The Queen of Spades and other stories

ult of all I found it to pass in solitude the spring and winter evenings. Until the dinner hour I somehow occupied the time, talking to the starosta, driving round to see how the work went

lancholy. I tried cherry brandy, but that gave me the headache. I must confess, however, that I had some fear of becomi

hiccups and sighs. Solitude was preferable to that. Finally I decided to go to bed as early as possible, and to di

n once only, just after her marriage, and she then only lived there about a month. However, in the second spring of my retirement, there

, and for three years afterwards. As far as I was concerned, I must confess, the expected arrival of a young and beautiful neighbour affected me strongly. I burned with impatie

t luxurious manner. Against the walls stood enclosed bookshelves well furnished with books, and surmounted by bronze busts. Over

th a sort of fear, just as a petitioner from the provinces awaits in an ante-room the arrival of the minister. The doors opened, and a man about thirty-two, and very han

I tried to assume an air of unrestraint, the more awkward I felt myself becoming. They, in order to give me time to recover myself and get accustomed to my new acquaintances, conversed with one another, treating me in good neighbourly fashion without ceremony. Meanwhile, I walked about the room, exam

remarked, turni

ied, "a very r

oot well?"

t on a subject which interested me.' "At a distance of thirty paces I do n

k of great interest. "'And you, my dear

my own time I did not shoot badly. But it is f

ce. I know that from experience. In our regiment I was reckoned one of the bests shots. Once I happened not to take a pistol in

: 'Your hand, my friend, refuses to raise itself against the bottle! No, Count, you must not neglect to practise, or you will soon lose all skill. The best

YOU KNE

s seemed pleased that

f a shot was he?

sure you it is a fact. When he saw the fly, he would call out, 'Kuska, my pistol!'

" said the Count. "An

was hi

Count, starting from his

at our mess like a brother officer. It is now about five years

g

ever tell you of one very extra

he received from a blackguard at a ball?" "He

added, guessing the truth, "forgive me-

atly agitated. "And the shots in the pi

"for God's sake do not relate it

ll. He knows how I insulted his friend. He

e, and with the liveliest interest

spent here, in this village. To this house I am indebted for the ha

rode on before her. In the yard I saw a travelling carriage, and I was told that in my study sat a man who would not give his name, but simply said that he wanted to se

me, Count?' he said,

I confess I felt that my

u owe me a shot; I have come

truded from h

there in that corner, begging him to

I locked the doors, gave orders that no one should enter, and a

ht of her ... A terrible moment pa

always seems to me that an affair of this kind is net a duel, but a murder. I am not accustomed[Pg 93] t

l and rolled up two pieces of paper. These he placed inside his cap; the one throu

s luck,' he said, with a smi

it happened that he succeeded in induci

ks His face had become red with agitation. The Countess was whiter

missed. Then Silvio-at this moment he was really ter

e room. She threw herself upon my neck with a loud

How frightened you look![Pg 94] Go and drink a glass of water and

s still

W HERSELF A

g

h?' she asked, turning to the terrible Sil

in the face; in joke he put a bullet through this cap while I was wearing it; and in

d his pistol as if to shoo

w herself

'And you, sir, cease to amuse yourself at the ex

d your agitation-your terror. I forced you to fire at me. That

ked round at the picture which my shot had passed throug

p Silvio, whom they looked upon with terror. He passed out to the ste

g

efore surprised me. The hero of it I never saw again. I heard, however, that Silvio, during

g

SNOW

his hospitality and his genial character. Neighbours constantly visited him to have something to eat and drink, and to play at five-copeck boston with his wife, Praskovi

ow at home in his small village on leave of absence. As a matter of course, the young man reciprocated Maria's passion. But the parents of his

MET IN THE

onded, and met alo

ng love, inveighed against fate, and exchanged various suggestions. Writing an

ranny of hard-hearted parents throws obstacles in the w

he mind of the young man; but it pleased t

ry letter to give herself up to him that they might get married secretly, hide for a while, and then throw themselves at the feet

and retire to her room under the plea of a headache. She and her maid, who was in the secret, were then to go out into the garden by the back stairs, and beyond the garden they would find a[P

n she was allowed to throw herself at the feet of her dearest parents. Sealing both letters with a Toula seal, on which were engraven two flaming hearts with an appropriate inscription, she at last threw herself upon her bed before daybreak and dozed off, though even then she was awake tied from one moment to another by terrible thoughts. First it seemed to her that at the moment of entering the sledge in order to go and get married her father st

RST INT

g

ill?" cut her to the heart. She tried to pacify them and to appear cheerful; but she could not. Evening set in. The idea that she was passing the

lared that she did not want any supper, and wished her father and mother

id begged her to be calm and take courage. Everything was ready. In half-an-hour Masha

ling. The shutters rattled and shook. In everyt

the back staircase. The maid carried two[Pg 103] bundles after her. They descended into the garden. The snowstorm raged: a strong wind blew

, trying to quiet them. He helped the young lady and her maid to their seats, and packing away the bund

care of fate and of Tereshka the coac

consented at once. The adventure, he declared, reminded him of old times and of his larks when he was in the Hussars. He persuaded Vladimir to stop to dinner with him, assuring him that there would be no difficulty in getting the other two witnesses. Indeed, immediately after dinner[Pg 104] in came the surveyor S

ate instructions for the occasion. For himself he ordered the small sledge with one horse, and started alone without a coachman

Vladimir, in the midst of the field, tried in vain to get to the road. The horse walked on at random, and every moment stepped either into deep snow or into a rut, so that the sledge was constantly upsetting.[Pg 105] Vladimir tried at least not to lose the right direction; but it seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed, and he had not yet

to have turned to the right. He did so now. His horse could scarcely drag along. But he had been more than an hour on the road, and Jadrino could not now be far. He dr

w seriously anxious. At last in the di

irection, and as he drew

e thought, "I am

g

nce upon the familiar road, or, if not, to pass round

ow stripped by the winter. The wind could not rage here; the road w

red that he had got into a strange wood. He was in despair. He whipped his horse, and the poor animal started off at

ated, the clouds dispersed, and before him was a wide stretch of plain, covered with a white billowy carpet. The night was comparatively clear, and he could see a small village a short distance off, which consisted of four

do you

r is Ja

r is Ja

es! Is

about te

old of his hair, and stood motionl

added the man. Vladimir ha

"can you procure me

rses," answere

ide? I will pay hi

g the shutter; "I will send my so

d passed when he again knocked. The s

do you

bout yo

putting on his boots. Are you

g

d out your s

walked on in front, at one time pointing out the roa

is it?" Vlad

eplied the young-peasant. Vla

was closed. Vladimir paid the guide, and drove into the yard of the priest's ho

proprietors of Nenaradova, a

th

d, Gavril sent the little maid to ask Maria how she was and how she had slept. The little maid returned, saying that her young lady had slept badly, but that she w

g

, Masha?" (familiar fo

apa; answe

must have given you your he

, mamma," r

for from town. He came towards evening and found the patient delirious. Soon she was

the master and mistress, had not breathed a word. The priest, the ex-cornet, the big moustached surveyor, and the little lancer were equally discreet, and with go

, and that probably love was the cause[Pg 110] of her illness. She consulted her husband and some of her neighbours, and at last it was decided unanimously that the fate of Maria ought not to be interfered with, that a woman must not ride away fro

avril, so frightened had he been by his previous reception. It was now resolved to send and announce to

nsane reply. Vladimir informed them he could never set foot in their house, and begged them to forget an unhappy man w

r, however, finding his name in the list of those who had[Pg 111] distinguished themselves and been severely wounded at Borod

ss of all his property. But the inheritance could not console her. She share

he slightest hope. Her mother sometimes tried to persuade her to ch

s held sacred by Maria, and she treasured up everything that would remind her of him; books he had read,

awaited with curiosity the arrival of the hero who must in the e

nde. Nourished on the atmosphere of winter, officers who had started on the campaign mere striplings returned grown men, and covered with decorations. The soldiers conversed gaily among themselves, mingling German and French words every moment in their speech. A t

isappeared. Their delight was really intoxicating when, meeting the co

? During this brilliant period Maria was living with her mother in retirement, and neither of them saw how, in both the capit

g

GLORY AND

g

came for him a veritable triumph. The accepted

ame-with the order of St. George in his button-hole, and an interesting pallor on his face. He was about twenty-six. He had come home on leave to his estates, which were close to Maria's villa. Maria paid him such att

arelessly satirical. His manner towards Maria was simple and easy. He seemed to be of a quiet and modest disposition; but rumour said that he had at one time been terribly wild

g

lp confessing to herself that he pleased her very much. Probably he too, with his acuteness and his experience, had seen that he interested her. How was it, then, that up to this moment she had not seen him at her feet; had not

a, that the decisive moment seemed very near. The neighbours spoke of the marriage as an accomplis

room, laying out grande-patience, when Burmin e

ait for you here." Burmin went, and the old lady made the sign of the

e heroine of romance. After the first inquiries, Maria purposely let the conversation drop; increasing by these mea

had long sought an opportunity of opening his heart to her, and that he begged for a momen

e you passionately!" Maria blushe

ductive pleasure of seeing and hearing you daily." Maria recol

parable image, must from to-day be at once the torment and the consolation of

will place between us a

E IVY

nterrupted Maria; "I could

ia, do not try to deprive me of my last consolation; the idea that you might have consented to make me happy if--. Don't speak, for God's sa

at him in a

more than three years, and do not know who my wife is,

exclaimed Maria; "how s

ossession[Pg 119] of me, just as though someone was pushing me on. Meanwhile, the snowstorm did not abate. I could bear it no longer, and again ordered the horses, and started in the midst of the storm. The driver took it into his head to drive along the river, which would shorten the distance by three miles. The banks were covered with snowdrifts; the driver missed the

veral voices. I told th

e has fainted; the priest does not know what to do: we w

hree tapers. A girl was sitting in a dark corner on a bench; and another girl was rubbing her temples.

g

est approach

l I be

erend father,' I r

retty. Oh, wild, unpardonable frivolity! I placed mys

the bride, and occupied themselves

wife,' said

s going to kiss her, when she exclaimed, 'Oh!

the church without any attempt being made to stop m

And you don't know what be

my wicked joke that, on driving away from the church, I fell asleep, and never woke till early the next morning, after reaching the third station. The servant who was with

"Then it was you, and you do not recognise me?"

g

NDERT

price, the old undertaker was surprised to find that his heart did not rejoice. Crossing the strange threshold, he found disorder inside his new abode, and sighed for the decrepit hovel, where for eighteen years everything had been kept in the most perfect order. He began scolding both his daughters and the servant for being so slow, and proceeded to help them himself. Order was speedily established. The case with the holy pictures, the cupboard with the crockery, the table, sofa, and bedstead,

rian went over his residence, sat down by the w

le, looking out of window at the passers by, or asking too exorbitant prices for his products from those who had the misfortune (sometimes the pleasure) to require them. Sitting by the window drinking his seventh cup of tea, according to his[Pg 124] custom, Adrian was wrapped in the saddest thoughts. He was thinking of the pouring rain, which a week before had met the funeral of a retired brigadier at the turnpike gate, causing many mantles to shrink and many h

s there?" enquired the undertaker. The door opened and a man, in whom at a glance might be re

u; I wanted to make your acquaintance at once. I am a bootmaker, my name is Gottlieb Schultz, I live in the next street-in that little house

to sit down and have a cup of tea, and thanks to Gottlieb Schult

usiness get on?"

complain. Though, of course, my goods are not like yours. A living

s nothing to buy boots with he goes barefooted, whereas t

e time, until at last the bootmaker rose and took

do not intend to describe Adrian's Russian caftan nor the European dress of Akulina or Daria, contrary though this be to the[Pg 126] custom of fiction-writers of

r of his chief. He had also performed the functions of postman for about twenty-five years, serving truly and faithfully the people of Pogorelsk. The fire which, in the year 1812, consumed the capital, burnt at the same time his humble sentry box. But n

ents near the Nikitski Gates, some of whom had occasionally

er or later, he might have need, and as the guests we

th their guests, attended to their wants and assisted the cook to wait upon them. Beer flowed. Y

ich was in German, g

n of the company, and opening a pitch-cov

h of my go

rly the fresh face of his forty-year old spouse and th

lth of each guest was proposed separately; then the health of Moscow and of about a dozen German towns. They drank the health of the guilds in general, and afterwar

ts, a stout baker, raise

h of our c

g

The guests nodded to each other; the tailor to the bootmaker, the b

bowing called out as he t

d, drink to the hea

frowned. No one noticed this; and the guests went on drinking till the b

th the bookbinder, whose face looked as if it were bound in red morocco, led Yurko by the ar

r went home d

hat have the infidels to laugh at? Is an undertaker a hypocritical buffoon? I should have liked to invite them to a hous

g

e undertaker's boots. "What is that, sir, you are saying? Make the

han for to-morrow. Honour me, my benefactors, with your company to

dertaker retired to bed

dealers in mourning goods were hovering around, like ravens who have scented a corpse. The defunct was lying in state on the table, yellow like wax, but not yet disfigured by decomposition. Hear her, in a crowd, were relations, friends, and domestics. All the windows were open; wax tapers were burning; and the clergy were reading prayers. Adrian went up to the nephew, a young shopman in a fashionable[Pg 130

arging his hired isvoshchik. It was a moonlight night, and the undertaker got safely to the Nikitski Grates. At Yosnessenia he met our acquaintance, Yurko, who, recognisi

ndertaker was on the point of calling his friend Yurko to his assistance, when some one else came up to the wicket and was about to enter, but seeing the master of the ho

rian, out of breath. "

replied the other, in a hollow voice,

s open, and he went up to the steps followed by the o

horror, Adrian recognised in them people he had buried, and in the guest who came in with him, the brigadier who had been interred during a pouring rain. They all, ladies and gentlemen, surrounded the undertaker, bowing and greeting him affably, except one poor fellow lately

our invitation. Only those have stopped at home who were quite unable to do otherwise; who have crumbled away and

's head grinned affably at the undertaker. Shreds of green and red cloth and of rotten linen hung on h

s the corpse stretched out his long arms to embrace him. But Adrian collecting his strength, shrieked, and pushed him away. Peter Petrovitch staggered, fell over, and crumbled to pieces. There was a murmur of indignation among the company of

g

ighting the samovar. With horror he recalled all the incidents of the previous day. Triuchin, the brigadier, and the sergeant, Kurilk

g-gown. "Your neighbour the tailor called, also the watchman, to say that to-da

ome from the

Is she de

lp me yesterday to make arr

ht's drink? You were feasting all day at the German's. You came home drunk, threw yourse

he undertaker, deligh

" replied t

e, let us have tea quickl

g

OSTMA

obility), only protected by his tchin (rank) from personal violence; and that not always. I appeal to the conscience of my readers. What is the position of this dictator, as Prince Yiasemsky jokingly calls him? Is it not really that of a galley slave? No rest for him day or night. All the irritation accumulated in the course of a dull journey by the traveller is vented upon the Postmaster. If the weather is intolerable, the road wretched, the[Pg 135] driver obstinate, or the horses intractable-the Postmaster

ncere pity for the Postmaster. A few words more. In the course of twenty years I have travelled all over Russia, and know nearly all the mail routes. I have made the acquaintance of several generations of drivers. There are few postmasters whom I do not know personally, and few with whom I have not had dealings. My curious collection of travelling experiences I hope[Pg 136] shortly to publish. At present I will only say that, as a class, the P

masters. Indeed, the memory of one of them is very dear to me. Circumstances at one

ses while paying only for two. Consequently the Postmaster stood upon no ceremony with me, but I had often to take from him by force what I considered to be mine by right. Bein

g

ppear to me to be quite in the natural course of things. Indeed, what would become of us, if, instead of the convenient rule that rank gives precedence to rank, the rule wer

fterwards there was a pouring rain, and I was soon drenched to the skin. Arriving at

Postmaster, "Prepare the s

n appeared from behind the partition, and ran o

hter?" I inquired

he dissipated life of the young man is painted in glaring colours; he is sitting at a table surrounded by false friends and shameless women. In the next picture, the ruined youth in his shirt sleeves and a three-corned hat, is taking care of some swine while sharing their food. His face expresses deep sorrow and contrition. Finally, there was the representation of his return to his father. The kind old man, in the same cap and dressing gown, runs out to meet him; the prodigal son falls on his knees

she had produced upon me. She lowered her large, blue eyes. I spoke to her, and she replied confidently, like a girl accustomed to society. I offered a

e father wishing me a pleasant journey, while the daughter saw me to the telega. In the corridor I stopped and asked permission to kiss

same tract, to the very same places. I recollected the old Postm

ached the station of ---- with sad presentiments. The horses drew up at the small station house. I entered the waiting-room, and[Pg 140] instantly recognised the pictures representing

he was preparing to make a copy of my travelling certificate, I looked at his grey hairs, and the deep wrinkles in his long, unshaven f

e?" I asked him, "w

"this is a highway, and many tra

ll?" I added. The

nows," he

she is marr

in a low voice went on reading my travelling certif

old man did not refuse the proffered tumbler. I noticed that the rum dispelled his gloom. At the second glass he became talkative, rem

purpose, as if to dine or to take supper, but really only to take a longer look at her. However rough a man might be, he became subdued in her presence and spoke graciously to me. Will you believe me, sir? Couriers and special messengers would talk to her for half-an-hour at the time. She was th

uling a new book, his daughter in the next partition was busy making herself a dress, when a troika drove up and a travel

the partition and inquired pleasantly whether he would not like something to eat? Her appearance produced the usual effect. The passenger's rage sub

the Postmaster ordered them instantly, without being fed, to be harnessed to the traveller's kibitka. But returning to the room, he found the young man senseless on the bench where he lay in a faint. Such a headache had attacked hi

d up his head with a handkerchief moistened in vinegar, and sat down with her needlework by

Every time he asked for a drink Dunia handed him the jug of lemonade prepared by herself. After moistening

hat in a couple of days he would be able to start on his journey. The hussar handed him twenty-five rubles for his visit, and gave him an invitation to dinner

ith the Postmaster, whistling tunes, conversing with the[Pg 144] passengers, copying their travelling certificates into the

ave of the Postmaster, after recompensing him handsomely for his board and lodging, wished Dunia good-bye,

. "His nobility is not a wolf. He won't ea

r. The servant jumped on the coach box, the coachman

unia was neither in the churchyard nor at the entrance. He hurried into the church; the priest was just[Pg 145] leaving the altar, the clerk was extinguishing the tapers, two old women were still praying in a corner; but Dunia was nowhere to be seen. The poor father could scarcely summon courage to ask the clerk if she had been to mass. The clerk replied that she had not. The Postmaster returned home neither dea

ussar's illness had been shammed. The poor fellow sickened with severe fever, he was removed to C---, and in his place another man was temporarily appointed. The same doctor who had visited the hussar

g

to the poor patient. As soon as he was beginning to recover from his illness, the old Postmaster asked his superior postmaster of th

lensk for Petersburg. The coachman who drove him said that Dunia had

opped with the Ismailovsky regiment, in the quarters of a non-commissioned officer, his old comrade in arms. Beginning his se

ilitary attendant, in the act of cleaning a boot on a boot-tree, informed him that his master was asleep, and never received anyone before

, what do you wa

his eyes, and in a trembling voice he could o

d, and seizing him by the hand, led h

allen from the cart is lost; give me back, at any r

could neglect Dunia. She shall be happy, I give you my word of honour. Why do you want her? She loves me; she has forsaken her former existence. Neither you no

ed-up fifty ruble notes. His eyes again filled with tears, tears of[Pg 148] indignation! He crushed the notes into a ball, threw the

ho had observed him, ran towards an isvoshtchick, go

more. With this view, a couple of days afterwards he returned to Minsky's lodgings. But the military servant told him roughly that his maste

en a smart drojki flew past him, and in it the Postmaster recognised Minsky. The drojki stopped in front of a three-storeyed

inquired of the coachman. "

g

lied the coachman

a note for him to his Dunia, and I

but you are too late, my friend, with

sation at his heart. "Thanks for your information; I shall be ab

e several seconds of painful delay. The

meonovna live he

young maid-servant, "Wha

did not reply

and stopped. In the room, which was beautifully furnished, sat Minsky in deep thought. Dunia, dressed in all the splendour of the latest fashion, sat on the arm[Pg 150] of his easy chair, like a rider on an English side

he asked, without

as s

looked up, and with a c

enly seeing the old Postmaster in the doorway, he

erywhere, like a burglar? Or do you want to murder me? Begone!" and with a strong h

but the Postmaster reflected, waved his hand, and decided to give the matter u

the first, nor the last, whom a wandering blackguard has enticed away, kept for a time, and then dropped. There are many such young fools in Petersburg to-day, in satins and velvets, and to-morrow

e faithful Terentieff in Dmitrieff's beautiful ballad. The tears were partly caused by punch, of which he had consumed five tumblers in the course of his narrative. Bu

e ruled had been done away with. To my inquiry, "Is the Postmaster alive?" no one could give a satisfactory answer.

g

e village at sunset, and stopped at the station house. In the passage (where once Dunia had kissed me) a stout woman met me; and to my inquiries, replied that the old Postmaster

die?" I asked th

k," she

re is he

ge, by the side o

ne take me t

the cat and take this gentleman to the cem

with red hair and a squint,

poor man?" I asked

!) we met him coming from the tavern, we used to run after him calling, 'Daddy! dadd

avellers ever

and he is too busy to think of the dead. But a lady, passing through l

adylike?" I inq

lack dog; and when she heard that the old Postmaster was dead, she wept, and told the children to keep quiet while she went to the cemete

, marked with wooden crosses and unshaded by a single t

oy to me, as he pointed to a heap of sand into which

dy come her

54] lying down for a long while. Then she went into the village and saw the priest. She ga

k, regretting neither the journey nor

ype="