The Queen of Spades and other stories

the same place at the same time; and "Three, seven, ace" soon drove away Hermann's recollection of the o

forms. Threes seemed to be spread before him like magnolias, seve

g

so dearly purchased? What if he applied for leave to travel? At Paris, he said to himself, he

who had passed all his life playing at cards, and had amassed millions. For while he lost silver only, he gained bank-notes. His m

to Tchekalinski by Narumoff. They passed through a long suite of rooms, full of the most attentive, obsequious servants. The place was crowded. Generals and high officials were playing at whist; young men w

g

he was glad to see him, that no one stood on ceremony in his house; and then went on dealing. The deal occupied some time, and stakes were made on more than thirty cards. Tchekalinski waited patiently to allow the winners time to double their stakes, paid what he had lost, listened polit

Tchekalinski, with a gracious smile, bowed in consent. Naroumoff complimented Hermann, with a laugh, on the cessation of the austerity by which h

g

fter writing some figure

er, half closing his eyes.

housand rubles

ere directed towa

his head," th

al smile, "that you are playing rather high. We never put down he

mann; "but do you acc

of my friends, I can only play against ready money. I am quite convinced that your word is as good as gold; but to keep up

anded it to Tchekalinski, who, after examining

turned up on the right a t

g

Hermann, exhib

mbly. The banker knitted his eyebrows, but sp

ttle at onc

ind enough to do

from his pocket-book, and paid. Hermann

shment. Hermann drank a gla

he players hastened to make room for him. Tchekalinski received him with a most gracious bow. Hermann waited, took a ca

e turned up on the right a kn

exhibite

e, but he counted out the ninety-four thousand roubles to Hermann, who

RE HIM A QUE

at the accustome

had left their whist to watch this extraordinary play. The young officers had

d the approach of his antagonist and prepared to meet him. Each of them untied at the same time a pack of cards. Tchekalinski shuffled, and Hermann cut.

ling hands and dealt. On one side he put

s," said

oses," said

n fascination, on the fatal card, he fancied that he saw the queen of spades open and then close her eye, while at the s

g

n! He answers no questions which we put to him. Only he mumbles to

g

ISTOL

PTE

army is well known. Drill and the riding school in the morning; dinner with

ngue gave him great influence over his juniors. He was surrounded by a certain mystery. His looks were Russian, but his name was foreign. He had served in the Hussars, and with credit.[Pg 71] No one knew what had induced him to retire and settle in this out of the way little village, where he lived in mingled poverty and extravagance. He always went on foot, and wore a shabby black coat. But he was always ready to recei

pear off some one's cap not a man in our regiment would have hesitated to act as target. Our conversation often turned on duelling; Silvio, so I will call him, never joined in it. When asked if he had ever fought, he answered curtly, "Yes." But he gave no particulars, and it was

l. For a long time he refused on the ground that he seldom played. At last he ordered cards to be brought in. With half a hundred gold pieces on the table we sat round him, and the game began. It wa

to explain. Silvio went on dealing in silence. The officer, losing patience, took the brush and rubbed out what he thought was wrong. Silvio took the chalk and recorrected it. The officer, heated with wine and play, and irritated by the laughter of th

, and you[Pg 74] may thank God that

SEIZED A BRAS

ed upon our new comrade as a dead man. He withdrew saying that he

another whether the young lieutenant was still alive, when he appeared among us. We asked him the same question, and were told that he had not yet heard from Silvio. We were astonished. We went to Sil

alive. "Can it be possible," we asked one anoth

uence. I alone could not renew my friendship with him. Being naturally romantic I had surpassed the rest in my attachment to the man whose life was an enigma, and who seemed to me a hero of some mysterious story. He liked me, and with me alone did he drop his sarcastic tone and converse simply and most agreeably on many subjects. But after this unlucky evening the thought that his honour was tarnished, and that it remained s

awaiting the arrival of the post. On Tuesdays and Fridays the bureau of the[Pg 76] regimental staff was crammed with officers. Some were expecting money, othe

n, a letter having been handed to him, I saw him break the seal and, with a look of great impatience, read th

you will not refuse to dine with me for the last time. I shall expect you, too," he added, "turnin

, and his liveliness communicated itself to the rest of the company. Corks popped every moment. Bottles fizzed and tumblers foamed incessantly, and we, with much warmth, wished our departing friend a pleasant journey and ev

to speak

pped

gone and we w

s of his former gaiety remained. Deadly pale, with sparkling eyes, and a thick smoke issui

a few words with you. You may have remarked that I care little for the opinion of

filling his pipe. I loo

he choice of weapons I had his life more or less in my hands. I might attribute my tolerance to generosity, but I will not deceive you; if I could h

MEMENTO O

se. Such a confession complete

g

r my life. Six years ago I received a sl

y was great

I inquired. "Circumstance

ied Silvio, "and here i

dboard box a red cap with a

pated man in the army. We used to boast of our drunkenness. I beat at drinking the celebrated Burtsoff, of whom Davidoff has sung in his poems. Duels in our regiment were of daily occurrence.

of a distinguished family-I will not name him. Never in my life did I meet with so brilliant, so fortunate a fellow!-young, clev

e to produce among us. My leadership was shaken. Dazzled by my reputation he began by seeking my fri

CHED OUR

tried to pick a quarrel with him. To my epigrams he replied with epigrams which always seemed to me more po

m the lady of the house, who had formerly been on very friendly terms with me, I whispered some low insult in his ear. He flew into a passi

The spring sun had risen and it was growing hot. At last I saw him in the distance. He was on foot, accompanied by only one

that I could not depend upon the certainty of my hand, and, in order to give myself time to get

vourite of fortune that he was! He a

beneath my pistol picking out ripe cherries from his cap and spitting out the stones, some of which fell near me. His indifference enraged me. 'What

I said, 'you are eating your breakfast,

ood enough to fire; or don't fire if you prefer it; the shot r

g

is the duel ended. I resigned my commission and retired to this little place. Since then not a[P

T LAST WAS

to me to read. Someone (it seemed to be his business agent) wrote to him from Mos

ting for Moscow. Me shall see whether he will be as indifferent now

nd began pacing up and down the room like a tiger in his cage

He got into the telega, in which lay two trunks-one containing his pistols, the other some p