a hero of our time- 第22部分

CHAPTER　IV

21st　May。

NEARLY　a　week　has　passed；　and　I　have　not　yet　made　the　Ligovskis'　acquaintance。　　I　am　awaiting　a　convenient　opportunity。　　Grushnitski　follows　Princess　Mary　everywhere　like　a　shadow。　Their　conversations　are　interminable；　but；　when　will　she　be　tired　of　him？　。　。　。　　Her　mother　pays　no　attention；　because　he　is　not　a　man　who　is　in　a　position　to　marry。　　Behold　the　logic　of　mothers！　　I　have　caught　two　or　three　tender　glances　　this　must　be　put　a　stop　to。

Yesterday；　for　the　first　time；　Vera　made　her　appearance　at　the　well。　。　。　　She　has　never　gone　out　of　doors　since　we　met　in　the　grotto。　　We　let　down　our　tumblers　at　the　same　time；　and　as　she　bent　forward　she　whispered　to　me：

〃You　are　not　going　to　make　the　Ligovskis'　acquaintance？　。　。　。　　It　is　only　there　that　we　can　meet〃　。　。　。

A　reproach！　。　。　。　　How　tiresome！　　But　I　have　deserved　it。　。　。

By　the　way；　there　is　a　subscription　ball　to…　morrow　in　the　saloon　of　the　restaurant；　and　I　will　dance　the　mazurka　with　Princess　Mary。



CHAPTER　V

29th　May。

THE　saloon　of　the　restaurant　was　converted　into　the　assembly　room　of　a　Nobles'　Club。　The　company　met　at　nine　o'clock。　　Princess　Ligovski　and　her　daughter　were　amongst　the　latest　to　make　their　appearance。　　Several　of　the　ladies　looked　at　Princess　Mary　with　envy　and　malevolence；　because　she　dresses　with　taste。　Those　who　look　upon　themselves　as　the　aris…　tocracy　of　the　place　concealed　their　envy　and　attached　themselves　to　her　train。　　What　else　could　be　expected？　　Wherever　there　is　a　gathering　of　women；　the　company　is　immediately　divided　into　a　higher　and　a　lower　circle。

Beneath　the　window；　amongst　a　crowd　of　people；　stood　Grushnitski；　pressing　his　face　to　the　pane　and　never　taking　his　eyes　off　his　divinity。　As　she　passed　by；　she　gave　him　a　hardly　per…　ceptible　nod。　　He　beamed　like　the　sun。　。　。　The　first　dance　was　a　polonaise；　after　which　the　musicians　struck　up　a　waltz。　　Spurs　began　to　jingle；　and　skirts　to　rise　and　whirl。

I　was　standing　behind　a　certain　stout　lady　who　was　overshadowed　by　rose…coloured　feathers。　The　magnificence　of　her　dress　reminded　me　of　the　times　of　the　farthingale；　and　the　motley　hue　of　her　by　no　means　smooth　skin；　of　the　happy　epoch　of　the　black　taffeta　patch。　　An　immense　wart　on　her　neck　was　covered　by　a　clasp。　　She　was　saying　to　her　cavalier；　a　captain　of　dragoons：

〃That　young　Princess　Ligovski　is　a　most　intolerable　creature！　　Just　fancy；　she　jostled　against　me　and　did　not　apologise；　but　even　turned　round　and　stared　at　me　through　her　lorgn…　ette！　。　。　。　　C'est　impayable！　。　。　。　　And　what　has　she　to　be　proud　of？　　It　is　time　somebody　gave　her　a　lesson〃　。　。　。

〃That　will　be　easy　enough；〃　replied　the　obliging　captain；　and　he　directed　his　steps　to　the　other　room。

I　went　up　to　Princess　Mary　immediately；　and；　availing　myself　of　the　local　customs　which　allowed　one　to　dance　with　a　stranger；　I　invited　her　to　waltz　with　me。

She　was　scarcely　able　to　keep　from　smiling　and　letting　her　triumph　be　seen；　but　quickly　enough　she　succeeded　in　assuming　an　air　of　perfect　indifference　and　even　severity。　　Carelessly　she　let　her　hand　fall　upon　my　shoulder；　inclined　her　head　slightly　to　one　side；　and　we　began　to　dance。　　I　have　never　known　a　waist　more　voluptuous　and　supple！　Her　fresh　breath　touched　my　face；　at　times　a　lock　of　hair；　becoming　separated　from　its　com…　panions　in　the　eddy　of　the　waltz；　glided　over　my　burning　cheek。　。　。

I　made　three　turns　of　the　ballroom　（she　waltzes　surprisingly　well）。　　She　was　out　of　breath；　her　eyes　were　dulled；　her　half…open　lips　were　scarcely　able　to　whisper　the　indispensable：　〃merci；　monsieur。〃

After　a　few　moments'　silence　I　said　to　her；　assuming　a　very　humble　air：

〃I　have　heard；　Princess；　that　although　quite　unacquainted　with　you；　I　have　already　had　the　misfortune　to　incur　your　displeasure　。　。　。　that　you　have　considered　me　insolent。　　Can　that　possibly　true？〃

〃Would　you　like　to　confirm　me　in　that　opinion　now？〃　she　answered；　with　an　ironical　little　grimace　　very　becoming；　however；　to　her　mobile　countenance。

〃If　I　had　the　audacity　to　insult　you　in　any　way；　then　allow　me　to　have　the　still　greater　audacity　to　beg　your　pardon。　。　。　　And；　indeed；　I　should　very　much　like　to　prove　to　you　that　you　are　mistaken　in　regard　to　me〃　。　。　。

〃You　will　find　that　a　rather　difficult　task〃　。　。　。

〃But　why？〃　。　。　。

〃Because　you　never　visit　us　and；　most　likely；　there　will　not　be　many　more　of　these　balls。〃

〃That　means；〃　I　thought；　〃that　their　doors　are　closed　to　me　for　ever。〃

〃You　know；　Princess；〃　I　said　to　her；　with　a　certain　amount　of　vexation；　〃one　should　never　spurn　a　penitent　criminal：　in　his　despair　he　may　become　twice　as　much　a　criminal　as　before　。　。　。　and　then〃　。　。　。

Sudden　laughter　and　whispering　from　the　people　around　us　caused　me　to　turn　my　head　and　to　interrupt　my　phrase。　　A　few　paces　away　from　me　stood　a　group　of　men；　amongst　them　the　captain　of　dragoons；　who　had　manifested　inten…　tions　hostile　to　the　charming　Princess。　　He　was　particularly　well　pleased　with　something　or　other；　and　was　rubbing　his　hands；　laughing　and　ex…　changing　meaning　glances　with　his　companions。　All　at　once　a　gentleman　in　an　evening…dress　coat　and　with　long　moustaches　and　a　red　face　separated　himself　from　the　crowd　and　directed　his　uncertain　steps　straight　towards　Princess　Mary。　　He　was　drunk。　　Coming　to　a　halt　opposite　the　em…　barrassed　Princess　and　placing　his　hands　behind　his　back；　he　fixed　his　dull　grey　eyes　upon　her；　and　said　in　a　hoarse　treble：

〃Permettez　。　。　。　but　what　is　the　good　of　that　sort　of　thing　here。　。　。　　All　I　need　say　is：　I　en…　gage　you　for　the　mazurka〃　。　。　。

〃Very　well！〃　she　replied　in　a　trembling　voice；　throwing　a　beseeching　glance　around。　　Alas！　　Her　mother　was　a　long　way　off；　and　not　one　of　the　cavaliers　of　her　acquaintance　was　near。　　A　certain　aide…de…camp　apparently　saw　the　whole　scene；　but　he　concealed　himself　behind　the　crowd　in　order　not　to　be　mixed　up　in　the　affair。

〃What？〃　said　the　drunken　gentleman；　wink…　ing　to　the　captain　of　dragoons；　who　was　encourag…　ing　him　by　signs。　　〃Do　you　not　wish　to　dance　then？　。　。　。　　All　the　same　I　again　have　the　honour　to　engage　you　for　the　mazurka。　。　。　　You　think；　perhaps；　that　I　am　drunk！　　That　is　all　right！　。　。　。　I　can　dance　all　the　easier；　I　assure　you〃　。　。　。

I　saw　that　she　was　on　the　point　of　fainting　with　fright　and　indignation。

I　went　up　to　the　drunken　gentleman；　caught　him　none　too　gently　by　the　arm；　and；　looking　him　fixedly　in　the　face；　requested　him　to　retire。　〃Because；〃　I　added；　〃the　Princess　promised　long　ago　to　dance　the　mazurka　with　me。〃

〃Well；　then；　there's　nothing　to　be　done！　Another　time！〃　he　said；　bursting　out　laughing；　and　he　retired　to　his　abashed　companions；　who　immediately　conducted　him　into　another　room。

I　was　rewarded　by　a　deep；　wondrous　glance。

The　Princess　went　up　to　her　mother　and　told　her　the　whole　story。　　The　latter　sought　me　out　among　the　crowd　and　thanked　me。　　She　informed　me　that　she　knew　my　mother　and　was　on　terms　of　friendship　with　half　a　dozen　of　my　aunts。

〃I　do　not　know　how　it　has　happened　that　we　have　not　made　your　acquaintance　up　to　now；〃　she　added；　〃but　confess；　you　alone　are　to　blame　for　that。　　You　fight　shy　of　everyone　in　a　positively　unseemly　way。　　I　hope　the　air　of　my　drawing…　room　will　dispel　your　spleen。　。　。　　Do　you　not　think　so？〃

I　uttered　one　of　the　phrases　which　everybody　must　have　ready　for　such　an　occasion。

The　quadrilles　dragged　on　a　dreadfully　long　time。

At　last　the　music　struck　up　from　the　gallery；　Princess　Mary　and　I　took　up　our　places。

I　did　not　once　allude　to　the　drunken　gentleman；　or　to　my　previous　behaviour；　or　to　Grushnitski。　The　impression　produced　upon　her　by　the　unpleasant　scene　was　gradually　dispelled；　her　face　brightened　up；　she　jested　very　charmingly；　her　conversation　was　witty；　without　pretensions　to　wit；　vivacious　and　spontaneous；　her　observations　were　sometimes　profound。　。　。　　In　a　very　involved　sentence　I　gave　her　to　understand　that　I　had　liked　her　for　a　long　time。　　She　bent　her　head　and　blushed　slightly。

〃You　are　a　strange　man！〃　she　said；　with　a　forced　laugh；　lifting　her　velvet　eyes　upon　me。

〃I　did　not　wish　to　make　your　acquaintance；〃　I　continued；　〃because　you　are　surrounded　by　too　dense　a　throng　of　adorers；　in　which　I　was　afraid　of　being　lost　to　sight　altogether。〃

〃You　need　not　have　been　afraid；　they　are　all　very　tiresome〃　。　。　。

〃All？　　Not　all；　surely？〃

She　looked　fixedly　at　me　as　if　endeavouring　to　recollect　something；　then　blushed　slightly　again　and　finally　pronounced　with　decision：

〃All！〃

〃Even　my　friend；　Grushnitski？〃

〃But　is　he　your　friend？〃　she　said；　manifesting　some　doubt。

〃Yes。〃

〃He；　of　course；　does　not　come　into　the　category　of　the　tiresome〃　。　。　。

〃But　into　that　of　the　unfortunate！〃　I　said；　laughing。

〃Of　course！　　But　do　you　consider　that　funny？　　I　should　like　you　to　be　in　his　place〃　。　。　。

〃Well？　　I　was　once　a　cadet　myself；　and；　in　truth；　it　was　the　best　time　of　my　life！〃

〃Is　he　a　cadet；　then？〃　。　。　。　she　said　rapidly；　and　then　added：　〃But　I　thought〃　。　。　。

〃What　did　you　think？〃　。　。　。

〃Nothing！　　Who　is　that　lady？〃

Thereupon　the　conversation　took　a　different　direction；　and　it　did　not　return　to　the　former　subject。

And　now　the　mazurka　came　to　an　end　and　we　separated　　until　we　should　meet　again。　　The　ladies　drove　off　in　different　directions。　　I　went　to　get　some　supper；　and　met　Werner。

〃Aha！〃　he　said：　〃so　it　is　you！　　And　yet　you　did　not　wish　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　Princess　Mary　otherwise　than　by　saving　her　from　certain　death。〃

〃I　have　done　better；〃　I　replied。　　〃I　have　saved　her　from　fainting　at　the　ball〃　。　。　。

〃How　was　that？　　Tell　me。〃

〃No；　guess！　　O；　you　who　guess　everything　in　the　world！〃



CHAPTER　VI

30th　May。

ABOUT　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening；　I　was　walking　on　the　boulevard。　　Grushnitski　perceived　me　a　long　way　off；　and　came　up　to　me。　A　sort　of　ridiculous　rapture　was　shining　in　his　eyes。　　He　pressed　my　hand　warmly；　and　said　in　a　tragic　voice：

〃I　thank　you；　Pechorin。　。　。　　You　understand　me？〃

〃No；　but　in　any　case　it　is　not　worth　grati…　tude；〃　I　answered；　not　having；　in　fact；　any　good　deed　upon　my　conscience。

〃What？　　But　yesterday！　　Have　you　for…　gotten？　。　。　。　　Mary　has　told　me　everything〃　。　。　。

〃Why！　　Have　you　everything