Marie:a story of Russian love

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,

s simple, virginal abode? A terrible thought flashed through my mind. Marie in hands of the brigands! My heart was torn, an

clasping her hands, "wh

impatiently, "Mar

e maid, "concealed at Accoulina's,

d, with terror, "Po

with songs, shouts and laughter. Pougatcheff was at table there with his men. Polacca had followed me; I s

n, where is Marie?" I

'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 Mi

ded together; the brigands wanted more wine, and Accoulina was needed. "Go b

, I saw some Bashkirs stealing the boots from the bodies of the dead. I restrained my usele

cried. "Ah! master, the rascals have taken everything; but what matter, si

d not; wh

ed you out of the touloup the day of the snow-drift - a hare-

ood the pardon accorded me. I recalled with gratitude the lucky incident. A youth's touloup given

rue to his instincts; "there is nothing in the house, it

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

nt 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 i

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 eve

raitors, Alexis or the

d their chief, on seeing me. "Be we

s, 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 hi

with the most cunning, mocking expression. At last he burst into a long peal of la

he 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

stion and impude

ning, "do you not believe that I

ich 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. Pougatc

ould I recognize you as the Czar, as you are a ma

m I? in you

r you are, you are pla

bold men succeeded before me and obtained the crown? Think what you please about me, but stay with me. What matter

to her majesty, the Empress; I can not serve with y

you there, you will, at least, pro

e now a chief; you desire your subordinates to obey you. No, my life is in your

don or punish to the end. You can go the four quarters of the world, and do as yo

e, 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 hi

ing supped, fell asleep on the bare