ore sensible。 From that moment we singled each other out amongst the crowd。 We used frequently to meet and discuss abstract subjects in a very serious manner； until each observed that the other was throwing dust in his eyes。 Then； looking significantly at each other as； according to Cicero； the Roman augurs used to do we would burst out laughing heartily and； having had our laugh； we would separate； well content with our evening。
I was lying on a couch； my eyes fixed upon the ceiling and my hands clasped behind my head； when Werner entered my room。 He sat down in an easy chair； placed his cane in a corner； yawned； and announced that it was getting hot out of doors。 I replied that the flies were bothering me and we both fell silent。
〃Observe； my dear doctor；〃 I said； 〃that； but for fools； the world would be a very dull place。 Look！ Here are you and I； both sensible men！ We know beforehand that it is possible to dispute ad infinitum about everything and so we do not dispute。 Each of us knows almost all the other's secret thoughts： to us a single word is a whole history； we see the grain of every one of our feelings through a threefold husk。 What is sad； we laugh at； what is laughable； we grieve at； but； to tell the truth； we are fairly indifferent； generally speaking； to everything except our… selves。 Consequently； there can be no inter… change of feelings and thoughts between us； each of us knows all he cares to know about the other； and that knowledge is all he wants。 One expedient remains to tell the news。 So tell me some news。〃
Fatigued by this lengthy speech； I closed my eyes and yawned。 The doctor answered after thinking awhile：
〃There is an idea； all the same； in that non… sense of yours。〃
〃Two；〃 I replied。
〃Tell me one； and I will tell you the other。〃
〃Very well； begin！〃 I said； continuing to examine the ceiling and smiling inwardly。
〃You are anxious for information about some of the new…comers here； and I can guess who it is； because they； for their part； have already been inquiring about you。〃
〃Doctor！ Decidedly it is impossible for us to hold a conversation！ We read into each other's soul。〃
〃Now the other idea？〃 。 。 。
〃Here it is： I wanted to make you relate something； for the following reasons： firstly； listening is less fatiguing than talking； secondly； the listener cannot commit himself； thirdly； he can learn another's secret； fourthly； sensible people； such as you； prefer listeners to speakers。 Now to business； what did Princess Ligovski tell you about me？〃
〃You are quite sure that it was Princess Ligovski 。 。 。 and not Princess Mary？〃 。 。 。
〃Quite sure。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because Princess Mary inquired about Grush… nitski。〃
〃You are gifted with a fine imagination！ Princess Mary said that she was convinced that the young man in the soldier's cloak had been reduced to the ranks on account of a duel〃 。 。 。
〃I hope you left her cherishing that pleasant delusion〃 。 。 。
〃Of course〃 。 。 。
〃A plot！〃 I exclaimed in rapture。 〃We will make it our business to see to the denouement of this little comedy。 It is obvious that fate is taking care that I shall not be bored！〃
〃I have a presentiment；〃 said the doctor； 〃that poor Grushnitski will be your victim。〃
〃Proceed； doctor。〃
〃Princess Ligovski said that your face was familiar to her。 I observed that she had probably met you in Petersburg somewhere in society。 。 。 I told her your name。 She knew it well。 It appears that your history created a great stir there。 。 。 She began to tell us of your adventures； most likely supplementing the gossip of society with observations of her own。 。 。 Her daughter listened with curiosity。 In her imagination you have be… come the hero of a novel in a new style。 。 。 I did not contradict Princess Ligovski； although I knew that she was talking nonsense。〃
〃Worthy friend！〃 I said； extending my hand to him。
The doctor pressed it feelingly and continued：
〃If you like I will present you〃 。 。 。
〃Good heavens！〃 I said； clapping my hands。 〃Are heroes ever presented？ In no other way do they make the acquaintance of their beloved than by saving her from certain death！〃 。 。 。
〃And you really wish to court Princess Mary？〃
〃Not at all； far from it！ 。 。 。 Doctor； I triumph at last！ You do not understand me！ 。 。 。 It vexes me； however；〃 I continued after a moment's silence。 〃I never reveal my secrets myself； but I am exceedingly fond of their being guessed； because in that way I can always disavow them upon occasion。 However； you must describe both mother and daughter to me。 What sort of people are they？〃
〃In the first place； Princess Ligovski is a woman of forty…five；〃 answered Werner。 〃She has a splendid digestion； but her blood is out of order there are red spots on her cheeks。 She has spent the latter half of her life in Moscow； and has grown stout from leading an inactive life there。 She loves spicy stories； and sometimes says improper things herself when her daughter is out of the room。 She has declared to me that her daughter is as innocent as a dove。 What does that matter to me？ 。 。 。 I was going to answer that she might be at her ease； because I would never tell anyone。 Princess Ligovski is taking the cure for her rheumatism； and the daughter； for goodness knows what。 I have ordered each of them to drink two tumblers a day of sulphurous water； and to bathe twice a week in the diluted bath。 Princess Ligovski is apparently unac… customed to giving orders。 She cherishes respect for the intelligence and attainments of her daughter； who has read Byron in English and knows algebra： in Moscow； evidently； the ladies have entered upon the paths of erudition and a good thing； too！ The men here are generally so unamiable； that； for a clever woman； it must be intolerable to flirt with them。 Princess Ligovski is very fond of young people； Princess Mary looks on them with a certain contempt a Moscow habit！ In Moscow they cherish only wits of not less than forty。〃
〃You have been in Moscow； doctor？〃
〃Yes； I had a practice there。〃
〃Continue。〃
〃But I think I have told everything。 。 。 No； there is something else： Princess Mary； it seems； loves to discuss emotions； passions； etcetera。 She was in Petersburg for one winter； and disliked it especially the society： no doubt she was coldly received。〃
〃You have not seen anyone with them to… day？〃
〃On the contrary； there was an aide…de…camp； a stiff guardsman； and a lady one of the latest arrivals； a relation of Princess Ligovski on the husband's side very pretty； but apparently very ill。 。 。 Have you not met her at the well？ She is of medium height； fair； with regular features； she has the complexion of a con… sumptive； and there is a little black mole on her right cheek。 I was struck by the expressiveness of her face。〃
〃A mole！〃 I muttered through my teeth。 〃Is it possible？〃
The doctor looked at me； and； laying his hand on my heart； said triumphantly：
〃You know her！〃
My heart was； in fact； beating more violently than usual。
〃It is your turn； now； to triumph；〃 I said。 〃But I rely on you： you will not betray me。 I have not seen her yet； but I am convinced that I recognise from your portrait a woman whom I loved in the old days。 。 。 Do not speak a word to her about me； if she asks any questions； give a bad report of me。〃
〃Be it so！〃 said Werner； shrugging his shoulders。
When he had departed； my heart was com… pressed with terrible grief。 Has destiny brought us together again in the Caucasus； or has she come hither on purpose； knowing that she would meet me？ 。 。 。 And how shall we meet？ 。 。 。 And then； is it she？ 。 。 。 My presentiments have never deceived me。 There is not a man in the world over whom the past has acquired such a power as over me。 Every recollection of bygone grief or joy strikes my soul with morbid effect； and draws forth ever the same sounds。 。 。 I am stupidly constituted： I forget nothing no… thing！
After dinner； about six o'clock； I went on to the boulevard。 It was crowded。 The two princesses were sitting on a bench； surrounded by young men； who were vying with each other in paying them attention。 I took up my position on another bench at a little distance off； stopped two Dragoon officers whom I knew； and proceeded to tell them something。 Evidently it was amusing； because they began to laugh loudly like a couple of mad… men。 Some of those who were surrounding Princess Mary were attracted to my side by curiosity； and gradually all of them left her and joined my circle。 I did not stop talking； my anecdotes were clever to the point of absurdity； my jests at the expense of the queer people passing by； malicious to the point of frenzy。 I continued to entertain the public till sunset。 Princess Mary passed by me a few times； arm…in… arm with her mother； and accompanied by a certain lame old man。 A few times her glance as it fell upon me expressed vexation； while en… deavouring to express indifference。 。 。
〃What has he been telling you？〃 she in… quired of one of the young men； who had gone back to her out of politeness。 〃No doubt a most interesting story his own exploits in battle？〃 。 。 。
This was said rather loudly； and probably with the intention of stinging me。
〃Aha！〃 I thought to myself。 〃You are downright angry； my dear Princess。 Wait awhile； there is more to follow。〃
Grushnitski kept following her like a beast of prey； and would not let her out of his sight。 I wager that to…morrow he will ask somebody to present him to Princess Ligovski。 She will be glad； because she is bored。
CHAPTER III
16th May。
IN the course of two days my affairs have gained ground tremendously。 Princess Mary positively hates me。 Already I have had repeated to me two or three epigrams on the subject of myself rather caustic； but at the same time very flattering。 She finds it exceedingly strange that I； who am accustomed to good society； and am so intimate with her Petersburg cousins and aunts； do not try to make her acquaintance。 Every day we meet at the well and on the boule… vard。 I exert all my powers to entice away her adorers； glittering aides…de…camp； pale…faced visitors from Moscow； and others and I almost always succeed。 I hav