Part 24
"Don't talk like that, please. It pains me so; but, tell me, do you wish me to avoid the duel, and send him an apology? Tell me."
Shurochka did not reply at once. The clock again made its monotonous, metallic voice heard, and filled every corner of the dark room with its infernal din. At last Shurochka answered as softly as if she were talking to herself in thought, and with an expression in her voice which Romashov was not in a condition to interpret.
"I knew you would offer to do this."
"I do not feel afraid," he exclaimed in a stern but soft tone.
"No, no, no," she said hastily in an eager, beseeching whisper. "You misunderstood me, you do not understand me. Come nearer to me. Come and sit as you did just now. Come!"
She threw both her arms round his neck, and whispered to him tender words, tickling his face with her soft hair, and flooding his cheeks with her hot breath.
"You quite misunderstood me. I meant something quite different, but I am ashamed to tell you all. You are so good, so pure-hearted. I, alas! am the opposite, and, therefore, it's so difficult for me to mention it."
"No, no. Tell me everything. I love you."
"Listen to me," she began, and Romashov guessed what she would say before she could utter the words. "If you refuse to fight with him, how much shame and persecution, how many sufferings will be your lot. No, no, this must not be done. Oh, my God, at this moment I will not lie to you, dear. I have already weighed everything carefully. Suppose you refuse the duel. In that case my husband will certainly be rehabilitated; but, you understand, after a duel that ends in reconciliation, there is always something left--how shall I put it?--something covered by a certain obscurity, and which, therefore, leaves room for malice and slander. Do you understand me now?" she added with melancholy tenderness, pressing, at the same time, a light kiss on his brow.
"Yes, but go on."
"The consequence, of course, is that they would never allow my husband even to present himself for a fresh examination. The reputation of an officer on the Staff must be unblemished. On the other hand, if a duel actually takes place, it will put you both in a dignified, heroic light. Men who can conduct themselves fittingly in front of the muzzle of a revolver--very much will be forgiven them in this world. Besides--after the duel--you can, if you like, offer an apology; but that I leave to your own discretion."
Tightly clasped in each other's arms, they continued their conversation in a whisper, but Romashov felt as if something mysterious, unclean, and nauseous had crept in between him and Shurochka, and he felt a freezing chill at heart. Again he tried to tear himself away from her arms, but she would not let him go. In his effort to hide from her the nervous excitement he was in, he exclaimed in a rough tone:
"For Heaven's sake, put an end to this! Say what you want, and I'll agree to everything."
Then she put her mouth so close to his that her words affected him like hot, thrilling kisses.
"The duel must take place, but neither of you will run any risk. Don't misunderstand me, I implore you, and don't condemn me. Like all women, I loathe cowards, but, for _my_ sake, you must do this. No, Georgi, don't ask me if my husband--for the matter of that, he already knows all."
Now at last Romashov managed to release himself from the tight grip of her soft, strong arms. He stood straight up before her, and answered in a curt, rough voice:
"That's all right. It shall be as you wish! I consent."
Shurochka also rose. Romashov could not see in the dark room that she was putting her hair straight, but he felt or guessed it.
"Are you going now?" he asked.
"Good-bye," she replied in a faint voice, "and kiss me now for the last time."
Romashov's heart was shaken by pity and love. Groping in the darkness, he caught her head in his hands, and began kissing her eyes and cheeks, which were wet with big, silent tears. This took away his self-control.
"Don't cry like that, Sascha, my darling," he implored in a sad and tender tone.
Suddenly throwing her arms round his neck, she pressed herself tightly to him by a strong, passionate movement, and, without ceasing her kisses, she whispered the words in short, broken sentences. She was breathing heavily and trembling all over.
"I can't part from you like this. We shall never see each other again. Some presentiment tells me that, so at this only moment we must not fear anything in the world. Let us be happy!"
And at that moment the pair, the room, the entire world, were filled with an ineffable bliss--stupefying, suffocating, consuming. For the space of a second Romashov fancied he saw, as it were by miracle, Shurochka's eyes shining on him with an expression of mad joy. Her lips sought his.
* * * * *
"May I accompany you home?" asked Romashov, as he escorted her to the street.
"No, my darling, don't. I have not the least idea how long I've been with you. What is the time?"
"I don't know. I have not a watch."
She stood lingering there, leaning against the gate. A powerful scent arose from the earth in the warm, languishing summer night. It was still dark, but, notwithstanding the darkness, Romashov could clearly distinguish Shurochka's features, motionless and pale as a marble statue's.
"Good-bye, my darling," she uttered at last in a weary voice. "Good-bye." They embraced each other, but their lips were cold and lifeless. Shurochka departed quickly and was swallowed up by the dark night.
Romashov remained a while listening till the last faint sounds of her light steps could no longer be caught, and then returned to his room. A feeling of utter, yet pleasant, weariness took possession of him. He had hardly undressed before he fell asleep. And the last impression left on his mind was a faint, delicious odour of perfume proceeding from his pillow--the scent from Shurochka's hair and her fair young body.
XXIII
_June 2, 18--._ Z.
To his Excellency the Colonel and Commander of the--th Infantry Regiment from Ditz, Staff-Captain of the same regiment.
REPORT.
Herewith allow me respectfully to report to your Excellency that the duel between Lieutenant Nikoläiev and Sub-lieutenant Romashov took place to-day, according to the conditions settled by you on the 1st inst.
The two adversaries met at 5.55 a.m. in the wood called "Oakwood," situated three and a quarter versts beyond the town. The duel was decided in the space of one minute ten seconds, including the time for placing the parties and giving the signal. The places taken by the duellists were determined by lot. When the command "Forward" was given the fight began. As the two officers approached each other, a shot from Lieutenant Nikoläiev struck Sub-lieutenant Romashov high on the right side. After this Lieutenant Nikoläiev stopped to await his adversary's bullet, but, after the lapse of half a minute, it was evident that Sub-lieutenant Romashov was not in a condition to return the shot, by reason of which Sub-lieutenant Romashov's seconds declared the duel was ended, as to which other witnesses were agreed. Sub-lieutenant Romashov, on being carried to his carriage, fell into a deep swoon, and died in five minutes through internal hæmorrhage.
The seconds on Lieutenant Nikoläiev's side were the undersigned and Lieutenant Vasin; on Sub-lieutenant Romashov's, Lieutenants Biek-Agamalov and Viätkin. The further arrangements for the duel were, by general agreement, made by me.
A certificate from Dr. Znoiko is enclosed herein.
_Ditz_, _Staff-Captain._
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON
* * * * *
_Crown 8vo._ FICTION _6s. each_
Moll Davis
BY BERNARD CAPES
A very light-hearted Comedy of the Stuart period, elaborated from an incident in the Grammont Memoirs. With the more than doubtful reputation of the lady of the title-rôle Mr. Capes has taken some additional liberties, but only with a view to helping it to a kindlier estimate than it perhaps deserved. Moll will be remembered as Pepys's little jigging shepherdess, who, as Celania in Davenant's play of "The Rivals," won the royal heart by her singing of "My Lodging is on the Cold Ground." She was one of the many then foundresses of noble houses. Her early history was so obscure as to lend itself very legitimately to the purposes of romance. Only dates in this case have been a little freely dealt with.
Through Stained Glass
BY GEORGE AGNEW CHAMBERLAIN
Author of "Home"
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His Father's Wife
BY J. E. PATTERSON
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Fate the Marplot
SECOND IMPRESSION.
BY F. THICKNESSE-WOODINGTON
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Sanpriel: The Promised Land
BY ALVILDE PRYDZ
Author of "The Heart of the Northern Sea"
Authorized Translation from the Norwegian
_By_ HESTER CODDINGTON
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Oblomov
BY IVAN GONCHAROV
Translated by C. J. HOGARTH
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It's an Ill Wind--
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* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The Lezghins are among the medley of mountain tribes living in Daghestan and part of the Terek province. These mountaineers of the Eastern Caucasus are nearly all Sun'i Mohammedans.
[2] One of Russia's bravest and greatest generals in the war with Napoleon, 1812.
[3] Roman Catholic priests are so called in Lithuania and Poland.
[4] _Schtoss_ is a sort of Russian hazard.
[5] Yuri = George.
[6] _Roubashka_ (blouse).
[7] The official newspaper of the Russian Army.
[8] Professional floor-polisher.
[9] A town and "government" in East Russia.
[10] Corresponds to the Swedish _smörgåsbord_, and consists of a number of cold dishes and delicacies.
[11] A national dish in Russia, consisting of a sort of buckwheat porridge baked in the oven in fire-proof earthen vessels, which are put on the table.
[12] In the time of Nicholas, sons of soldiers quartered or garrisoned in certain districts. They were liable to be called on to serve.
[13] An old Slavonic character (l'schiza), only occurring in the Russian Bible and Ritual.
[14] Nickname for Little Russians on account of their curious habit of cutting and fashioning their hair into a tuft (_khokhol_) on the crown.
[15] An affectionate diminutive of George.
[16] Sliva is the Russian for plum.
[17] Arshin = 2·33 feet.
[18] Pet name for Alexandra.
[19] A light jacket worn in the hot weather.
[20] The name given to Ivan the Terrible's lifeguards and executioners.
[21] _Chinóvnik_, Russian word for official.
[22] Ivan Milostivni, one of the innumerable saints of the Greek Church.
[23] The allusion is to the double eagle in the arms of Russia.
[24] _Vobla_ is a kind of fish of the size of Prussian carp, and is caught in the Volga.
[25] _Au revoir._
[26] Untranslatable pun on the two last syllables of _svidánia_; Dania means Denmark, _Schvezia_, Sweden.
* * * * *
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
Agamalov-Biek Biek-Agamalov=> {pg 9}
Nikolaiev=> Nikoläiev {pg 37}
Vladimir Yefimovisch=> Vladimir Yefimovich {pg 51}
Nikkoläiev=> Nikoläiev {pg 61}
Nasanski stuck his hands in his pocket=> Nasanski stuck his hands in his pockets {pg 70}
they call me Koval=> they call me Kovál {pg 228}
Yuri Alekseich,=> Yuri Alexeich, {pg 267}
by the name mysterious "benefactor"=> by the same mysterious "benefactor" {pg 295}
non-commisioned=> non-commissioned {pg 362}