pipe. He was playing with the marker, who was +to drink a glass of brandy and water if he gained, and if he lost +was to pass, on all-fours, under the billiard table. I watched +them playing. The more they played the more frequent became the +promenades on all-fours, so that finally the marker stayed under +the table. The gentleman pronounced over him some energetic +expression, as a funeral oration, and then proposed that I should +play a game with him. I declared that I did not know how to play +billiards. That seemed strange to him. He looked at me with +commiseration. + +However, we opened a conversation. I learned that his name was +Ivan Zourine; that he was a chief of a squadron of Hussars stationed +then at Simbirsk recruiting soldiers, and that his quarters were at +my inn. He invited me to mess with him, soldier-fashion, pot-luck. +I accepted with pleasure, and we sat down to dinner. Zourine drank +deeply, and invited me to drink also, saying that I must become +accustomed to the service. He told stories of garrison life which +made me laugh till I held my sides, and we rose from the table +intimate friends. He then proposed to teach me how to play billiards. +"It is," said he, "indispensable for soldiers like ourselves. For +example, suppose we arrive in a town, what's to be done? We can +not always make sport of the Jews. As a last resort there is the +inn and the billiard-room; but to play billiards, one must know +how." These reasons convinced me, and I set about learning with +enthusiasm. + +Zourine encouraged me in a loud tone; he was astonished at my rapid +progress, and after a few lesson he proposed to play for money, were +it only two kopecks, not for the gain, merely to avoid playing for +nothing, which was, according to him, a very bad habit. I agreed. +Zourine ordered punch, which he advised me to taste in order to +become used to the service, "for," said he, "what kind of service +would that be without punch?" + +I took his advice, and we continued to play; the more I tasted of +my glass the bolder I grew. I made the balls fly over the cushions; +I was angry with the marker who was counting. Heaven knows why. +I increased the stake, and behaved, altogether, like a boy just +cut free, for the first time, from his mother's apron-strings. The +time passed quickly. At last, Zourine glanced at the clock, laid +down his cue, and said that I had lost a hundred roubles to him. + +I was in great confusion, because my money was all in the hands of +Saveliitch. I began to mumble excuses, when Zourine exclaimed, "Oh! +well! Good God! I can wait till morning; don't be distressed about +it. Now let us go to supper." What could I do? I finished the +day as foolishly as I began it. + +Zourine never ceased pouring out drinks for me; advising me to +become accustomed to the service. Rising from table, I could +scarcely stand. At midnight Zourine brought me back to the inn. + +Saveliitch met us at the door, and uttered a cry of horror when he +saw the unmistakable signs of my "zeal for the service." + +"What has happened to thee?" said he, in heart-broken accents; +"where have you been filling yourself like a sack? Oh! heavenly +father! a misfortune like this never came before." + +"Silence! old owl," said I, stammering, "I am sure you are drunk +yourself; go to bed, but first put me there." + +I awoke next morning with a severe headache; the events of the +evening I recalled vaguely, but my recollections became vivid at +the sight of Saveliitch who came to me with a cup of tea. + +"You begin young, Peter Grineff," said the old men, shaking his head. +"Eh! from whom do you inherit it? Neither your father nor grandfather +were drunkards. Your mother's name can not be mentioned; she never +deigned to taste any thing but cider. Whose fault is it then? That +cursed Frenchman's; he taught three fine things, that miserable dog-- +that pagan--for thy teacher, as if his lordship, thy father, had not +people of his own." + +I was ashamed before the old man; I turned my face away saying, "I +do not want any tea, go away, Saveliitch." It was not easy to stop +Saveliitch, once he began to preach. + +"Now, Peter, you see what it is to play the fool. You have a headache, +you have no appetite, a drunkard is good for nothing. Here, take some +of this decoction of cucumber and honey, or half a glass of brandy to +sober you. What do you say to that?" + +At that instant a boy entered the room with a note for me from Zourine. +I unfolded it and read as follows: + +"Do me the favor, my dear Peter, to send me by my servant the hundred +roubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am horribly in want of money. +Your devoted. ZOURINE." + +As I was perfectly in his power, I assumed an air of indifference, and +ordered Saveliitch to give a hundred roubles to the boy. + +"What? why?" said the old man, surprised. + +"I owe that sum," said I, coolly. + +"You owe it? When had you time enough to contract such a debt?" said +he, with redoubled astonishment. "No, no, that's impossible. Do what +you like, my lord, but I can not give the money." + +I reflected that if in this decisive moment I did not oblige the +obstinate old fellow to obey me, it would be impossible in the +future to escape from his tutelage. Looking at him therefore, +haughtily, I said, "I am thy master; thou art my servant. The +money is mine, and I lost because I chose to lose it; I advise +thee to obey when ordered, and not assume the airs of a master." + +My words affected Saveliitch so much that he clasped his hands and +stood bowed down mute and motionless. + +"What are you doing there like a post?" I cried out, angrily. + +Saveliitch was in tears. + +"Oh! my dear master Peter," stammered he, with trembling voice, "do +not kill me with grief. Oh my light, listen to me, an old man; write +to that brigand that you were jesting, that we never had so much +money. A hundred roubles! God of goodness! Tell him thy parents +strictly forbade thee to play for any thing but nuts." + +"Silence," said I, with severity, "give the money or I'll chase you +out of the room." + +Saveliitch looked at me with agony, and went for the money. I pitied +the good old man, but I wanted to emancipate myself, and prove that I +was no longer a child. Saveliitch sent the money to Zourine, and then +hastened our departure from that cursed inn. + +I left Simbirsk with a troubled conscience; a secret remorse oppressed +me. I took no leave of my teacher, not dreaming that I should ever +meet him again. + + + + +II. THE GUIDE. + + +My reflections during the journey were not very agreeable. According +to the value of money at that time my loss was of some importance. +I could not but admit to myself that my conduct at the inn at +Simbirsk had been very silly, and I felt guilty toward Saveliitch. +The old man was seated on the front of the vehicle in dull silence; +from time to time turning his head and coughing a cough of ill humor. +I had firmly resolved to make friends with him, but I did not know +which way to begin. At last I said to him, "Come, come Saveliitch, +let us put an end to this; I know I was wrong; I was a fool +yesterday, and offended you without cause, but I promise to listen +to you in future. Come, do not be angry, let us make friends!" + +"Ah! My dear Peter," said he with a sigh, "I am angry with myself. +It's I who was wrong in every thing. How could I have left you +alone at the inn? How could it have been avoided? The devil had +a hand in it! I wanted to go and see the deacon's wife, who is my +god-mother, and as the proverb says: 'I left the house and fell +into the prison.'" + +What a misfortune! what a misfortune! How can I appear before the +eyes of my masters? What will they say, when they shall hear that +their child is a drunkard and a gambler. To console dear old +Saveliitch, I gave him my word, that for the future I would not +dispose of single kopeck without his consent. Little by little +he became calm, which did not, however, prevent him from grumbling +out, now and then shaking his head: "A hundred roubles! It is easy +to talk!" + +I drew near the place of my destination. Around me extended a desert, +sad and wild, broken be little hills and deep ravines, all covered +with snow. The sun was setting. + +My kibitka followed the narrow road, or rather trace, left by +peasants' sledges. Suddenly my coachman, looking at a certain +point and addressing me, "My lord," said he, taking off his cap, +"do you not command us to retrace our steps?" + +"What for?" + +"The weather is uncertain. There is some wind ahead; do you see it +drive the snow on the surface?" + +"What matter?" + +"And do you not see what is over yonder?" pointing with his whip +to the east. + +"I see nothing more than the white steppes and the clear sky." + +"There! there! that little cloud!" + +I saw indeed upon the horizon a little white cloud that I had at +first taken for a distant hill. My coachman explained to me that +this little cloud foretold a _chasse-neige_--a snowdrift. I had +heard of the drifting snows of this region, and I know that at +times, storms swallowed up whole caravans. Saveliitch agreed with +the coachman, and advised our return. + +But to me the wind did not seem very strong. I hoped to arrive in +time for the next relay of horses. I gave orders, therefore, to +redouble our speed. The coachman put his horses to the gallop, +and kept his eyes to the east. + +The wind blew harder and harder. The little cloud soon became a +great white mass, rising heavily, growing, extending, and finally +invading the whole sky. A fine snow began to fall, which suddenly +changed to immense flakes. The wind whistled and howled. It was +a _chasse-neige_--a snowdrift. + +In an instant the somber sky was confounded with the sea of snow which +the wind raised up from the earth. Every thing was indistinguishable. + +"Woe, to us! my lord," cried the coachman, "it is a whirlwind of snow!" + +I put my head out of the kibitka--darkness and storm. The wind blew +with an expression so ferocious that it seemed a living creature. + +The snow fell in large flakes upon us, covering us. The horses went +at a walking pace, but very soon stood still. + +"Why do you not go on?" I said to the coachman. + +"Go where?" he replied, as he got down from the kibitka. "God knows +where we are now! There is no road; all is darkness." + +I began to scold him. Saveliitch took up his defense: + +"Why did you not listen to him," said he, angrily; "you could have +returned, taken some tea and slept till morning; the storm would +have been over, and we could then have set out. Why this haste? +as if you were going to your wedding?" + +Saveliitch was right. What was to be done? The snow continued +to fall; it was heaped up around the kibitka; the horses stood +motionless, now and then shivering. The coachman walked around +them adjusting their harness, as if he had nothing else to do. + +Saveliitch grumbled. + +I strained my eyes in every direction, hoping to see signs of a +dwelling, or of a road, but I could only see the whirling of the +snow-drift. All at once I thought I saw some thing black. "Halloo! +coachman," I cried out, "what is that black thing yonder?" + +The coachman looked attentively where I indicated. "God knows, my +lord," he replied, re-mounting to his seat; "it is not a kibitka, +nor a tree; it seems to be moving. It must be a wolf or a man!" + +I ordered him to go in the direction of the unknown object which was +coming toward us. In two minutes we were on a line with it, and I +recognized a man. + +"Halloo! good man!" shouted my coachman; "tell us, do you know the +road?" + +"This is the road," replied the man. "I am on solid ground, but what +the devil is the good of that." + +"Listen, my good peasant," said I; "do you know this country? Can +you lead us to a shelter for the night?" + +"This country! Thank God, I have been over it on foot and in +carriage, from one end to the other. But one can not help losing +the road in this weather. It is better to stop here and wait till +the hurricane ceases: then the sky will clear, and we can find the +way by the stars." + +His coolness gave me courage. I had decided to trust myself to the +mercy of God and pass the night on the steppe, when the traveler, +seating himself on the bench which was the coachman's seat, said +to the driver: + +"Thank God, a dwelling is near. Turn to the right and go on." + +"Why should I turn to the right?" said the coachman, sulkily, "where +do you see a road?" + +"Must I say to you these horses, as well as the harness, belong to +another? then use the whip without respite." + +I thought my coachman's view rational. + +"Why do you believe," said I to the new-comer, "that a dwelling is +not far off?" + +"The wind blows from that quarter," said he, "and I have smelled +smoke--proof that a dwelling is near." + +His sagacity, the delicacy of his sense of smell, filled me with +admiration; I ordered my coachman to go wherever the other wished. +The horses walked heavily through the deep snow. The kibitka +advanced but slowly, now raised on a hillock, now descending into +a hollow, swaying from side like a boat on a stormy sea. + +Saveliitch, falling over on me every instant, moaned. I pulled down +the hood of the kibitka, wrapped myself up in my pelisse, and fell +asleep, rocked by the swaying of the vehicle, and lulled by the chant +of the tempest. + +The horses stopped. Saveliitch was holding my hand. + +"Come out, my lord," said he, "we have arrived." + +"Where have we arrived?" said I, rubbing my eyes. + +"At the shelter. God has helped us; we have stumbled right upon +the hedge of the dwelling. Come out, my lord, quick; come and +warm yourself." + +I descended from the kibitka; the hurricane had not ceased, but it +had moderated; sight was useless, it was so dark. The master of the +house met us at the door, holding a lantern under the flaps of his +long coat, the Cossack cafetan. He led us into a small, though no +untidy room, lighted by a pine torch. In the centre hung a carabine +and a high Cossack cap. + +Our host, a Cossack from the river Iaik, was a peasant of some sixty +years, still fresh and green. + +Saveliitch brought in the case containing my tea-service; he asked +for fire to make me a few cups of tea, of which I never had greater +need. The host hastened to serve us. + +"Where is our guide?" I asked of Saveliitch. + +"Here, your lordship," replied a voice from above. I raised my eyes +to the loft, and saw a black beard and two sparkling black eyes. + +"Well, are you cold?" + +"How could I help being cold in this little cafetan full of holes. +What's the use of concealment? I had a touloup, but I left it +yesterday in pledge with the liquor-seller; then the cold did not +seem so great." + +At this moment our host entered with the portable furnace and boiler, +the Russian _Somovar_. I offered our guide a cup of tea. Down he +came at once. As he stood in the glare of the pine torch his +appearance was remarkable. A man about forty years of age, medium +height, slight but with broad shoulders. His black beard was turning +grey; large, quick, restless eyes, gave him an expression full of +cunning, and yet not at all disagreeable. He was dressed in wide +Tartar pantaloons and an old jacket. His hair was cut evenly round. + +I offered him a cup of tea. He tasted it and made a grimace. + +"Do me the favor, my lord, to order me a glass of brandy; tea is not +the Cossack's drink." + +I willingly granted the request. The host took from the shelf of a +closet a bottle and a glass, and going up to him, looking him full +in the face, said: + +"Ah! ah! here you are again in our district. Whence has God brought +you?" + +My guide winked in the most significant fashion and replied by the +well-know proverb: "'The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed; +the grandmother threw a stone at it, and missed.'" And you? how are +all yours?" + +"How are we?" said the host, and continuing in proverbs: "'They began +to ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest's wife forbade it. The +priest went visiting, and the devils are in the graveyard.'" + +"Be silent, uncle," said the vagabond. + +"'When there shall be rain, there will be mushrooms, and when there +shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. Put thy +hatchet behind thy back, the forest guard is out walking.'" + +"To your lordship's health." Taking the glass, he made the sign of +the cross, and at one gulp swallowed his brandy. He then saluted +me and remounted to his loft. I did not understand a word of this +thief's slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they +spoke of the affairs of the army of the Iaik, which had just been +reduced to obedience after the revolt of 1772. Saveliitch listened +and glanced suspiciously from host to guide. + +The species of inn where we were sheltered was in the very heart of +the steppes, far from the road and every inhabited spot, and looked +very much like a rendezvous of robbers. But to set off again on our +journey was impossible. The disgust of Saveliitch amused not a +little; however, he finally decided to mount upon the roof of the +stove, the ordinary bed of the Russian peasant. The warm bricks of +the hot-air chamber of the stove diffused a grateful heat, and soon +the old man and the host, who had laid himself on the floor, were +snoring. I stretched myself upon a bench, and slept like a dead. +Awaking next morning quite late, I saw that the hurricane was over. +The sun shone out, the snow extended in the distance like a sheet of +dazzling white damask. The horses were already at the door, harnessed. +I paid our host, who asked so small a pittance that even Saveliitch +did not, as usual, haggle over the price. His suspicions of the +evening before had entirely disappeared. I called the guide to thank +him for the service he had done us, and told Saveliitch to give him +half a rouble. Saveliitch frowned. + +"Half a rouble," said he; "What for? Because you yourself deigned +to bring him to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have +not a rouble to spare. If we begin by giving drink money to every +one we shall end by dying of hunger." + +It was useless to argue with him; my money, according to my promise, +was entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to +be able to reward a man who had extricated me from danger, perhaps +death. + +"Well," said I, coolly, "if you will not give him half a rouble, +give one of my coats--he is too thinly clad; give him the hare- +skin touloup." + +"Have mercy on me! My dear Peter," said Saveliitch, "what does +he want with your touloup? He will drink its price, the dog, at +the first inn." + +"That, my good old man, is none of your business," said the vagabond; +"his lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me +a coat from his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, +but to obey." + +"You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are," said Saveliitch, +angrily; "you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason, +and there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart. +You can not even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders." + +"Come," said I, "do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly." + +"Oh, Lord!" said the old man, moaning--"a touloup of hare-skin! Quite +new,--to give it to a drunkard in rags." + +It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It +was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it +on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams. +Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard +the threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my +present. He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound +bow: "Thanks, my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your +goodness." + +He went his way,--I set out on mine, paying no attention to the +sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the +guide, as well as the touloup of hare-skin. + +Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He +was a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn- +out uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, +and his speech betrayed a strong German accent. + +I gave him my father's letter. + +Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. "Mein Gott," said he, +"it is so short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, +see what a fine fellow of a son he has. Ah! time! time!" He opened +the letter and began to run it over with a commentary of remarks. + +"'Sir, I hope your Excellency,'--What is this; what is the meaning +of this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the +way to write to an old friend? Hum--'Field-marshal Munich--little +Caroline--brother.' Ah! then he remembers--'Now to business. I +send you my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.' + +"What does that mean?" said he, "that must be a Russian proverb." + +"It means," said I, with an air of innocence, "to treat a person +mildly, to give one liberty." + +"Hum!" said he, reading, "'and give him no liberty.' No," he +continued, "your proverb does not mean liberty. Well, my son," +said he, having finished the letter, "every thing shall be done +for you. You shall be an officer in the --- regiment, and not to +lose time, go tomorrow to the fort of Belogorsk, where you will +serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave and honest man. There you +will see service and learn discipline. You have nothing to do here +at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a young man. Today I +invite you to dine with me." + +From bad to worse, thought I. What was the use of being a Sergeant +in the Guards almost from my mother's womb? To what has it led? To +the regiment of ---, and an abandoned fortress on the frontier of the +steppes! + +I dined at the General's in company with his old Aid-de-camp. Severe +German economy reigned at table, and I think the fear of having an +occasional guest the more had something to do with sending me to a +distant garrison. + +The next day I took my leave of the General and set out for Belogorsk. + + + + +III. THE FORTRESS. + + +The fortress of Belogorsk is situated forty versts from Orenbourg. The +route from this city is along the high banks of the river Iaik. The +stream was not yet frozen, and its lead-colored waters took a black +tint between banks whitened by the snow. Before me lay the Kirghis +steppes. I fell into a moody train of thought, for to me garrison life +offered few attractions. I tried to picture my future chief, Captain +Mironoff. I imagined a severe, morose old man, knowing nothing outside +of the service, ready to arrest me for the least slip. Dusk was +falling; we were advancing rapidly. + +"How far is it from here to the fortress?" said I to the coachman. + +"You can see it now," he answered. + +I looked on all sides, expecting to see high bastions, a wall, and +a ditch. I saw nothing but a little village surrounded by a wooden +palisade. On one side stood some hay-stacks half covered with snow; +on the other a wind-mill, leaning to one side; the wings of the mill, +made of the heavy bark of the linden tree, hung idle. + +"Where is the fortress?" I asked, astonished. + +"There it is," said the coachman, pointing to the village which we had +just entered. I saw near the gate an old iron cannon. The streets +were narrow and winding, and nearly all the huts were thatched with +straw. I ordered the coachman to drive to the Commandant's, and almost +immediately my kibitka stopped before a wooden house built on an +eminence near the church, which was also of wood. From the front door +I entered the waiting-room. An old pensioner, seated on a table, was +sewing a blue piece on the elbow of a green uniform. I told him to +announce me. + +"Enter, my good sir," said he, "our people are at home." + +I entered a very neat room, furnished in the fashion of other days. +On one side stood a cabinet containing the silver. Against the wall +hung the diploma of an officer, with colored engravings arranged +around its frame; notably, the "Choice of the Betrothed," the "Taking +of Kurstrin," and the "Burial of the Cat by the Mice." Near the window +sat an old woman in a mantilla, her head wrapped in a handkerchief. +She was winding a skein of thread held on the separated hands of a +little old man, blind of one eye, who was dressed like an officer. + +"What do you desire, my dear sir?" said the woman to me, without +interrupting her occupation. I told her that I had come to enter the +service, and that, according to rule, I hastened to present myself to +the captain. In saying this, I turned to the one-eyed old man, whom I +took for the commandant. The good lady interrupted the speech which I +had prepared in advance: + +"Ivan Mironoff is not at home; he is gone to visit Father Garasim; +but it is all the same; I am his wife. Deign to love us and have us +in favor! Take a seat, my dear sir." She ordered a servant to send +her the Corporal. The little old man gazed at me curiously, with his +only eye. + +"May I dare to ask," said he, "in what regiment you have deigned +to serve?" + +I satisfied him on that point. + +"And may I dare to ask why you changed from the Guards to our +garrison?" + +I replied that it was by the orders of authority. + +"Probably for actions little becoming an officer of the Guards?" +resumed the persistent questioner. + +"Will you stop your stupidities?" said the Captain's wife to him. +"You see the young man is fatigued by the journey; he has something +else to do besides answering you. Hold your hands better! And you +my dear sir," continued she, turning to me, "do not be too much +afflicted that you are thrust into our little town; you are not the +first, and will not be the last. Now, there is Alexis Chabrine, who +has been transferred to us for a term of four years for murder. God +knows what provocation he had. He and a lieutenant went outside the +city with their swords, and before two witnesses Alexis killed the +lieutenant. Ah! misfortune has no master." + +Just then the Corporal entered, a young and handsome Cossack. "Maxim," +said the Captain's wife, "give this officer a clean lodging." + +"I obey, Basilia," replied the Cossack; "shall I lodge him with Ivan +Pologoff?" + +"You are doting, Maxim, he has too little space now; besides, he is +my child's godfather; and, moreover, he never forgets that we are his +chiefs. What is your name, my dear sir?" + +"Peter Grineff." + +"Then conduct Peter Grineff to the quarters of Simeon Kieff. That +rascal let his horse into my vegetable garden. Is all right, Maxim?" + +"Thank God, all is quiet, except that Corporal Kourzoff quarreled with +the woman Augustina about a pail of warm water." + +"Ignatius," said the Captain's wife to the one-eyed man, "judge between +the two--decide which one is guilty, and punish both. Go, Maxim, God +be with you. Peter Grineff, Maxim will conduct you to your lodgings." + +I took my leave; the Corporal led me to a cabin placed on the high bank +near the river's edge, at the end of the fortress. Half of the cabin +was occupied by the family of Simeon Kieff, the other was given up to +me. My half of the cabin was a large apartment divided by a partition. +Saveliitch began at once to install us, whilst I looked out of the +narrow window. Before me stretched the bleak and barren steppe; nearer +rose some cabins; at the threshold of one stood a woman with a bowl in +her hand calling the pigs to feed; no other objects met my sight, save +a few chickens scratching for stray kernels of corn in the street. And +this was the country to which I was condemned to pass my youth! I +turned from the window, seized by bitter sadness, and went to bed +without supper, notwithstanding the supplications of Saveliitch, who +with anguish cried aloud: "Oh! he will not deign to eat! O Lord! what +will my mistress say, if the child should fall ill!" + +The next morning I had scarcely begun to dress, when a young officer +entered my room. He was of small size, with irregular features, but +his sun-burned face had remarkable vivacity. "Pardon me," said he in +French, "that I come so unceremoniously to make your acquaintance. I +learned yesterday of your arrival, and the desire of seeing at last a +human face so took possession of me that I could wait no longer. You +will understand this when you shall have lived here some time!" + +I easily guessed that he was the officer dismissed from the Guards for +the affair of the duel--Alexis Chabrine. He was very intelligent; his +conversation was sprightly and interesting. He described with impulse +and gayety the Commandant's family, society, and in general the whole +country round. I was laughing heartily, when Ignatius, the same old +pensioner whom I had seen mending his uniform in the Captain's waiting- +room, entered, and gave me an invitation to dinner from Basilia +Mironoff, the Captain's wife. Alexis declared that he would accompany +me. + +Approaching the Commandant's house we saw on the square some twenty +little old pensioners, with long queues and three-cornered hats. These +old men were drawn up in line of battle. Before them stood the +Commandant, a fresh and vigorous old man of high stature, in dressing- +gown and cotton cap. As soon as he saw us, he approached, addressed me +a few affable words, and then resumed his drill. We were going to stay +to see the manoeuvering, but he begged us to go on immediately to the +house, promising to join us at once; "for," said he, "there is really +nothing to be seen here." + +Basilia received us kindly, and with simplicity, treating me like an +old acquaintance. The pensioner and the maid Polacca were laying the +table-cloth. + +"What is the matter with my dear Ivan Mironoff, today, that he is so +long instructing his troops?" said the mistress. "Polacca, go and +bring him to dinner. And where is my child, Marie?" Scarcely had she +pronounced this name, than a young girl about sixteen entered the +room;--a rosy, round-faced girl, wearing her hair in smooth bandeaux +caught behind her ears, which were red with modesty and shyness. She +did not please me very much at the first glance; I was prejudiced +against her by Alexis, who had described the Captain's daughter to me +as a fool. Marie seated herself in a corner and began to sew. The +soup was brought on the table. Basilia, not seeing her husband coming, +sent the maid a second time to call him. + +"Tell the master that his inspection can wait; the soup is cooling. +Thank God! the drills need not be lost; there will be time enough yet +to use his voice at his leisure." + +The captain soon appeared with his one-eyed officer. + +"What's this, my dear," said Basilia; "the table has been served some +time, and no one could make you come." + +"You see, Basilia, I was busy with the service, instructing my good +soldiers." + +"Come, come, Ivan Mironoff, that's boasting. The service does not suit +them, and as for you, you know nothing about it. You should have +stayed at home and prayed God, that suits you much better. My dear +guests, to table." + +We took our places for dinner. Basilia was not silent a moment; she +overwhelmed me with questions: Who were my parents? Were they living? +Where did they reside? What was their fortune? When she learned that +my father owned three hundred serfs, she exclaimed: + +"You see there are some rich people in the world--and we, my dear sir, +in point of souls, we possess only the maid Polacca. Yet, thank God, +we live, somehow or other. We have but one care, that is Marie, a girl +that must be married off. And what fortune has she? The price of two +baths per annum. If only she could find a worthy husband. If not, +there she is, eternally a maid." + +I glanced at Marie; she blushed, tears were dropping into her soup. +I pitied her, and hastened to change the conversation. "I have heard +that the Bashkirs intend to attack your fortress?" + +"Who said so," replied Ivan Mironoff. + +"I heard it at Orenbourg." + +"All nonsense," said Ivan, "we have not heard the least word about it; +the Bashkirs are an intimidated people; and the Kirghis have also had +some good lessons. They dare not attack us, and if they should even +dream of it, I would give them so great a fright that they would not +move again for ten years." + +"Do you not fear," I continued, addressing Basilia, "to stay in a +fortress exposed to these dangers?" + +"A matter of habit, my dear," she replied, "twenty years ago, when we +were transferred here from the regiment, you could not believe how I +feared the pagans. If I chanced to see their fur caps, if I heard +their shouts, believe me, my heart was ready to faint; but now I am so +used to this life, that if told that the brigands were prowling around +us, I would not stir from the fortress." + +"Basilia is a very brave lady," observed Alexis, gravely. "Ivan +Mironoff knows some thing about it." + +"Oh, you see," said Ivan, "she does not belong to the regiment of +poltroons." + +"And Marie," I asked of her mother "is she as bold as you?" + +"Marie?" said the lady. "No! Marie is a coward. Up to the present +she has not heard the report of a gun without trembling in every limb. +Two years ago Ivan had a pleasant fancy to fire off his cannon on my +birthday; the poor pigeon was so frightened that she almost went into +the next world. Since that day the miserable cannon has not spoken." + +We rose from the table. The captain and his wife went to take their +siesta. I went with Alexis to his room, where we passed the evening +together. + + + + +IV. THE DUEL. + + +Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became not +only supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of +the family in the Commandant's house. The husband and wife were +excellent people. Ivan Mironoff, from being the adopted child of the +regiment, rose to officer's rank. He was a plain, simple, uneducated +man, but thoroughly good and loyal. His wife governed him, and that +suited his natural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the +garrison, as she did her household, and commanded through the fortress +as she did in her own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we +became better acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection +and intelligence. Little by little I became deeply attached to this +good family. + +I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not +oppress me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to +do, no guard to mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his +own amusement, the Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet +succeeded in teaching them which was the right flank and which the +left. + +Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so +that a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and +essayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every +day I dined at the Commandant's, where, as a general thing, I spent the +rest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife, +Accoulina, the greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I +met daily, yet gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual +jokes upon the Commandant's family, and above all his biting remarks +about Marie, rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had +no other society than this family in the fortress, and I desired no +other. All predictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, +and peace reigned around us. + +I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. +One day I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is +well known that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek +a kindly audience. I copied my little song and took it to Alexis, the +only one in the fortress who could appreciate a poetical work. After +preluding a little, I drew my pages from my pocket and read my verses +to him. + +"How do you like that?" said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. +To my great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my +writings, declared frankly that my song was worth nothing. + +"What do you mean?" said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper +out of my hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every +word, tearing me up in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. +I snatched the paper from him, declaring that never again would I show +him any of my compositions. + +"We shall see," said he, "if you can keep your word; poets need a +listener as Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. +Who is this Marie to whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it +not be Marie Mironoff?" + +"That is none of your business," said I, frowning. "I want neither +your advice nor supposition." + +"Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover," continued Alexis, irritating me +more and more, "listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed do +not confine yourself to songs." + +"What do you mean, sir? Explain!" + +"With pleasure," he replied. "I mean that if you wish to form an +intimacy with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair of +earrings instead of your lackadaisical verses." + +All my blood boiled. "Why have you this opinion of her?" I asked, +with much effort restraining my anger. + +"Because," said he, "of my own experience." + +"You lie, wretch," I cried, with furry, "you lie, shamelessly." + +Alexis was enraged. + +"That shall not pass so," he said, grasping my hand. "You shall give +me satisfaction." + +"When ever you like," I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was +ready to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom +I found with a needle in his hand. According to orders from the +Commandant's wife, he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried +for winter use. + +"Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends +you here?" + +In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him, +Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great +attention, opening wide his only eye. + +"You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I +should witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?" + +"Precisely." + +"Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A +harsh word can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, +give him the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, +you a third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if +you fight--well, if _you_ should kill _him_, God be with him! for I do +not like him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece +of business! Then who will pay for the broken pots?" + +The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution. + +"Do as you like," said Ignatius, "but what's the use of having me as a +witness? People fight--that's nothing extraordinary--I have often been +quite close to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of color." + +I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, +or could not understand me. "Follow your own fashion," said he, "if +I were to meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan +Mironoff, according to rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress +for the commission of a criminal action--one contrary to the interests +of the crown." + +I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. +He gave me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. +As usual I passed the evening at the Commandant's, forcing myself +to be calm and gay, in order not to awaken suspicions and to avoid +questioning. I confess that I had not the coolness of which people +boast who have been in a similar position. I was disposed to +tenderness. Marie Mironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The +idea that perhaps I saw her for the last time, gave her a touching +grace. + +Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation +with Ignatius. + +"What's the good of seconds," said he, dryly. "We can do without +them." + +We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o'clock. + +Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us. +"You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a +good quarrel." + +"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playing +patience in a corner, "I do not quite understand?" + +Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became +confused and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: +"He approves of peace." + +"With whom had you quarreled?" said she. + +"With Peter Grineff--a few high words." + +"Why?" + +"For a mere nothing--a song." + +"Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened." + +"Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang +his song for me. Then I chanted mine: + + + 'Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.' + + +As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every +one is at liberty to sing what he pleases." + +The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood +his allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in +general. The Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and +drunkards, and advised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary +to the service, and leading to nothing good. + +As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take +leave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried +its point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the +morning at six o'clock. + +The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting +my adversary, who did not fail to appear. "We may be surprised," he +said; "be quick." We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the +scabbards, when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from +behind a haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of the +Commandant. We obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius +conducted us in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity. +We entered the Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, +and exclaimed with emphasis: "They are taken!" + +Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassination +in our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, +give up your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of +you; are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he +was transferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to +perish; and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour." + +Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see! +You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code." + +Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not +help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said +to Basilia: "Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you +take useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to +Ivan Mironoff; it is his business." + +"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the +same flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up +these boys instantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water, +to expel this stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a +penance on order that they may repent before God and man." + +Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The +tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to +embrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the +house, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us. + +"Are you not ashamed of yourself," I said to him, "to have denounced +us to the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not +do so?" + +"As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all +from me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of +the Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did." He went to his +room; I remained with Alexis. + +"Our affair can not end thus," I remarked. + +"Certainly not," replied Alexis. "You shall pay me with your blood for +your impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign +for a few days. Until then, adieu!" + +We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the +Commandant's, and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was +absent and her mother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued +tones. Marie reproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis +gave her. "My heart failed me," she said, "when I heard you were going +to fight with swords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready +to strangle each other, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but +even the honor and happiness of those who-- I am sure you did not +begin the quarrel? Alexis was the aggressor?" + +"Why do you think so?" + +"Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not +displease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me." + +"What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?" + +Marie blushed. "It seems," said she, "that I please him." + +"How do you know?" + +"Because he made me an offer of marriage." + +"He made you an offer of marriage! When?" + +"Last year, two months before your arrival." + +"You did not accept?" + +"Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of +an excellent family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that +beneath the crown, on my marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss +him before every one! No! no! not for any thing in the world." + +Marie's words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexis +in aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutual +inclination, and was trying to turn us from each other. The words +which had provoked our quarrel seemed to me the more infamous, as +instead of being a vulgar joke, it was deliberate calumny. The +desire to punish this shameless liar became so strong that I waited +impatiently the favorable moment. I had not long to wait. The next +day, occupied composing an elegy, biting my pen in the expectation +of a rhyme, Alexis knocked at my window. I put down my pen, took my +sword, and went out of the house. + +"Why defer?" said Alexis, "we are no longer watched, let us go down to +the river-side; there none will hinder us." + +We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at +the water's edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I +in the use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who +had been, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. +Alexis did not expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous +a character. + +For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but +at last noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him +energetically, and almost drove him backward into the river, when +suddenly I heard my name pronounced in a high voice. Turning my +head rapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the path. As +I turned my head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right +shoulder, and I fell, unconscious. + + + + +V. LOVE. + + +When I came to myself, I neither knew what had happened nor where I +was. I felt very weak; the room was strange, there was Saveliitch +standing before me, a light in his hand, and some one arranging the +bandages that bound my chest and shoulder. Gradually I recalled my +duel, and easily divined that I had been wounded. The door at this +instant moaned gently on its hinges. + +"Well, how is he?" whispered a voice that made me start. + +"Still in the same state," sighed Saveliitch, "now unconscious four +days." I wanted to turn on my bed, but I had not the strength. "Where +am I?" said I, with effort, "who is here?" Marie approached, and +bending over me said, gently, "How do you feel?" + +"Thank God, I am well. Is that Marie? tell me--?" I could not +finish. Saveliitch uttered a cry of joy, his delight showing plainly +in his face. "He recovers! he recovers! Thanks to thee, O God! +Peter, how you frightened me!--four days! It is easy to talk--!" + +Marie interrupted him: "Do not, Saveliitch, speak too much to him; he +is still very weak." She went out, shutting the door noiselessly. I +must be in the Commandant's house, or Marie could not come to see me. +I wished to question Saveliitch, but the old man shook his head and +put his fingers in his ears. I closed my eyes from ill-humor--and +fell asleep. + +Upon awaking, I called Saveliitch; instead of him, I saw before me +Marie, whose gentle voice greeted me. I seized her hand and bathed it +with my tears. Marie did not withdraw it, and suddenly I felt upon my +cheek the impression, humid and delicious, of her lips! A thrill shot +through my whole being. + +"Dear, good Marie, be my wife, and make me the happiest of men!" + +"In the name of heaven be calm," she said, withdrawing her hand, "your +wound may reopen; for my sake be careful." + +She left the room. I was in a daze. I felt life returning. "She will +be mine!" I kept repeating, "she loves me!" I grew better, hour by +hour. The barber of the regiment dressed my wounds, for there was no +other physician in the fortress, and thank God, he did not merely play +the doctor. Youth and nature completed the cure. + +The Commandant's whole family surrounded me with care. Marie scarcely +ever left me. I need not say that I took the first favorable moment +to continue my interrupted declaration. This time Marie listened with +more patience. She frankly acknowledged her affection for me. And +added that her parents would be happy in her happiness; "but," she +continued, "think well of it? Will there be no objection on the part +of your family?" + +I did not doubt my mother's tenderness, but knowing my father's +character, I foresaw that my love would not be received by him +favorably, and that in all probability he would treat it as one of my +youthful follies. This I avowed plainly to Marie, but nevertheless I +resolved to write to my father as eloquently as possible, and ask his +blessing on our marriage. I showed the letter to Marie, who thought +it so touching and convincing that she did not doubt of success, and +abandoned herself, with all the confidence of youth and love, to the +feelings of her heart. + +I made peace with Alexis in the first days of my convalescence. Ivan +Mironoff said, reproaching me for the duel: "You see, Peter, I ought +to put you under arrest, but indeed you have been well punished without +that. Alexis is, by my orders, under guard in the barn, and his sword +is under lock and key in Basilia's keeping." + +I was too happy to harbor spite, so I entreated for Alexis, and the +kind Commandant, with his wife's permission, consented to set him at +liberty. Alexis came at once to see me. He expressed regret for all +that had happened, confessing that the fault was all his, and begged me +to forget the past. Being naturally incapable of revenge, I pardoned +him, forgiving both our quarrel and my wound. In his calumny I now +saw the irritation of wounded vanity and despised love. I generously +forgave my unfortunate rival. As soon as completely cured I returned +to my lodging. I awaited impatiently the reply to my letter, not +daring to hope, yet trying to stifle all sad presentiments. I had not +yet had an explanation with Basilia and her husband, but my suit could +not surprise them. Neither Marie nor I had concealed our feelings, +and we were sure in advance of their consent. + +At last, one pleasant day Saveliitch came to my room, letter in hand. +The address was written in my father's hand. This sight prepared me +for something grave, for usually my mother wrote me, and he only added +a few lines at the end. Long I hesitated to break the seal. I read +again and again the solemn superscription: + + "To my Son, + Peter Grineff, + Principality of Orenbourg, + Fortress of Belogorsk." + +I tried to discover by my father's writing his mood of mind when he +wrote that letter. At last I broke that seal. I saw from the first +lines that our hopes were crushed! Here is the letter: + + +"MY SON PETER: We received the 15th of this month the letter in which +you ask our paternal benediction and consent to your marriage with +Mironoff's daughter. Not only have I no intention of giving either my +consent or benediction, but I have a great mind to go to you and punish +you for your childish follies, notwithstanding your officer's rank, +because you have proved that you are not worthy to bear the sword which +was given you for the defense of your country, and not for the purpose +of fighting a duel with a fool of your own stamp. I shall write +instantly to Andrew Karlovitch to transfer you from the fortress of +Belogorsk to some still more distant place. Upon hearing of your wound +your mother was taken ill, and is still confined to her bed. What will +become of you? I pray God to reform you, but can scarcely hope for so +much from his goodness. Your father, A.G." + + +The harsh expressions which my father had not spared, wounded me +sorely; the contempt with which he treated Marie seemed to me as unjust +as it was undignified. Then the mere idea of being sent from this +fortress alarmed me; but above all, I grieved for my mother's illness. +Saveliitch came in for a share of my indignation, not doubting but that +he informed my parents of the duel. After having paced up and down my +little chamber, I stopped suddenly before the old man and said: "It +seems that it is not enough that you caused my wound, and brought +me almost to the brink of the grave, but that you want to kill my +mother too!" + +Saveliitch was as motionless as if lightning had struck him. "Have +mercy on me! my lord," said he, "what do you deign to tell me? I +caused your wound? God sees that I was running to put my breast +before you, to receive the sword of Alexis. This cursed age of mine +hindered me. But what have I done to your mother?" + +"What have you done? Who charged you to write an accusation against +me? Were you taken into my service to play the spy on me?" + +"I write an accusation?" replied the old man, quite broken down, "O +God! King of heaven! Here, read what the master writes me, and you +shall see if I denounced thee." At the same time he drew from his +pocket a letter which he gave me, and I read what follows: + +"Shame upon you, you old dog, that notwithstanding my strict orders +you wrote me nothing regarding my son, leaving to strangers the duty +of telling me of his follies. Is it thus you do your duty and fulfill +your master's will? I shall send you to keep the pigs, for having +concealed the truth, and for your condescension to the young man. +Upon receipt of this letter inform me immediately of the state of his +health, which is, I hear, improving, and tell me precisely the place +of his wound, and whether he has well attended." + +Evidently Saveliitch was not in the wrong, and I had offended him by my +suspicions and reproaches. I asked him to forgive me, but the old man +was inconsolable. "See to what I have lived!" he repeated; "see what +thanks I have merited from my masters for all my long services! I am +an old dog! I am a swine-herd, and more than all that, I caused your +wound. No, no, Peter, I am not in fault, it is the cursed Frenchman +who taught thee to play with these steel blades, and to stamp and +dance, as if by thrusting and dancing you could defend yourself from +a bad man." + +Now, then, who had taken the pains to accuse me to my father? The +General, Andrew Karlovitch? He did not trouble himself much about +me; moreover, Ivan Mironoff had not thought it worth while to report +my duel to him. My suspicions fell on Alexis. He only would find +some advantage in this information, the consequence of which might +be my dismissal from the fortress and separation from the Commandant's +family. I went to tell every thing to Marie. She met me on the +doorstep. + +"What has happened to you? how pale you are!" + +"All's over," I replied, handing her my father's letter. + +It was her turn to blanch. Having read the letter she returned it, +and said in a trembling voice: "It was not my destiny. Your parents +do not wish me in their family; may the will of God be done! He knows +better than we what is best for us. There is nothing to be done in +the matter, Peter; you, at least, may be happy." + +"It shall not be so," I exclaimed, taking her hand. "You love me, I +am ready for any fate. Let us go and throw ourselves at your parents' +feet. They are simple people; they are neither haughty nor cruel; they +will give us their benediction; we will marry; and in time, I am sure, +we will soften my father. My mother will intercede for us, and he will +pardon me." + +"No, Peter, I will not marry you without the benediction of your +parents. You would not be happy without their blessing. Let us submit +to the will of God. If you meet another bride, if you love her, may +God be with you! I, Peter, I will pray for both of you." Tears +interrupted her, and she went away; I wished to follow her into the +house, but I was not master of myself, and I went to my own quarters. +I was plunged in melancholy, when Saveliitch came to interrupt my +reflections. + +"There, my lord," said he, presenting me a sheet of paper all covered +with writing, "see if I am a spy on my master, and if I try to embroil +father and son." + +I took the paper from his hand; it was his reply to my father's letter. + +I could not help smiling at the old man's letter. I was in no +condition to write to my father, and to calm my mother his letter +seemed sufficient. + +From that day, Marie scarcely spoke to me, and even tried to avoid +me. The Commandant's house became insupportable, and I accustomed +myself, little by little, to remain alone in my room. At first +Basilia reasoned with me, but seeing my persistency she let me alone. +I saw Ivan Mironoff only when the service required it. I had but +rare interviews with Alexis, for whom my antipathy increased, because +I thought I discovered in him a secret enmity which confirmed my +suspicions. Life became a burden; I gave myself up to a melancholy +which was fed by solitude and inaction. Love burned on in silence +and tortured me, more and more. I lost all taste for reading and +literature; I let myself become completely depressed; and I feared +that I should either become a lunatic or rush into dissipation, when +events occurred that had great influence on my life and give a strong +and healthy tone to my mind. + + + + +VI. POUGATCHEFF. + + +Before beginning the recital of the strange events of which I was +witness, I ought to say a few words about the situation of affairs +toward the end of the year 1773. The rich and vast province of +Orenbourg was inhabited by a number of tribes, half civilized, who had +just recognized the sovereignty of the Russian Czars. Their continual +revolts, their impatience of law and civilized life, their inconstancy +and cruelty, demanded on the part of the government a constant +watchfulness to reduce them to obedience. Fortresses had been erected +in favorable places, and Cossacks, the former possessors of the shores +of the Iaik, in many places formed a part of the garrisons. But these +very Cossacks, who should have guaranteed the peace and security of +their districts, were restless and dangerous subjects of the empire. +In 1772 a riot occurred in one of their chief towns. This riot was +caused by the severity of the measures employed by General Traubenberg +to bring the army to obedience. The only result of these measures was +the barbarous murder of Traubenberg, a change of Imperial officers, +and in the end, by force of grape and canister, the suppression of +the riot. + +This happened shortly before my arrival at the fortress of Belogorsk. +Then all seemed quiet. But the authorities had too easily believed in +the feigned repentance of the rebels, who nursed their hate in silence, +and only awaited a propitious moment to recommence the struggle. + +I return to my story. Once evening, it was in the month of October, +1773, I was alone in the house, listening to the whistling of the +Autumn winds, and watching the clouds gliding rapidly before the moon. +An order came from the Commandant, calling me to his presence. I went +that instant. I found there Alexis, Ignatius and the Corporal of the +Cossacks, but neither the wife nor daughter of the Commandant. My +chief bade me good evening, had the door closed, and every one seated, +except the Corporal who remained standing; then he drew a paper from +his pocket and said to us: + +"Gentlemen, important news! Listen to what the General writes." He +put on his spectacles and read: + +"To the Commandant of the Fortress of Belogorsk, Captain Mironoff. +_Confidential_. I hereby inform you that the deserter and turbulent +Cossack of the Don, Imiliane Pougatcheff, after having been guilty of +the unpardonable insolence of usurping the name of the deceased Emperor +Peter III, has assembled a troop of brigands, disturbed the villages +of the Iaik, and has even taken and destroyed several fortresses, at +the same time committing everywhere robberies and assassinations. +Therefore, upon the receipt of this, you will, Captain, bethink you +of the measures to be taken to repulse the said robber and usurper; +and if possible, in case he turn his arms against the fortress +confided to your care, to completely exterminate him." + +"It is easy to talk," said the Commandant, taking off his spectacles, +and folding the paper; "but we must use every precaution. The rascal +seems strong, and we have only 130 men, even adding the Cossacks, upon +whom there is no dependence, be it said without reproach to thee, +Maxim." The Corporal of the Cossacks smiled. "Gentlemen, let us do +our part; be vigilant, post sentries, establish night patrols; in case +of an attack, shut the gates and call out the soldiers. Maxim, watch +well your Cossacks. It is necessary to examine the cannon and clean +it; and above all to keep the secret, that no one in the fortress +should know any thing before the time." + +Having given his orders, Ivan Mironoff dismissed us. I went out with +Alexis, speculating on what we had heard. "What do you think of it? +How will this end?" I asked him. + +"God knows," he replied, "we shall see. At present there is no +danger." And he began, as if thinking, to hum a French air. + +Notwithstanding our precautions the news of the apparition of +Pougatcheff spread through the fortress. However great the respect of +Ivan Mironoff for his wife, he would not reveal to her for anything in +the world a military secret. When he had received the General's letter +he very adroitly rid himself of Basilia by telling her that the Greek +priest had received from Orenbourg extraordinary news which he kept a +great mystery. Thereupon Basilia desired to pay a visit to Accouline, +the clergyman's wife, and by Mironoff's advice Marie went also. Master +of the situation, Ivan Mironoff locked up the maid in the kitchen and +assembled us. + +Basilia came home without news, and learned that during her absence +a council of war had been held, and that Polacca was imprisoned in +the kitchen. She suspected that her husband had deceived her, and +overwhelmed him with questions. He was prepared for the attack, and +stoutly replied to his curious better-half: + +"You see, my dear, the women about the country have been using straw +to kindle their fires; now as that might be dangerous, I assembled my +officers, and gave them orders to prevent these women lighting fires +with anything but fagots and brushwood." + +"And why did you lock up Polacca in the kitchen till my return?" Ivan +Mironoff had not foreseen that question, and muttered some incoherent +words. Basilia saw at once her husband's perfidy, but knowing that +she could extract nothing from him at that moment, she ceased her +questioning, and spoke of the pickled cucumbers which Accouline knew +how to prepare in a superior fashion. That night Basilia never closed +an eye, unable to imagine what it was that her husband knew that she +could not share with him. + +The next day, returning from mass, she saw Ignatius cleaning the +cannon, taking out rags, pebbles, bits of wood, and all sorts of +rubbish which the small boys had stuffed there. "What means these +warlike preparations?" thought the Commandant's wife? "Is an attack +from the Kirghis feared? Is it possible that Mironoff would hide from +me so mere a trifle?" She called Ignatius, determined to know the +secret that excited her woman's curiosity. Basilia began by making +some remarks about household matters, like a judge who begins his +interrogation with questions foreign to the affair, in order to +reassure the accused, and throw him off his guard. Then having paused +a moment she sighed and shook her head, saying: "O God! what news! +what news! What will become of us?" + +"My dear lady," said Ignatius, "the Lord is merciful; we have soldiers +and plenty of powder; I have cleaned the cannon. We may repulse this +Pougatcheff. If the Lord is with us, the wolf will eat no one here." + +"Who is Pougatcheff?" asked the Commandant's wife. + +Ignatius saw that he had gone too far, and he bit his tongue. But it +was too late. Basilia constrained him to tell her all, having given +her word to keep the secret. She kept her word, and indeed told no +one except Accoulina, whose cow was still on the steppe and might be +carried off by the brigands. Soon every one talked of Pougatcheff, the +current reports being very different. The Commandant sent out the +Corporal to pick up information about him in all the neighboring +villages and little forts. The Corporal returned after an absence of +two days, and declared that he had seen on the steppe, sixty versts +from the fortress, a great many fires, and that he had heard the +Bashkirs say that an innumerable force was advancing. He could not +tell anything definitely, having been afraid to venture farther. + +Great agitation was soon after this observed amongst the Cossacks of +our garrison. They assembled in groups in the streets, speaking in a +low tone amongst themselves, and dispersing as soon as they perceived +a dragoon or other Russian soldier. Orders were given to watch them. +Zoulac, a baptized Kalmouk, made a very grave revelation to the +Commandant. According to the Kalmouk, the Cossack made a false report; +for to his comrades the perfidious Corporal said that he had advanced +to the rebel camp, had been presented to their rebel chief, had kissed +his hand and conversed with him. The Commandant ordered the Corporal +under arrest, and replaced him by the Kalmouk. This change was +received by the Cossacks with visible discontent. They openly murmured +and Ignatius, when executing the Commandant's order, heard them say, +with his own ears, "wait, garrison rat, wait!" + +The Commandant decided to examine the Corporal that same day, but he +had escaped, no doubt, by the aid of his brother Cossacks. Another +event increased the Captain's uneasiness. A Bashkir was seized bearing +seditious letters. Upon this occasion, the Commandant decided to +call at once a council, and in order to do so, wished to send away +his wife under some specious pretext. But as Mironoff was the +simplest and most truthful of men, he could think of no other device +than that already employed. + +"You see, Basilia," said he, coughing several times, "Father Garasim +has, it is said, been to the city--" + +"Silence! silence!" interrupted his wife; "you are going to call +another council and talk in my absence of Imiliane Pougatcheff, but +this time you can not deceive me." + +The Captain stared; "Eh! well! my dear," said he, "since you know all, +stay; we may as well speak before you." + +"You cannot play the fox," said his wife; "send for the officers." + +We assembled again. The Commandant read, before his wife, +Pougatcheff's proclamation, written by some half-educated Cossack. +The brigand declared to us his intention of marching directly upon our +fortress, inviting the Cossacks and soldiers to join him, and advising +the chiefs not to resist, threatening, in that case, extremest torture. +The proclamation was written in vulgar but energetic terms, and must +have produced an impression upon simple-minded people. + +"What a rascal!" exclaimed the Captain's wife. "Just see what he +proposes. To go out and meet him and lay our flags at his feet. +Ah! the son of a dog! He does not know that we have been forty years +in service, and that, thank God, we have seen all sorts of military +life. Is it possible to find a Commandant cowardly enough to obey +this robber?" + +"It ought not to be," replied the Captain, "but it is said that the +villain has taken possession of several fortress." + +"It appears he is quite strong," said Alexis. + +"We shall instantly know his real force," continued the Commandant; +"Basilia, give me the key of the garret. Ignatius, bring the Bashkir +here, and tell Zoulac to bring the rods." + +"Wait a little, my dear," said the Commandant's wife, leaving her seat; +"let me take Marie out of the house, or else she will hear the screams +and be frightened. And, to tell the truth, I am, myself, not very +curious about such investigations. Until I see you again, adieu." + +Torture was then so rooted in the customs of justice, that the humane +Ukase of Catherine II, who had ordered its abolition, remained long +without effect. It was thought that the confession of the accused was +indispensable to his condemnation, an idea not only unreasonable, but +contrary to the most simple good sense in matters of jurisprudence; for +if the denial of the accused is not accepted as proof of his innocence, +the confession which is torn from him by torture ought to serve still +less as proof of his guilt. Even now I sometimes hear old judges +regret the abolition of this barbarous custom. But in the time of our +story no one doubted the necessity of torture, neither the judges nor +the accused themselves. For this reason the Captain's order did not +astonish any of us. Ignatius went for the Bashkir, and a few minutes +later he was brought to the waiting-room. The Commandant ordered him +into the council-room where we were. + +The Bashkir crossed the threshold with difficulty, for his feet were +shackled. He took off his high Cossack cap and stood near the door. I +looked at him and shuddered, involuntarily. Never shall I forget that +man; he seemed at least seventy years of age, and had neither nose nor +ears. His head was shaved; a few sparse gray hairs took the place of +beard. He was small of stature, thin and bent; but his Tartar eyes +still sparkled. + +"Eh! eh!" said the Commandant, who recognized by these terrible signs +one of the rebels punished in 1741. "You are an old wolf, I see; you +have already been caught in our snares. This is not your first +offense, for your head is so well planed off." + +The old Bashkir was silent, and looked at the Commandant with an air +of complete imbecility. + +"Well! why are you silent?" continued the Captain; "do you not +understand Russian? Zoulac, ask him, in your tongue, who sent him +into our fortress." + +The Kalmouk repeated in the Tartar language the Captain's question. +But the Bashkir looked at him with the same expression and without +answering a word. + +"I will make you answer," exclaimed the Captain, with a Tartar oath. +"Come, take off his striped dressing-gown, his fool's garment, and +scourge him well." + +Two pensioners commenced to remove the clothing from the shoulders of +the old man. Then, sore distress was vividly depicted on the face of +the unfortunate man. He looked on all sides, like a poor little animal +caught by children. But when one of the pensioners seized his hands to +turn them around his neck and lift up the old man on his shoulders; +when Zoulac took the rods and raised his hand to strike, then the +Bashkir uttered a low, but penetrating moan, and raising his head, +opened his mouth, where, in place of a tongue, moved a short stump! + +We were still debating, when Basilia rushed breathlessly into the room +with a terrified air. "What has happened to you?" asked the Commandant, +surprised. + +"Misfortune! misfortune!" replied she. "A fort was taken this morning; +Father Garasim's boy has just returned. He saw how it was captured. +The Commandant and all the officers are hanged, all the soldiers made +prisoners, and the rebels are coming here." + +This unexpected news made a deep impression on me, for I knew the +Commandant of that fortress. Two months ago, the young man, traveling +with his bride coming from Orenbourg, had paid a visit to Captain +Mironoff. The fort he commanded was only twenty-five versts from ours, +so that from hour to hour we might expect an attack from Pougatcheff. + +My imagination pictured the fate of Marie, and I trembled for her. + +"Listen, Captain Mironoff," said I to the Commandant, "our duty is to +defend the fortress to our last breath; that is understood, but the +safety of the women must be thought of; send them to a more distant +fortress,--to Orenbourg, if the route be still open." + +Mironoff turned to his wife. "You see my dear! indeed it would be +well to send you somewhere farther off until we shall have defeated +the rebels." + +"What nonsense!" replied she. "Where is the fortress that balls have +not reached? In what respect is our fortress unsafe? Thank God, we +have lived here twenty and one years. We have seen Bashkirs and +Kirghis; Pougatcheff can not be worse than they." + +"My dear, stay if you will, since your faith is so great in our +fortress. But what shall we do with Marie? It will be all well if we +can keep off the robber, or if help reach us in time. If the fortress, +however, be taken--" + +Basilia could only stammer a few words, and was silent, choked by +her feelings. + +"No, Basilia," continued the Commandant, who remarked that his words +made a deep impression on his wife, perhaps for the first time in his +life, "it is not advisable that Marie stay here. Let us send her to +Orenbourg, to her god-mother's. That is a well-manned fortress, with +stone walls and plenty of cannon. I would advise you to go there +yourself; think what might happen to you were your fortress to be +taken by assault." + +"Well! well! let us send Marie away," said the Captain's wife, "but +do not dream of asking me to go, for I will do nothing of the kind. +It is not becoming, in my old age, to separate myself from thee and +seek a solitary grave in a strange place. We have lived together; +let us die together." + +"You are right," said the Commandant. "Go, and equip Marie; there +is no time to lose; tomorrow, at the dawn of day, she shall set out; +she must have a convoy, though indeed there is no one to spare. Where +is she?" + +"She is at Accoulina's," said his wife. "She fainted upon hearing that +the fortress had been taken." + +Basilia went to prepare for her daughter's departure. The discussion +still continued at the Commandant's, but I took no further part in it. +Marie reappeared at supper with eyes red from tears. We supped in +silence and rose from the table sooner than usual. Having bade the +family good night, each one sought his room. I forgot my sword, on +purpose, and went back for it; I anticipated finding Marie alone. +In truth she met me at the door and gave me my sword. + +"Adieu, Peter," she said, weeping, "they send me to Orenbourg. Be +happy. Perhaps God will permit us to meet again; if not--" + +She burst into tears. I folded her in my arms. + +"Adieu, my angel!" I said, "adieu my cherished, my beloved; what ever +happens, be sure that my last thought, my last prayer, will be for +thee." Leaning of my breast, Marie wept. I kissed her and rushed out. + + + + +VII. THE ASSAULT. + + +I could not sleep during the night, and did not even undress. I +intended to be at the fortress gates at day-dawn to see Marie set out, +and bid her a last adieu. I was completely changed. Excitement was +less painful than my former melancholy, for with the grief of +separation there mingled vague but secret hope, impatient expectation +of danger, and a high ambition. Night passed quickly. I was on the +point of going out, when my door opened, and the Corporal entered, +saying that our Cossacks had deserted the fortress during the night, +forcing with them Zoulac, the Christian Kalmouk, and that all around +our ramparts, unknown people were riding. The idea that Marie had not +been able to get off, froze me with terror. I gave, in haste, a few +instructions to the Corporal, and ran to the Commandant's. + +Day was breaking. I was going down the street swiftly when I heard my +name called. I stopped. + +"Where are you going, dare I ask?" said Ignatius, catching up with +me; "the Captain is on the rampart and sends me for you. Pougatcheff +is here." + +"Is Marie gone?" I said, shuddering. + +"She was not ready in time; communication with Orenbourg is cut off; +the fortress is surrounded. Peter, this is bad work." + +We went to the rampart--a small height formed by nature and fortified +by a palisade. The garrison was there under arms. The cannon had been +dragged there the evening before. The Commandant was walking up and +down before his little troop--the approach of danger had restored to +the old warrior extraordinary vigor. On the steppe, not far from the +fortress, there were some twenty horsemen, who looked like Cossacks; +but amongst them were a few Bashkirs, easily recognized by their caps +and quivers. The Commandant passed before the ranks of his small army +and said to the soldiers: "Come, boys, let us fight today for our +mother the Empress, and show the world that we are brave men and +faithful to our oath." + +The soldiers, with loud shouts, testified their good will. Alexis was +standing by me examining the enemy. The people on the steppe, seeing, +no doubt, some movement in our fort, collected in groups and spoke +amongst themselves. The Commandant ordered Ignatius to point the +cannon upon them, he himself applying the light. The ball whistled +over their heads without doing them any harm. The horsemen dispersed +at once, setting off on a gallop, and the steppe became deserted. At +this moment Basilia appeared on the rampart, followed by Marie, who +would not leave her. + +"Well," said the Captain's wife, "how is the battle going? Where is +the enemy?" + +"The enemy is not far off," replied Ivan, "but if God wills it, all +will be well; and thou, Marie, art thou afraid?" + +"No, papa," said Marie, "I am more afraid by myself in the house." She +glanced at me, and tried to smile. I pressed my sword, remembering +that I had received it from her on the preceding eve, as if for her +defense. My heart was on fire. I fancied myself her knight, and +longed to prove myself worthy of her trust. I awaited the decisive +moment impatiently. + +Suddenly coming from behind a hill, eight versts from the fortress, +appeared new groups of horsemen, and soon the whole steppe was covered +by men armed with lances and arrows. Amongst them, wearing a scarlet +cafetan, sword in hand, could be distinguished a man mounted on a +white horse. This was Pougatcheff himself. He halted, was surrounded +by his followers, and very soon, probably by his orders, four men +left the crowd and galloped to our ramparts. We recognized among +them our traitors. One of them raised a sheet of paper above his cap +and another carried on the point of his lance Zoulac's head, which he +threw to us over the palisade. The poor Kalmouk's head rolled at the +feet of the Commandant. + +The traitors shouted to us: "Do not fire, come out and receive the +Czar. The Czar is here." + +"Fire!" shouted the Captain as sole reply. + +The soldiers discharged their pieces. The Cossack who held the letter, +tottered and fell from his horse; the others fled. I glanced at Marie. +Petrified by horror at the sight of the Kalmouk's head, dizzy from the +noise of the discharge, she seemed lifeless. The Commandant ordered +the Corporal to take the letter from the hand of the dead Cossack. +Ignatius sallied out and returned, leading by the bridle the man's +horse. He gave the letter to Ivan, who read it in a low voice and +tore it up. Meantime the rebels were preparing for an attack. Very +soon balls whistled about our ears, and arrows fell around us, buried +deep in the ground. + +"Basilia," said the Captain, "women have nothing to do here; take away +Marie; you see the child is more dead than alive." Basilia, whom the +sound of the balls had rendered more yielding, glanced at the steppe +where much movement was visible, and said: "Ivan, life and death are +from God; bless Marie; come, child, to thy father." + +Pale and trembling, Marie came and knelt, bending low before him. The +old Commandant made three times the sign of the cross over her, then +raising, kissed her, and said in a broken voice: "Oh! my dear Marie! +pray to God, he will never abandon thee. If an honest man seek thee, +may God give you both love and goodness. Live together as we have +lived; my wife and I. Adieu! my dear Marie! Basilia, take her away +quickly." + +Marie put her arms around his neck and sobbed. The Captain's wife, in +tears, said: "Embrace us also; adieu, Ivan; if ever I have crossed +you, forgive me." + +"Adieu! adieu! my dear," said the Commandant, kissing his old +companion. "Come! enough! go to the house, and if you have time dress +Marie in her best; let her wear a sarafan, embroidered in gold, as is +our custom for burial." + +Ivan Mironoff returned to us, and fixed all his attention upon the +enemy. The rebels collected around their chief and suddenly began to +advance. "Be firm, boys," said the Commandant, "the assault begins." +At that instant savage war-cries were heard. The rebels were +approaching the fortress with their accustomed fleetness. Our cannon +was charged with grape and canister. The Commandant let them come +within short range, and again put a light to his piece. The shot +struck in the midst of the force, which scattered in every direction. +Only their chief remained in advance, and he, waving his sabre, seemed +to be rallying them. Their piercing shouts, which had ceased an +instant, redoubled again. "Now, children," ordered the Captain, "open +the gate, beat the drum, and advance! Follow me, for a sortie!" + +The Captain, Ignatius and I were in an instant beyond the parapet. +But the frightened garrison had not moved from the square. "What +are you doing, my children?" shouted the Captain; "if we must die, +let us die; the imperial service demands it!" + +At this moment the rebels fell upon us, and forced the entrance to +the citadel. The drum was silent; the garrison threw down their arms. +I had been knocked down, but I rose and entered, pell-mell, with the +crowds into the fortress. I saw the Commandant wounded on the head, +and closed upon by a small troop of bandits, who demanded the keys. +I was running to his aid when several powerful Cossacks seized me and +bound me with their long sashes, crying out: "Wait there, traitor to +the Czar, till we know what to do with you." + +We were dragged along the streets. The inhabitants came out of their +houses offering bread and salt. The bells were rung. Suddenly, shouts +announced that the Czar was on the square, awaiting to receive the +oaths of the prisoners. + +Pougatcheff was seated in an arm-chair on the steps of the Commandant's +house. He was robed in an elegant Cossack cafetan embroidered on the +seams. A high cap of martin-skin, ornamented with gold tassels, +covered his brow almost to his flashing eyes. His face seemed to me +not unknown. Cossack chiefs surrounded him. Father Garasim, pale and +trembling, stood, the cross in his hand, at the foot of the steps, and +seemed to supplicate in silence for the victims brought before him. + +On the square itself, a gallows was hastily erected. When we +approached, the Bashkirs opened a passage through the crowd and +presented us to Pougatcheff. The bells ceased; the deepest silence +prevailed. "Which is the Commandant?" asked the usurper. Our Corporal +came out of the crowd and pointed to Mironoff. Pougatcheff looked at +the old man with a terrible expression, and said to him: "How did you +dare to oppose me, your emperor?" + +The Commandant, weakened by his wound, collected all his energy, and +said, in a firm but faint voice: "You are not my emperor; you are a +usurper and a brigand." + +Pougatcheff frowned and raised his white handkerchief. Immediately the +old Captain was seized by Cossacks and dragged to the gibbet. Astride +the cross-beam of the gallows, sat the mutilated Bashkirs who we had +questioned; he held a rope in his hand, and I saw, an instant after, +poor Ivan Mironoff suspended in the air. Then Ignatius was brought up +before Pougatcheff. + +"Take the oath to the emperor, Peter Fedorovitch." + +"You are not our emperor," replied the Lieutenant, repeating his +Captain's words, "you are a brigand and a usurper." + +Pougatcheff again made a signal with his handkerchief, and the kind +Ignatius hung beside his ancient chief. It was my turn. I looked +boldly at Pougatcheff, preparing to repeat the words of my brave +comrades, when to my inexpressible astonishment I saw Alexis amongst +the rebels. He had had time to cut his hair round, and exchange his +uniform for a Cossack cafetan. He approached Pougatcheff and whispered +to him. "Let him be hung," said Pougatcheff, not deigning to look at +me. A rope was put around my neck. I uttered a prayer to God in a low +voice, expressing sincere repentance for my sins, and imploring him to +save all those dear to my heart. I was led beneath the gibbet. A +shout was heard, "Stop! Stop!" The executioners paused. I looked. +Saveliitch was kneeling at Pougatcheff's feet. "O my lord and master," +said my dear old serf, "what do you want with that nobleman's child? +Set him free, you will get a good ransom for his life; but for an +example, and to frighten the rest, command that I, an old man, shall +be hung." + +Pougatcheff made a sign. They unbound me at once. "Our emperor +pardons you," they said. At the moment I did not know that my +deliverance was a cause for joy or for sorrow. My mind was too +confused. I was taken again before the usurper and made to kneel at +his feet. Pougatcheff offered me his muscular hand. "Kiss his hand! +Kiss his hand!" cried out all around me. But I would have preferred +the most atrocious torture to a degradation so infamous. "My dear +Peter," whispered Saveliitch, who was standing behind me, "do not +play the obstinate; what does it cost? Kiss the brigand's hand." + +I did not move. Pougatcheff drew back his hand: "His lordship is +stupefied with joy; raise him up," said he. I was at liberty. Then +I witnessed the continuation of the infamous comedy. + +The inhabitants began to take the oath. They went one by one to kiss +the cross and salute the usurper. After them came the garrison +soldiers. The company's tailor, armed with his great blunt-pointed +shears, cut off their queues; they shook their heads and kissed the +hand of Pougatcheff, who declared them pardoned and received into his +troops. This lasted for nearly three hours. At last Pougatcheff rose +from his arm-chair and went down the steps, followed by his chiefs. A +white horse richly caparisoned was led to him; tow Cossacks helped him +into the saddle. He signified to Father Garasim that he would dine +with him. At this moment wild heart-rending shrieks from a woman +filled the air. Basilia, without her mantle, her hair in disorder, +1was dragged out on the steps; one the brigands had on her mantle; the +others were carrying away her chests, her linen, and other household +goods. "O good men," she cried, "let me go, take me to Ivan Mironoff." +Suddenly she saw the gibbet and recognized her husband. "Wretches," +she cried, "What have you done? O my light, Ivan! Brave soldier! no +Prussian ball, nor Turkish sabre killed thee, but a vile condemned +deserter." + +"Silence that old sorceress," said Pougatcheff. + +A young Cossack struck her with his sabre on the head. She fell +dead at the foot of the steps. Pougatcheff rode off, all the +people following. + + + + +VIII. THE UNEXPECTED VISIT. + + +I stood in the vacant square, unable to collect my thoughts, disturbed +by so many terrible emotions. Uncertainty about Marie's fate tortured +me. Where is she? Is she concealed? Is her retreat safe? I went to +the Commandant's house. It was in frightful disorder; the chairs, +tables, presses had been burned up and the dishes were in fragments. +I rushed up the little stairs leading to Marie's room, which I entered +for the first time in my life. A lamp still burned before the shrine +which had enclosed the sacred objects revered by all true believers. +The clothes-press was empty, the bed broke up. The robbers had not +taken the little mirror hanging between the door and the window. What +had become of the mistress of this simple, virginal abode? A terrible +thought flashed through my mind. Marie in hands of the brigands! +My heart was torn, and I cried aloud: "Marie! Marie!" I heard a +rustle. Polacca, quite pale, came from her hiding-place behind the +clothes-press. + +"Ah! Peter," said she, clasping her hands, "what a day! what horrors!" + +"Marie?" I asked impatiently, "Marie--where is she?" + +"The young lady is alive," said the maid, "concealed at Accoulina's, +at the house of the Greek priest." + +"Great God!" I cried, with terror, "Pougatcheff is there!" + +I rushed out of the room, made a bound into the street and ran wildly +to the priest's house. It was ringing with songs, shouts and laughter. +Pougatcheff was at table there with his men. Polacca had followed me; +I sent her in to call out Accoulina secretly. Accoulina came into the +waiting-room, an empty bottle in her hand. + +"In the name of heaven, where is Marie?" I asked with agitation. + +"The little dove is lying on my bed behind the partition. Oh! Peter, +what danger we have just escaped! The rascal had scarcely seated +himself at table than the poor thing moaned. I thought I should die +of fright. He heard her. 'Who is moaning in your room, old woman?' +'My niece, Czar.' 'Let me see your niece, old woman.' I saluted him +humbly; 'My niece, Czar, has not strength to come before your grace.' +'Then I will go and see her.' And will you believe it, he drew the +curtains and looked at our dove, with his hawk's eyes! The child did +not recognize him. Poor Ivan Mironoff! Basilia! Why was Ignatius +taken, and you spared? What do you think of Alexis? He has cut his +hair and now hobnobs with them in there. When I spoke of my sick +niece he looked at me as if he would run me through with his knife. +But he said nothing, and we must be thankful for that." + +The drunken shouts of the guests, and the voice of Father Garasim now +resounded together; the brigands wanted more wine, and Accoulina was +needed. "Go back to your house, Peter," said she, "woe to you, if you +fall into his hands!" + +She went to serve her guests; I, somewhat quieted, returned to my room. +Crossing the square, I saw some Bashkirs stealing the boots from the +bodies of the dead. I restrained my useless anger. The brigands had +been through the fortress and had pillaged the officers' houses. + +I reached my lodging. Saveliitch met me at the threshold. "Thank +God!" he cried. "Ah! master, the rascals have taken everything; but +what matter, since they did not take your life. Did you not recognize +their chief, master?" + +"No, I did not; who is he?" + +"What, my dear boy, have you forgotten the drunkard who cheated you +out of the touloup the day of the snow-drift--a hare-skin touloup?-- +the rascal burst all the seams putting it on." + +My eyes were opened. The resemblance between the guide and Pougatcheff +was striking. I now understood the pardon accorded me. I recalled +with gratitude the lucky incident. A youth's touloup given to a +vagabond had saved my neck; and this drunkard, capturing fortress, +had shaken the very empire. + +"Will you not deign to eat something?" said Saveliitch, true to his +instincts; "there is nothing in the house, it is true, but I will find +something and prepare it for you." + +Left alone, I began to reflect that not to leave the fortress, now +subject to the brigand, or to join his troops, would be unworthy of +an officer. Duty required me to go and present myself where I could +still be useful to my country. But love counseled me, with no less +force, to stay near Marie, to be her protector and champion. Although +I foresaw a near and inevitable change in the march of events, still I +could not, without trembling, contemplate the danger of her position. + +My reflections were interrupted by the entrance of a Cossack, who came +to announce that the "great Czar" called me to his presence. "Where is +he?" I asked, preparing to obey. "In the commandant's house," replied +the Cossack. "After dinner the Czar went to the vapor baths. It must +be confessed that all his ways are imperial! He can do more than +others; at dinner he deigned to eat two roast milk-pigs; afterward at +the bath he endured the highest degree of heat; even the attendant +could not stand it; he handed the brush to another and was restored to +consciousness only by the application of cold water. It is said that +in the bath, the marks of the true Czar were plainly seen on his +breast--a picture of his own face and a double-headed eagle." + +I did not think it necessary to contradict the Cossack, and I followed +him to the Commandant's, trying to fancy in advance my interview with +Pougatcheff, and its result. The reader may imagine that I was not +quite at ease. Night was falling as I reached the house. The gibbet +with its victims still stood, black and terrible. The poor body of our +good Basilia was lying under the steps, near which two Cossacks mounted +guard. He who had brought me, entered to announce my arrival; he +returned at once, and led me to the room where the evening before I had +taken leave of Marie. At a table covered with a cloth, and laden with +bottles and glasses, sat Pougatcheff, surrounded by some ten Cossack +chiefs in colored caps and shirts, with flushed faces and sparkling +eyes, the effect, no doubt, of the wine-cup. + +I saw neither of our traitors, Alexis or the Corporal, amongst them. + +"Ah! your lordship, it is you?" said their chief, on seeing me. "Be +welcome! Honor and place at the table!" + +The guests drew closer together. I took a place at the end of the +table. My neighbor, a young Cossack of slender form and handsome face, +poured out a bumper of brandy for me. I did not taste it. I was busy +considering the assembly. Pougatcheff was seated in the place of +honor, elbow on table, his heavy, black beard resting upon his muscular +hand. His features, regular and handsome, had no ferocious expression. +He often spoke to a man of some fifty years, calling him now Count, +again Uncle. All treated each other as comrades, showing no very +marked deference for their chief. They talked of the assault that +morning; of the revolt, its success, and of their next operations. +Each one boasted of his prowess, gave his opinions, and freely +contradicted Pougatcheff. In this strange council of war, they +resolved to march upon Orenbourg, a bold move, but justified by +previous successes. The departure was fixed for the next day. Each +one drank another bumper, and rising, took leave of Pougatcheff. I +wished to follow them, but the brigand said: "Wait, I want to speak +to you." + +Pougatcheff looked at me fixedly in silence for a few seconds, winking +his left eye with the most cunning, mocking expression. At last he +burst into a long peal of laughter, so hearty, that I, just from seeing +him, began to laugh, without knowing why. + +"Well, my lord," said he, "confess that you were frightened, when my +boys put the rope around your neck? The sky must have seemed to you +then as big as a sheep-skin. And if not for your servant, you would +have been swinging up there from the cross-beam; but at that very +instant I recognized the old owl. Would you have thought that the man +who led you to a shelter on the steppe was the great Czar himself?" +Saying these words, he assumed a grave and mysterious air. "You have +been very guilty," continued he, "but I have pardoned you, for having +done me a kindness, when I was obliged to hide from my enemies. I +shall load you with favors, when I shall have regained my empire. Do +you promise to serve me with zeal?" + +The bandit's question and impudence made me smile. + +"Why do you laugh?" said he, frowning, "do you not believe that I am +the great Czar? Answer frankly." + +I was troubled. I could not recognize a vagabond as the emperor; to +call him an impostor to his face was to doom myself to death; and the +sacrifice which I was ready to make under the gibbet that morning, +before all the people, in the first flush of indignation, seemed now +a useless bravado. Pougatcheff awaited my answer in fierce silence. +At last (I still remember with satisfaction that duty triumphed over +human weakness) I replied to Pougatcheff. + +"I will tell you the truth and let you decide. Should I recognize you +as the Czar, as you are a man of intelligence, you would see that I am +lying." + +"Then who am I? in your opinion." + +"God knows, but whoever you are, you are playing a dangerous game." + +Pougatcheff gave me a sharp, quick glance. "You do not believe that I +am the emperor, Peter III? Be it so. Have not bold men succeeded +before me and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but +stay with me. What matters it whom you serve? Success is right. +Serve under me, and I will make you a field-marshal, a prince. What +say you?" + +"No," said I. "I am a nobleman. I have taken an oath to her majesty, +the Empress; I can not serve with you. If truly you wish me well, send +me to Orenbourg." + +Pougatcheff reflected. "If I send you there, you will, at least, +promise not to bear arms against me?" + +"How can I promise that? If I am ordered to march against you, I must +go. You are now a chief; you desire your subordinates to obey you. +No, my life is in your hand; if you give me liberty, thanks; if you +put me to death, may God judge you." + +My frankness pleased him. "Be it so," said he, slapping me on the +shoulders, "pardon or punish to the end. You can go the four quarters +of the world, and do as you like. Come tomorrow, and bid me good-bye. +Now go to bed--I require rest myself." + +I went out into the street. The night was clear and cold; the moon and +stars shone out in all their brightness, lighting up the square and the +gibbet. All was quiet and dark in the rest of the fortress. At the +inn some lights were visible, and belated drinkers broke the stillness +by their shouts. I glanced at Accoulina's house; the doors and windows +were closed, and all seemed perfectly quiet there. I went to my room, +and found Saveliitch deploring my absence. I told him of my freedom. +"Thanks to thee, O God!" said he, making the sign of the cross; +"tomorrow we shall set out at daybreak. I have prepared something for +you; eat and then sleep till morning, tranquil as if in the bosom of +the Good Shepherd." + +I followed his advice, and after having supped, fell asleep on the bare +floor, as fatigued in mind as in body. + + + + +IX. THE SEPARATION. + + +The drum awoke me early the next morning. I went out on the square. +Pougatcheff's troops were there, falling into rank, around the gibbet, +to which still hung the victims of yesterday. The Cossacks were +mounted; the infantry and artillery, with our single gun, were +accoutred ready for the march. The inhabitants were also assembled +there awaiting the usurper. Before the steps of the Commandant's +house a Cossack held by the bridle a magnificent white horse. My +eyes sought the body of our good Basilia. It had been dragged aside +and covered with an old bark mat. At last Pougatcheff came out on +the steps, and saluted the crowd. All heads were bared. One of the +chiefs handed him a bag of copper coin, which he threw by the handful +among the people. Perceiving me in the crowd, he signed to me to +approach. + +"Listen," said he, "go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to the +Governor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. +Counsel them to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise +they shall not escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you." +The principal followers of Pougatcheff surrounded him, Alexis amongst +others. The usurper turned to the people, and pointing to Alexis, +said: "Behold your new Commandant; obey him in every thing; he is +responsible for you and for the fortress." + +The words made me shudder. What would become of Marie? Pougatcheff +descended the steps and vaulted quickly into his saddle without the +aid of his attendant Cossacks. At that moment Saveliitch came out of +the crowd, approached the usurper, and presented him a sheet of paper. + +"What is this?" asked Pougatcheff, with dignity. + +"Read, you will deign to see," replied the serf. + +Pougatcheff examined the paper. "You write very illegibly; where is +my Secretary?" + +A boy in corporal's uniform came running to the brigand. "Read aloud," +said he. I was curious to know for what purpose the old man had +written to Pougatcheff. The Secretary began to spell out in a loud +voice what follows: + +"Two dressing-gowns, one in percale, the other in striped silk, +six roubles." + +"What does this mean?" said Pougatcheff, frowning. + +"Command him to read on," replied Saveliitch, with perfect calmness. + +The Secretary continued: "One uniform in fine green cloth, seven +roubles; one pair of white cloth pantaloons, five roubles; twelve +shirts of Holland linen, with cuffs, ten roubles; one case containing +a tea-service, two roubles." + +"What nonsense is this?" said Pougatcheff. + +"What have I to do with tea-sets and Holland cuffs?" + +Saveliitch coughed to clear his voice, and began to explain: "That, my +lord, deign to understand, is the bill of my master's goods carried off +by the thieves." + +"What thieves?" asked Pougatcheff, with a terrible air. + +"Pardon me," said Saveliitch. "Thieves? No, they were not thieves; my +tongue slipped; yet your boys went through everything and carried off +plenty. That can not be denied. Do not be angry. The horse has four +legs and yet he stumbles. Command that he read to the end." + +"Well, read," said Pougatcheff. + +"One Persian blanket, one quilt of wadded silk, four roubles; one +pelisse of fox-skin, covered with red ratine, forty roubles; one small +touloup of hare-skin left with your grace, on the steppe, fifteen +roubles." + +"What?" cried Pougatcheff, with flashing eyes. + +I must say I feared for the old man, who was beginning new explanations, +when the brigand interrupted him: + +"How dare you annoy me with these trifles?" said he, snatching the +paper from the Secretary and throwing it in the old man's face. "You +have been despoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God +that you are not hanging up there, with the other rebels, both you +and your master. I'll give you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know +that I will have you flayed alive, that touloups may be made of you?" + +"As you please," replied Saveliitch; "but I am not a free man, and I +am responsible for my master's goods." + +Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his head +and set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him. +The whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming an +escort. I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in his +hand the bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not help +laughing. + +"Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished +again, we shall see if it be a laughing matter." + +I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sad +piece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poor +girl. Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious +and did not recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her +countenance. The position of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders, +alarmed me as much as my inability to protect grieved me. Alexis, +above all, was to be feared. Chief, invested with the usurper's +authority, in the fortress with this unhappy girl, he was capable of +any crime. What ought I to do to deliver her? To set out at once for +Orenbourg, to hasten the deliverance of Belogorsk, and to co-operate +in it, if possible. I took leave of Father Garasim and Accoulina, +recommending to them Marie, who I already looked upon as my wife. I +kissed the young girl's hand, and left the room. + +"Adieu, Peter Grineff," said Accoulina. "Do not forget us. Except +you, Marie has no support or consolation." Choked by emotion, I did +not reply. Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet. +With bare head I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road +to Orenbourg, accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me. +Thus plunged in thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind +me, I turned my head and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a +horse, and making signs to me that I should wait. I recognized our +Corporal. Having caught up with us, he dismounted from his own horse, +and giving me the bridle of the other, said: "Our Czar makes you a +gift of a horse, and a pelisse from his own shoulder." To the saddle +was tied a sheep-skin touloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking +Saveliitch up behind me. "You see, my lord," said my serf, "that my +petition to the bandit was not useless! And although this old hack and +this peasant's touloup are not worth half what the rascals stole, yet +they are better than nothing. 'A worthless dog yields even a handful +of hair.'" + + + + +X. THE SIEGE. + + +Approaching Orenbourg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with shaved heads +and faces disfigured by the pincers of the public executioner. At +that time red-hot irons were applied to tear out the nostrils of the +condemned. They were working at the fortifications of the place under +the supervision of the garrison pensioners. Some carried away in +wheel-barrows the rubbish that filled the ditch, others threw up the +earth, while masons were examining and repairing the walls. The sentry +stopped us at the gate and asked for our passports. When the sergeant +heard that we were from Belogorsk he took me at once to the General, +who was in his garden. I found him examining the apple trees, which +autumnal winds had already despoiled of their leaves; assisted by an +old gardener, he covered them carefully with straw. His face expressed +calmness, good humor and health. He seemed very glad to see me, and +questioned me about the terrible events I had witnessed. The old man +heard me attentively, and whilst listening, cut off the dead branches. + +"Poor Mironoff!" said he, when I had finished my story; "it is a pity; +he was a brave officer; and Madame Mironoff a kind lady, an expert in +pickling mushrooms. What has become of Marie, the Captain's daughter?" + +"She is in the fortress, at the house of the Greek priest." + +"Aye! aye! aye!" exclaimed the General. "That's bad, very bad; for it +is impossible to depend upon the discipline of brigands." + +I observed that the fortress of Belogorsk was not far off, and that +probably his Excellency would send a detachment of troops to deliver +the poor inhabitants. + +The General shook his head, doubtfully. "We shall see! we shall see! +there is plenty of time to talk about it; come, I beg you, to take tea +with me. Tonight there will be a council of war; you can give us some +precise information regarding this Pougatcheff and his army. Meantime, +go and rest." + +I went to my allotted quarters, where I found Saveliitch already +installed. I awaited impatiently the hour indicated, and the reader +may believe that I did not fail to be present at this council, which +was to influence my whole life. I found at the General's a custom- +house officer, the Director, as well as I can remember a little old +man, red-faced and fat, wearing a robe of black watered silk. He +questioned me about the fate of the Captain Mironoff, whom he called +his chum, and often interrupted me by sententious remarks, which, if +they did not prove him to be a man well versed in war, showed his +natural intelligence and shrewdness. During this time other guests +arrived. When all had taken their places, and to each had been +offered a cup of tea, the General carefully stated the questions to +be considered. + +"Now, gentlemen," said he, "we must decide what action is to be taken +against the rebels. Shall we act offensively, or defensively? Each +of these ways has its advantages and disadvantages. Offensive war +presents more hope of a rapid extermination of the enemy, but defensive +war is safer and offers fewer dangers. Let us then take the vote in +legal order; that is, consult first the youngest in rank. Ensign," +continued he, addressing me, "deign to give your opinion." + +I rose, and in a few words depicted Pougatcheff and his army. I +affirmed that the usurper was not in a condition to resist disciplined +forces. My opinion was received by the civil service employes with +visible discontent. They saw nothing in it but the levity of a young +man. A murmur arose, and I heard distinctly the word "hare-brained" +murmured in a low voice. The General turned to me smiling, and said: + +"Ensign, the first votes (the youngest) in war councils, are for +offensive measures. Now let us continue to collect the votes. The +College Director will give us his opinion." + +The little old man in black silk, a College Director, as well as a +customs officer, swallowed his third cup of tea, well dashed with a +strong dose of rum, and hastened to speak: + +"Your Excellency," said he, "I think that we ought to act neither +offensively nor defensively." + +"What's that, sir?" said the General, stupefied; "military tactics +present no other means; we must act either offensively or defensively." + +"Your Excellency, act _subornatively_." + +"Eh! eh! Your opinion is judicious," said the General; "subornative +acts--that is to say, indirect acts--are also admitted by the science +of tactics, and we will profit by your counsel. We might offer for the +rascal's head seventy or even a hundred roubles, to be taken out of the +secret funds." + +"And then," interrupted the man in silk, "may I be a Kirghis ram, +instead of a College Director, if the thieves do not bring their chief +to you, chained hand and foot." + +"We can think about it," said the General. "But let us, in any case, +take some military measures. Gentlemen, give your votes in legal +order." + +All the opinions were contrary to mine. All agreed, that it was better +to stay behind a strong stone wall, protected by cannon, than to tempt +fortune in the open field. Finally, when all the opinions were known, +the General shook the ashes from his pipe and pronounced the following +discourse: + +"Gentlemen, I am of the Ensign's opinion, for it is according to the +science of military tactics, which always prefers offensive movements +to defensive." He stopped and stuffed the tobacco into his pipe. I +glanced exultingly at the civil service employes, who, with +discontented looks, were whispering to each other. + +"But, gentlemen," continued he, giving out with a sigh a long puff of +smoke, "I dare not assume the responsibility. I go with the majority, +which has decided that we await in this city the threatened siege, and +repulse the enemy by the power of artillery, and if possible, by well- +directed sorties." + +The council broke up. I could not but deplore the weakness of the +worthy soldier, who, contrary to his own convictions, decided to follow +the opinion of ignorant inexperience. + +Some days after this famous council of war, Pougatcheff, true to his +word, approached Orenbourg. From the top of the city walls I made a +reconnaissance of the rebel army. It seemed to me that their number +had increased ten-fold. They had more artillery, taken from the small +forts captured by Pougatcheff. Remembering our council, I foresaw a +long captivity behind the walls of Orenbourg, and I was ready to cry +with chagrin. Far from me the intention of describing the siege of +Orenbourg, which belongs to history and not to family memoirs. Suffice +it to say, that this siege was disastrous to the inhabitants, who had +to suffer hunger and privations of every kind. Life at Orenbourg +became insupportable. The decision of fate was awaited with anguish. +Food was scarce; bombshells fell upon the defenseless houses of +citizens. The attacks of Pougatcheff made very little excitement. I +was dying of _ennui_. I had promised Accoulina that I would correspond +with her, but communication was cut off, and I could not send or +receive a letter from Belogorsk. My only pastime consisted in military +sorties. Thanks to Pougatcheff I had an excellent horse, and I shared +my meager pittance with it. I went out every day beyond the ramparts +to skirmish with Pougatcheff's advance guards. The rebels had the best +of it; they had plenty of food and were well mounted. Our poor cavalry +were in no condition to oppose them. Sometimes our half-starved +infantry went into the field; but the depth of the snow hindered them +from acting successfully against the flying cavalry of the enemy. The +artillery vainly thundered from the ramparts, and in the field it could +not advance, because of the weakness of our attenuated horses. This +was our way of making war; this is what the civil service employes of +Orenbourg called prudence and foresight. + +One day when we had routed and driven before us quite a large troop, I +overtook a straggling Cossack; my Turkish sabre was uplifted to strike +him when he doffed his cap and cried out: "Good day, Peter, how fares +your health?" + +I recognized our Corporal. I was delighted to see him. + +"Good day, Maxim. How long since you left Belogorsk?" + +"Not long, Peter. I came yesterday. I have a letter for you." + +"Where is it?" I cried, delighted. + +"Here," replied Maxim, putting his hand in his bosom. "I promised +Polacca to try and give it to you." He gave me a folded paper, and +set off on a gallop. I read with agitation the following lines: + +"By the will of God I am deprived of my parents, and except you, Peter, +I know of no one who can protect me; Alexis commands in place of my +late father. He so terrified Father Garasim that I was obliged to go +and live at our house, where I am cruelly treated by Alexis. He will +force me to become his wife. He says he saved my life by not betraying +the trick of passing for the niece of Accoulina. I could rather die +than be his wife. I have three days to accept his offer; after that I +need expect no mercy from him. O, Peter! entreat your General to send +us help, and if possible, come yourself. MARIE MIRONOFF." + +This letter nearly crazed me. I rushed back to the city, not sparing +the spur to my poor horse. A thousand projects flashed through my mind +to rescue her. Arrived in the city, I hurried to the General's and ran +into his room. He was walking up and down smoking his meerschaum. +Seeing me he stopped, alarmed at my abrupt entrance. + +"Your Excellency, I come to you, as to my own father; do not refuse me; +the happiness of my life depends upon it." + +"But what is it?" said the General; "what can I do for you?" + +"Your Excellency, permit me to take a battalion of soldiers and half a +hundred Cossacks, to go and storm the fortress of Belogorsk." + +"Storm the fortress?" said the General. + +"I answer for the success of the attack, only let me go." + +"No, young man," said he; "at so great a distance the enemy would +easily cut off all communication with the principal strategic point." + +I was frightened by his military wisdom, and hastened to interrupt him: +"Captain Mironoff's daughter has written me, begging for relief. +Alexis threatens to compel her to be his wife!" + +"Ah! Alexis, traitor! If he fall into my hands I shall try him in +twenty-four hours, and he shall be shot on the glacis of the fortress! +meantime patience." + +"Patience!" I cried; "in the interval Marie will be compelled to +obey him." + +"Oh," said the General, "that would not be a misfortune--it is better +that she should become the wife of Alexis, who can protect her. When +we shall have shot the traitor, then she will find a better husband." + +"I would rather die," I said with fury, "than yield her to Alexis." + +"I understand it all now," said the old man. "You are, no doubt, in +love yourself with Marie Mironoff. That's another thing. Poor boy! +Still, I can not give you a battalion and fifty Cossacks. The thing is +unreasonable." I hung my head in despair. But I had a plan of my own. + + + + +XI. THE REBEL CAMP. + + +I left the General and hastened to my quarters. Saveliitch received me +with his usual remonstrance: "What pleasure, my lord, is there in +fighting these drunken brigands? If they were Turks or Swedes, all +right; but these sons of dogs--" + +I interrupted him: "How much money have I in all?" + +"You have plenty," said he with a satisfied air. "I knew how to whisk +it out of sight of the rogues." He drew from his pocket a long knitted +purse full of silver coin. + +"Saveliitch, give me half of what you have there, and keep the rest +for yourself. I am off for the fortress of Belogorsk." + +"Oh, Peter!" said the old serf, "do you not fear God? The roads are +cut off. Have pity on your parents; wait a little; our troops will +come and disperse the brigands, and then you can go to the four +quarters of the world." + +"It is too late to reflect. I must go. Do not grieve, Saveliitch; I +make you a present of that money. Buy what you need. If I do not +return in three days--" + +"My dear," said the old man, "I will go with you, were it on foot. If +you go, I must first lose my senses before I will stay crouching behind +stone walls." + +There was never any use disputing with the old man. In half an hour +I was in the saddle, Saveliitch on an old, half-starved, limping +rosinante, which a citizen, not having fodder, had given for nothing +to the serf. We reached the city gates; the sentinels let us pass, +and we were finally out of Orenbourg. Night was falling. My road lay +before the town of Berd, the headquarters of Pougatcheff. This road +was blocked up and hidden by snow; but across the steppe were traces +of horses, renewed from day to day, apparently, and clearly visible. +I was going at a gallop, Saveliitch could scarcely keep up and shouted, +"Not so fast! My nag can not follow yours." Very soon we saw the +lights of Berd. We were approaching deep ravines, which served as +natural fortifications to the town. Saveliitch, without however being +left behind, never ceased his lamentations. I was in hopes of passing +safely the enemy's place, when I saw through the darkness five peasants +armed with big sticks--Pougatcheff's extreme outpost. + +"_Qui vive_! Who goes there?" + +Not knowing the watchword, I was for going on without answering. But +one of them seized my horse's bridle. I drew my sabre and struck the +peasant of the head. His cap saved his life; he staggered and fell; +the others, frightened, let me pass. The darkness, which was +deepening, might have saved me from further hindrance; when, looking +back, I saw that Saveliitch was not with me. What was I to do? The +poor old man, with his lame horse, could not escape from the rascals. +I waited a minute; then, sure that they must have seized him, I turned +my horse's head to go and aid him. Approaching the ravine I heard +voices, and recognized that of Saveliitch. Hastening my steps, was +soon within sight of the peasants. They had dismounted the old man, +and were about to garrote him. They rushed upon me; in an instant I +was on foot. Their chief said I should be conducted to the Czar. I +made no resistance. We crossed the ravine to enter the town, which was +illuminated. The streets were crowded and noisy. We were taken to a +hut on the corner of two streets. There were some barrels of wine and +a cannon near the door. One of the peasants said: "Here is the +palace; we will announce you." I glanced at Saveliitch; he was making +signs of the cross, and praying. We waited a long time. At last +the peasant re-appeared and said: "The Czar orders the officers to +his presence." + +The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow +candles. The walls were hung with gold paper. But every thing else, +the benches, the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a +nail in the wall, the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly +the same as in any other cabin. Pougatcheff, wearing his scarlet +cafetan and high Cossack cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath +the sacred pictures common to every Russian abode. Around him stood +several of his chiefs. I could see that the arrival of an officer +from Orenbourg had awakened some curiosity, and that they had prepared +to receive me with pomp. Pougatcheff recognized me at once, and his +assumed gravity disappeared. + +"Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?" + +I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his +people arrested me. + +"What business?" asked he. I did not know what to answer. Pougatcheff +thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his +comrades to leave. All obeyed except two. "Speak before these," said +he; "conceal nothing from them." + +I glanced at these intimates of the usurper. One was an old man frail +and bent, remarkable for nothing but a blue riband crossed over his +coarse gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion. He +was tall, of powerful build, and seemed about forty-five. A thick red +beard, piercing gray eyes, a nose without nostrils, marks of the +searing irons on his forehead and cheeks, gave to his broad face, +pitted by small-pox a most fierce expression. He wore a red shirt, +a Kirghis robe, and wide Cossack pantaloons. Although wholly pre- +occupied by my own feelings, yet this company deeply impressed me. +Pougatcheff recalled me to myself quickly. + +"What business brought you from Orenbourg?" + +A bold idea suggested itself to my mind. It seemed to me that +Providence, leading me a second time before this robber, gave me the +means of accomplishing my work. I decided to seize the chance, and +without reflecting on the step, I replied: + +"I am on the way to the fortress of Belogorsk to liberate an oppressed +orphan there." + +Pougatcheff's eyes flashed. "Who dares to oppress an orphan? Were he +seven feet high, he shall not escape my vengeance. Speak, who is the +guilty one?" + +"Alexis; he holds in slavery that same young girl whom you saw at +Father Garasim's, and wants to force her to marry him." + +"I shall give Alexis a lesson! I'll teach him to oppress my subjects. +I shall hang him." + +"Permit me a word," said the man without nostrils. "You were too hasty +giving the command to Alexis. You offended the Cossacks by giving them +a noble as chief; do not offend the gentlemen by hanging one of them on +the first accusation." + +"There is no need to pardon nor pity," said the man with the blue +riband. "It would be no harm to hang Alexis, nor to question this +gentleman. Why does he visit us? If he does not acknowledge you as +Czar he has no justice to get at your hands; if he acknowledge you, +why did he stay at Orenbourg with your enemies? Will you not order +him to prison, and have a fire lighted there?" + +The old rascal's logic seemed plausible even to myself. I shuddered +when I remembered into whose hands I had fallen. Pougatcheff saw my +trouble. + +"Eh! eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it seems my field-marshal +is right. What do you think?" + +The jesting tone of the chief restored my courage. I replied calmly +that I was in his power. + +"Well," said Pougatcheff, "tell me now the condition of your city?" + +"It is, thank God, in a good state." + +"A good condition," repeated the brigand, "when the people are dying +of hunger." + +The usurper was right, but according to the duty imposed by my oath, I +affirmed that it was a false report, and that the fort was sufficiently +provisioned. + +"You see he deceives you," interrupted the man with the riband. "All +the deserters are unanimous in saying that famine and pestilence are at +Orenbourg; that thistles are eaten as dainties there. If you wish to +hang Alexis, hang on the same gibbet this young fellow, that they may +be equal." + +These words seemed to shake the chief. Happily the other wretch +opposed this view. + +"Silence," said this powerful fellow. "You think of nothing but +hanging and strangling. It becomes _you_ to play the hero. To look +at you, no one knows where your soul is." + +"And which of the saints are you?" replied the old man. + +"Generals," said Pougatcheff, with dignity, "an end to your quarrels. +It would be no great loss if all the mangy dogs from Orenbourg were +dangling their legs under the same cross-beam; but it would be a +misfortune if our own good dogs should bite each other." + +Feeling the necessity of changing the conversation, I turned to +Pougatcheff with a smile, and said: + +"Ah! I forgot to thank you for the horse and touloup. Without your aid +I should not have reached the city. I would have died from cold on the +journey." My trick succeeded. Pougatcheff regained his good humor. + +"The beauty of debt is the payment thereof," said he, winking. "Tell +me your story. What have you to do with the young girl that Alexis +persecutes? Has she caught your heart, too?" + +"She is my promised bride" said I, seeing no risk in speaking +the truth. + +"Your promised bride! Why did you not tell me sooner? We'll marry +you, and be at your wedding. Listen, Field-marshal," said he. "We are +old friends, his lordship and I. Lets us go to supper. Tomorrow we +shall see what is to be done with him. Night brings wisdom, and the +morning is better than the evening." + +I would gladly have excused myself from proposed honor, but it was +impossible. Two Cossacks girls covered the table with a white cloth, +and brought bread, soup made of fish, and pitchers of wine and beer. +Thus, for the second time, I was at table with Pougatcheff and his +terrible companions. The orgie lasted far into the night. Drunkenness +at last triumphed. Pougatcheff fell asleep in his place, and his +companions signed to me to leave him. I went out with them. The +sentry locked me up in a dark hole, where I found Saveliitch. He was +so surprised by all that he saw and heard, that he asked no questions. +Lying in darkness, he soon fell asleep. + +The next morning Pougatcheff sent for me. Before his door stood +a kibitka, with three horses abreast. The street was crowded. +Pougatcheff, whom I met in the entry of his hut, was dressed for a +journey, in a pelisse and Kirghis cap. His guests of the previous +night surrounded him, and wore a look of submission which contrasted +strongly with what I had seen on the preceding evening. Pougatcheff +bade me good-morning gaily, and ordered me to sit beside him in the +kibitka. We took our places. + +"To the fortress of Belogorsk," said Pougatcheff to the robust Tartar, +who, standing, drove his horses. My heart beat violently. The Tartar +horses shot off, the bells tinkled, the kibitka flew over the snow. + +"Stop! stop!" cried a voice I knew too well. "O Peter! do not abandon +me in my old age, in the midst of the rob--" + +"Ah, you old owl!" said Pougatcheff, "sit up there in front." + +"Thanks, Czar, may God give you a long life." + +The horses set off again. The people in the streets stopped and bowed +low, as the usurper passed. Pougatcheff saluted right and left. In an +instant we were out of the town, taking our way over a well-defined +road. I was silent. Pougatcheff broke in upon my reverie. "Why +so silent, my lord?" said he. + +"I can not help thinking," said I, "of the chain of events. I am an +officer, noble, yesterday at war with you; today I ride in the same +carriage with you, and all the happiness of my life depends on you." + +"Are you afraid?" + +"You have already given me my life!" + +"You say truly. You know how my fellows looked upon you; only today +they wanted to try you as a spy. The old one wanted to torture and +then hang you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of +wine and your touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say." +I remembered the taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him. + +"What do they say of me at Orenbourg?" + +"It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must +be confessed that you have given us some work." + +"Yes; I am a great warrior. Do you think the King Prussia is as strong +as I?" + +"What do you think yourself? Can you beat Frederick?" + +"Frederick the Great? Why not? Wait till I march to Moscow!" + +"You really intend to march on Moscow?" + +"God knows," said he, reflecting; "my road is narrow--my boys do not +obey--they are thieves--I must listen--keep my ears open; at the first +reverse they would save their own necks by my head." + +"Would it not be better," I said, "to abandon them now, before it is +too late, and have recourse to the clemency of the Empress?" + +He smiled bitterly. "No; the time is passed. I shall end as I began. +Who knows?" + +Our Tartar was humming a plaintive air; Saveliitch, sound asleep, +swayed from side to side; our kibitka was gliding rapidly over the +winter road. I saw in the distance a village well known to my eyes, +with its palisade and church spire on the steep bank of the river Iaik. +A quarter of an hour after we entered the fortress of Belogorsk. + + + + +XII. MARIE. + + +The kibitka stopped before the Commandant's house. The inhabitants had +recognized the usurper's bells and equipage, and had come out in crowds +to meet him. Alexis, dressed like a Cossack, and bearded like one, +helped the brigand to descend from his kibitka. The sight of me +troubled him, but soon recovering himself, he said: "You are one of +us?" I turned my head away without replying. My heart was wrung when +we entered the room that I know so well, where still upon the wall +hung, like an epitaph, the diploma of the deceased Commandant. +Pougatcheff seated himself upon the same sofa where many a time Ivan +Mironoff had dozed to the hum of his wife's voice. Alexis' own hand +presented the brandy to his chief. Pougatcheff drank a glass and said, +pointing to me: "Offer a glass to his lordship." Alexis approached +me, and again I turned my back upon him. Pougatcheff asked him a +few questions about the condition of the fortress, and then, in an +unpremeditated manner, said: "Tell me, who is this young girl that +you have under guard?" + +Alexis became pale as death. "Czar," said he, a tremor in his voice, +"she is in her own room; she is not locked up." + +"Take me to her room," said the usurper, rising. + +Hesitation was impossible. Alexis led the way to Marie's room. I +followed. On the stairs Alexis stopped: "Czar, demand of me what +you will, but do not permit a stranger to enter my wife's room." + +"You are married?" I shouted, ready to tear him to pieces. + +"Silence!" interrupted the brigand, "this is my business. And you," +said he, turning to Alexis, "do not be too officious. Whether she +be your wife or not, I shall take whom I please into her room. Your +lordship, follow me." + +At the door of the room Alexis stopped again: "Czar, she has had a +fever these three days; she is delirious." + +"Open," said Pougatcheff. + +Alexis fumbled in his pockets, and at last said that he had forgotten +the key. Pougatcheff kicked the door; the lock yielded, the door +opened and we entered. + +I glanced into the room, and nearly fainted. On the floor, in the +coarse dress of a peasant, Marie was seated, pale, thin, her hair +in disorder; before her on the floor stood a pitcher of water covered +by a piece of bread. Upon seeing me, she started, and uttered a +piercing shriek. Pougatcheff glanced at Alexis, smiled bitterly, +and said: "Your hospital is in nice order?" + +"Tell me, my little dove, why does your husband punish you in +this way?" + +"My husband! he is not my husband. I am resolved to die rather than +marry him; and I shall die, if not soon released." + +Pougatcheff gave a furious look at Alexis, and said: "Do you dare to +deceive me, knave?" + +Alexis fell on his knees. Contempt stifled all my feelings of hatred +and vengeance. I saw with disgust, a gentleman kneeling at the feet +of a Cossack deserter. + +"I pardon you, this time," said the brigand, "but remember, your next +fault will recall this one." He turned to Marie, and said, gently: +"Come out, my pretty girl, you are free. I am the Czar!" + +Marie looked at him, hid her face in her hands and fell on the floor +unconscious. She had no doubt divined that he had caused her parents' +death. I rushed to aid her, when my old acquaintance, Polacca, boldly +entered, and hastened to revive her mistress. Pougatcheff, Alexis and +I went down to the reception room. + +"Now, your lordship, we have released the pretty girl, what say you? +Shall we not send for Father Garasim, and have him perform the marriage +ceremony for his niece? If you like, I will be your father by proxy, +Alexis your groomsman; then we'll shut the gates and make merry!" + +As I anticipated, Alexis, hearing this speech, lost his self-control. + +"Czar," said he, in a fury, "I am guilty; I have lied to you, but +Grineff also deceives you. This young girl is not Father Garasim's +niece. She is Ivan Mironoff's daughter." + +Pougatcheff glared at me. "What does that mean?" said he to me. + +"Alexis says truly," I replied, firmly. + +"You did not tell me that," said the usurper, whose face darkened. + +"Judge of it yourself. Could I declare before your people that Marie +was Captain Mironoff's daughter? They would have torn her to pieces. +No one could have saved her." + +"You are right," said Pougatcheff, "my drunkards would not have spared +the child. Accoulina did well to deceive them." + +"Listen," I said, seeing his good humor, "I do not know your real name, +and I do not want to know it. But before God, I am ready to pay you +with my life, for what you have done for me. Only, ask me nothing +contrary to honor, and my conscience as a Christian. You are my +benefactor. Let me go with this orphan, and we, whatever happens to +you, wherever you may be, we shall pray God to save your soul." + +"Be it as you desire," said he, "punish to the end, or pardon +completely, that's my way. Take your promised bride wherever you +choose, and may God give you love and happiness." He turned to Alexis, +and ordered him to write me a passport for all the forts subject to his +power. Alexis was petrified with astonishment. Pougatcheff went off +to inspect the fortress; Alexis followed him; I remained. + +I ran up to Marie's room. The door was closed. I knocked. + +"Who is there?" asked Polacca. + +I gave my name. I heard Marie say: "In an instant, Peter, I shall +join you at Accoulina's." + +Father Garasim and Accoulina came out to welcome me. I was honored +with everything at the command of the hostess, whose voluble tongue +never ceased. It was not long before Marie entered, quite pale; she +had laid aside the peasant's dress, and was, as usual, clad in +simplicity, but with neatness and taste. I seized her hand, unable to +utter a word. We were both silent from full hearts. Our hosts left +us, and I could now speak of plans for her safety. It was impossible +that she should stay in a fortress subject to Pougatcheff, and +commanded by the infamous Alexis. Neither could she find refuge at +Orenbourg, suffering all the horrors of siege. I proposed that she +should go to my father's country-seat. This surprised her. But I +assured her that my father would hold it a duty and an honor to receive +the daughter of a veteran who had died for his country. In conclusion, +I said: "My dear Marie; I consider thee as my wife; these strange +events have bound us for ever to each other." + +Marie listened with dignity; she felt as I did, but repeated that +without my parents' consent she would never be my wife. I could not +reply to this objection. I folded her to my heart, and my project +became our mutual resolve. + +An hour after, the Corporal brought me my passport, having the scratch +which served as Pougatcheff's sign-manual, and told me that the Czar +awaited me. I found him ready for his journey. To this man--why not +tell the truth?--cruel and terrible to all but me, I was drawn by +strong sympathy. I wanted to snatch him from the horde of robbers, +whose chief he was; but the presence of Alexis and the crowd around +him prevented any expression of these feelings. Our parting was that +of friends. As the horses were moving, he leaned out of the kibitka +and said to me: "Adieu, again, your lordship; perhaps we may meet +once more." + +We did meet again, but under what circumstances! + +I returned to Father Garasim's, where our preparations were soon +completed. Our baggage was put into the Commandant's old equipage. +The horses were harnessed. Marie went, before setting off, to visit +once more the tomb in the church-yard, and soon returned, having wept +in silence over all that remained to her of her parents. Father +Garasim and Accoulina stood on the steps. Marie, Polacca, and I +sat in the interior of the kibitka. Saveliitch perched himself up +in front. + +"Adieu, Marie, sweet little dove! Adieu, Peter, our handsome falcon!" +exclaimed the kind Accoulina. + +Passing the Commandant's house, I saw Alexis, whose face expressed +determined hate. + + + + +XIII. THE ARREST. + + +In two hours we reached the neighboring fortress, which also belonged +to Pougatcheff. We there changed horses. By the celerity with which +they served us, and the eager zeal of the bearded Cossack, whom +Pougatcheff had made Commandant, I perceived that, thanks to the talk +of our postilion, I was supposed to be a favorite with their master. +When we started off again, it was dusk; we were drawing near a town +where, according to the bearded Commandant, there ought to be a very +strong detachment of Pougatcheff's forces. The sentinels stopped us +and to the demand: "Who goes there?" our postilion answered in a loud +voice: "A friend of the Czar, traveling with his wife." + +We were at once surrounded by a detachment of Russian hussars, who +swore frightfully. + +"Come out," said a Russian officer, heavily mustached; "We'll give you +a bath!" + +I requested to be taken before the authorities. Perceiving that I was +an officer, the soldiers ceased swearing, and the officer took me to +the Major's. Saveliitch followed, growling out: "We fall from the fire +into the flame!" + +The kibitka came slowly after us. In five minutes we reached a small +house, all lighted up. The officer left me under a strong guard, and +entered to announce my capture. He returned almost instantly, saying +that I was ordered to prison, and her ladyship to the presence of the +Major. + +"Is he mad?" I cried. + +"I can not tell, your lordship." + +I jumped up the steps--the sentinels had not time to stop me--and burst +into the room where six hussar officers were playing faro. The Major +kept the bank. I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who +had so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk. "Is it possible? is +this you Ivan Zourine?" + +"Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?" + +"Thanks; I would rather have some apartments assigned me." + +"No need of apartments, stay with me." + +"I can not; I am not alone." + +"Bring your comrade with you." + +"I am not with a comrade; I am with--a lady." + +"A lady! where did you fish her out?" and he whistled in so rollicking +a manner, that the rest burst out laughing. + +"Well," said Zourine, "then you must have a house in the town. Here, +boy! why do you not bring in Pougatcheff's friend?" + +"What are you about," said I. "It is Captain Mironoff's daughter. I +have just obtained her liberty, and I am taking her to my father's, +where I shall leave her." + +"In the name of Heaven, what are _you_ talking about? Are _you_ +Pougatcheff's chum?" + +"I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl, +whom your soldiers have horribly frightened." + +Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and +explain the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid +in the best house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as +soon as we were alone, I gave him the story of my adventures. + +He shook his head. "That's all very well; but why will you marry? As +an officer and a comrade, I tell you marriage is folly! Now listen to +me. The road to Simbirsk has been swept clean by our soldiers; you can +therefore send the Captain's daughter to your parents tomorrow, and +remain yourself in my detachment. No need to return to Orenbourg; you +might fall again into the hands of the rebels." + +I resolved to follow, in part, Zourine's advice. Saveliitch came to +prepare my room for the night. I told him to be ready to set out in +the morning with Marie. + +"Who will attend you, my lord?" + +"My old friend," said I, trying to soften him, "I do not need a servant +here, and in serving Marie, you serve me, for I shall marry her as soon +as the war is over." + +"Marry!" repeated he, with his hands crossed, and a look of +inexpressible blankness, "the child wants to marry! What will your +parents say?" + +"They will, no doubt, consent as soon as they know Marie. You will +intercede for us, will you not?" + +I had touched the old man's heart. "O Peter!" said he, "you are too +young to marry, but the young lady is an angel, and it would be a sin +to let the chance slip. I will do as you desire." + +The next day I made known my plans to Marie. As Zourine's detachment +was to leave the city that same day, delay was impossible. I confided +Marie to my dear old Saveliitch, and gave him a letter for my father. +Marie, in tears, took leave of me. I did not dare to speak, lest the +bystanders should observe my feelings. + +It was the end of the February; Winter, which had rendered manoeuvering +difficult was now at a close, and our generals were preparing for a +combined campaign. At the approach of our troops, revolted villages +returned to their duty, while Prince Galitzin defeated the usurper, +and raised the siege of Orenbourg, which was the death-blow to the +rebellion. We heard of Pougatcheff in the Ural regions, and on the way +to Moscow. But he was captured. The war was over. Zourine received +orders to return his troops to their posts. I jumped about the room +like a boy. Zourine shrugged his shoulders, and said: "Wait till you +are married, and see how foolish you are!" + +I had leave of absence. In a few days I would be at home and united +to Marie. One day Zourine came into my room with a paper in his hand, +and sent away the servant. + +"What's the matter?" said I. + +"A slight annoyance," he answered, handing me the paper. "Read." + +It was confidential order addressed to all the chiefs of detachments +to arrest me, and send me under guard to Khasan before the Commission +of Inquiry, created to give information against Pougatcheff and his +accomplices. The paper fell from my hands. + +"Do not be cast down," said Zourine, "but set out at once." + +My conscience was easy, but the delay! It would be months, perhaps, +before I could get through the Commission. Zourine bade me an +affectionate adieu. I mounted the telega (Summer carriage), two +hussars withdrawn swords beside, and took the road to Khasan. + + + + +XIV. THE SENTENCE. + + +I had no doubt that I was arrested for having left the fortress of +Orenbourg without leave, and felt sure that I could exculpate myself. +Not only were we not forbidden, but on the contrary, we were encouraged +to make forays against the enemy. My friendly relations with +Pougatcheff, however, wore a suspicious look. + +Arriving at Khasan, I found the city almost reduced to ashes. Along +the streets there were heaps of calcined material of unroofed walls of +houses--a proof that Pougatcheff had been there. The fortress was +intact. I was taken there and delivered to the officer on duty. He +ordered the blacksmith to rivet securely iron shackles on my feet. I +was then consigned to a small, dark dungeon, lighted only by a loop- +hole, barred with iron. This did not presage anything good, yet I did +not lose courage; for, having tasted the delight of prayer, offered by +a heart full of anguish, I fell asleep, without a thought for the +morrow. The next morning I was taken before the Commission. Two +soldiers crossed the yard with me, to the Commandant's dwelling. +Stopping in the ante-chamber, they let me proceed alone to the +interior. + +I entered quite a spacious room. At a table, covered with papers, sat +tow personages,--a General advanced in years, of stern aspect, and a +young officer of the Guards, of easy and agreeable manners. Near the +window, at another table, a secretary, pen on ear, bending over a +paper, was ready to take my deposition. + +The interrogation began: "Your name and profession?" The General +asked if I was the son of Andrew Grineff, and upon my replying in the +affirmative, exclaimed: "It is a pity so honorable a man should have +a son so unworthy of him!" + +I replied that I hoped to refute all charges against me, by a sincere +avowal of the truth. My assurance displeased him. + +"You are a bold fellow," said he, frowning; "but we have seen others +like you." + +The young officer asked how, and for what purpose I had entered the +rebel service. + +I replied indignantly, that being an officer and a noble, I was +incapable of enlisting in the usurper's army, and had never served +him in any way. + +"How is it," said my judge, "that the 'officer and noble' is the only +one spared by Pougatcheff? How is it that the 'officer and noble' +received presents from the chief rebel, of a horse and a pelisse? +Upon what is this intimacy founded, if not on treason, or at least +unpardonable cowardice?" + +The words wounded me, and I undertook with warmth my own defense, +finally invoking the name of my General who could testify to my zeal +during the siege of Orenbourg. The severe old man took from the table +an open letter, and read: + +* * * "With regard to Ensign Griness, I have the honor to declare, +that he was in the service at Orenbourg from the month of October, +1773, till the following February. Since then, he has not presented +himself." * * * + +Here the General said harshly: "What can you say now to justify +your conduct?" + +My judges had listened with interest and even kindness, to the recital +of my acquaintance with the usurper, from the meeting in the snowdrift +to the taking of Belogorsk, where he gave me my life through gratitude. +I was going to continue my defense, by relating frankly my relations +with Marie, and her rescue. But if I spoke of her the Commission would +force her to appear, and her name would become the theme of no very +delicate remarks by the interrogated witnesses. These thoughts so +troubled me that I stammered, and at last was silent. + +The judges were prejudiced against me by my evident confusion. The +young Guardsman asked that I should be confronted by my chief accuser. +Some minutes later the clank of iron fetters resounded, and Alexis +entered. + +He was pale and thin. His hair, formerly black as a raven's wing, was +turning gray. He repeated his accusation in a weak but decided tone. + +According to him, I was Pougatcheff's spy. I heard him to the end +in silence, and rejoiced at one thing: he never pronounced the name +of Marie Mironoff. Was it that his self-love smarted from her +contemptuous rejection of him? or was there in his heart a spark +of that same feeling which made me also silent on that point? This +confirmed me in my resolution, and when asked what I had to answer +to the charges of Alexis, I merely said that I held to my first +declaration, and had nothing more to add. + +The General remanded us to prison. I looked at Alexis. He smiled with +satisfied hate, raised up his shackles to hasten his pace and pass +before me. I had no further examination. I was not an eye-witness of +what remains to be told the reader; but I have so often heard the +story, that the minutest particulars are engraved on my memory. + +Marie was received by my parents with the cordial courtesy which +distinguished the preceding generation. They became very much attached +to her, and my father no longer considered my love a folly. The news +of my arrest was a fearful blow; but Marie and Saveliitch had so +frankly told the origin of my connection with Pougatcheff, that the +news did not seem grave. My father could not be persuaded that I would +take part in an infamous revolt, whose object was the subversion of the +throne and the extinction of the nobility. So better news was +expected, and several weeks passed, when at last a letter came from our +relative Prince B---. After the usual compliments, he told my father +that the suspicions of my complicity in the rebel plots were only too +well founded, as had been proved,--that an exemplary execution might +have been my fate, were it not that the Empress, out of consideration +for the father's white hair and loyal services, had commuted the +sentence of the criminal son. She had exiled him for life to the +depths of Siberia! + +The blow nearly killed my father. his firmness gave way, and his +usually silent sorrow burst into bitter plaints: "What! my son plotting +with Pougatcheff! The Empress gives him his life! Execution not the +worst thing in the world! My grandfather died on the scaffold in +defense of his convictions! But, that a noble should betray his oath, +unite with bandits, knaves and revolted slaves! shame! shame forever +on our face!" + +Frightened by his despair, my mother did not dare to show her grief, +and Marie was more desolate than they. Persuaded that I could justify +myself if I chose, she divined the motive of my silence, and believed +that she was the cause of my suffering. + +One evening, seated on his sofa, my father was turning over the leaves +of the "_Court Almanac_," but his thoughts were far away, and the book +did not produce its usual effect upon him. My mother was knitting in +silence, and from time to time a furtive tear dropped upon her work. +Marie, who was sewing in the same room, without any prelude declared +to my parents that she was obliged to go to St. Petersburg, and begged +them to furnish her the means. + +My mother said: "Why will you leave us?" + +Marie replied that her fate depended on this journey; that she was +going to claim the protection of those in favor at Court, as the +daughter of a man who had perished a victim to his loyalty. + +My father bowed his head. A word which recalled the supposed crime of +his son, seemed a sharp reproach. + +"Go," said he, at last, with a sigh; "we will not place an obstacle +to your happiness. May God give you an honorable husband and not a +traitor!" + +He rose and left the room. Alone with my mother, Marie confided to +her, in part, the object of her journey. My mother, in tears, kissed +her and prayed for the success of the project. A few days after, +Marie, Polacca and Saveliitch left home. + +When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment +in residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo. She decided to +stop there, and obtained a small room at the post-house. The post +mistress came to chat with the new-comer. She told Marie, pompously, +that she was the niece of an official attached to the Court--her uncle +having the honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty's abode! +Marie soon knew at what hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and +went on the promenade; in brief, the conversation of Anna was like a +page from the memoirs of the times, and would be very precious in our +days. The two women went together to the Imperial gardens, where Anna +told Marie the romance of each pathway and the history of every bridge +over the artificial streams. Next day very early Marie returned alone +to the Imperial gardens. The weather was superb. The sun gilded the +linden tops, already seared by the Autumn frosts. The broad lake +sparkled, the swans, just aroused, came out gravely from the shore. +Marie was going to a charming green sward, when a little dog, of +English blood, came running to her barking. She was startled; but +a voice of rare refinement said: "He will not bite you; do not be +afraid." + +A lady about fifty years of age was seated on a rustic bench. She +was dressed in a white morning-dress, a light cap and a mantilla. +Her face, full and florid, was expressive of calmness and seriousness. +She was the first to speak: "You are evidently a stranger here?" + +"That is true, madam. I arrived from the country yesterday." + +"You are with your parents?" + +"No, madam, alone." + +"You are too young to travel alone. Are you here on business?" + +"My parents are dead. I came to present a petition to the Empress." + +"You are an orphan; you have to complain of injustice, or injury?" + +"Madam, I came to ask for a pardon, not justice." + +"Permit me a question: Who are you?" + +"I am the daughter of Captain Mironoff." + +"Of Captain Mironoff? of him who commanded one of the fortresses in the +province of Orenbourg?" + +"The same, madam." + +The lady seemed touched. "Pardon me, I am going to Court. Explain the +object of your petition; perhaps I can aid you." Marie took from her +pocket a paper which she handed to the lady, who read it attentively. +Marie, whose eyes followed every movement of her countenance, was +alarmed by the severe expression of face so calm and gracious a moment +before. + +"You intercede for Grineff?" said the lady, in an icy tone. "The +Empress can not pardon him. He went over to the usurper, not as an +ignorant believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing." + +"It is not true!" exclaimed Marie. + +"What! not true?" said the lady, flushing to the eyes. + +"Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was +for me only that exposed himself to all these misfortunes. If he did +not clear himself before his judges, it was because he would not drag +me before the authorities." Marie then related with warmth all that +the reader knows. + +"Where do you lodge?" asked the lady, when the young girl had finished +her recital. Upon hearing that she was staying with the postmaster's +wife, she nodded, and said with a smile: "Ah! I know her. Adieu! tell +no one of our meeting. I hope you will not have long to wait for the +answer to your petition." + +She rose and went away by a covered path. Marie went back to Anna's, +full of fair hope. The postmaster's wife was surprised that Marie took +so early a promenade, which might in Autumn, prove injurious to a young +girl's health. She brought the _Somovar_, and with her cup of tea was +going to relate one of her interminable stories, when a carriage with +the imperial escutcheon stopped before the door. A lackey, wearing the +imperial livery, entered and announced that her Majesty deigned to +order to her presence the daughter of Captain Mironoff! + +"Ah!" exclaimed Anna, "the Empress orders you to Court! How did she +know you were with me? You can not present yourself--you do not know +how to walk in courtly fashion! I ought to go with you. Shall I not +send to the doctor's wife and get her yellow dress with flounces, for +you?" + +The lackey declared that he had orders to take Marie alone, just as she +was. Anna did not dare to disobey, and Marie set out. She had a +presentiment that her destiny was now to be decided. Her heart beat +violently. In a few minutes the carriage was at the palace, and Marie, +having crossed a long suite of apartments, vacant and sumptuous, +entered the _boudoir_ of the Empress. The nobles who surrounded their +sovereign respectfully made way for the young girl. + +The Empress, in whom Marie recognized the lady of the garden, said, +graciously: "I am pleased to be able to grant your prayer. Convinced +of the innocence of your betrothed, I have arranged everything. Here +is a letter for your future father-in-law." + +Marie, in tears, fell at the feet of the Empress, who raised her up and +kissed her, saying: + +"I know that you are not rich; but I have to acquit myself of a debt to +the daughter of a brave man, Captain Mironoff." Treating Marie with +tenderness, the Empress dismissed her. That day Marie set out for my +father's country-seat, not having even glanced at Saint Petersburg. + + + + +Here terminate the memoirs of Peter Grineff. We know by family +tradition that he was set free about the end of the year 1774. We +know too, that he was present at the execution of Pougatcheff, who, +recognizing him in the crowd, gave him one last sign with the head +which, a moment after, was shown to the people, bleeding and inanimate. + +Peter Grineff became the husband of Marie Mironoff. Their descendents +still live, in the Province of Simbirsk, and in the hereditary manor +is still shown the autograph letter of the Empress Catherine II. It +is addressed to Andrew Grineff, and contains, with his son's +justification, a touching and beautiful eulogium of Marie, the +Captain's daughter. + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Marie, by Alexander Pushkin + diff --git a/old/mrsrl10.zip b/old/mrsrl10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8494101 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mrsrl10.zip |