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YESTERDAY I arrived at Pyatigorsk. I have engaged lodgings at the extreme end of the town, the highest part, at the foot of Mount Mashuk: during a storm the clouds will descend on to the roof of my dwelling. This morning at five o'clock, when I opened my window, the room was filled with the fragrance of the flowers growing in the modest little front-garden.
It was already six o'clock in the evening, when I remembered that it was time to dine. My horse was jaded. I rode out on to the road leading from Pyatigorsk to the German colony, to which the society of the watering-place frequently rides en piquenique. The road meanders between bushes and descends into little ravines, through which flow noisy brooks beneath the shade of tall grasses.
My husband has gone to Pyatigorsk and will not return before to-morrow morning. My servants and maids will not be at home; I have distributed tickets to all of them, and to the princess's servants as well. I await you; come without fail." "Aha!" I said to myself, "so then it has turned out at last as I thought it would." At eight o'clock I went to see the conjurer.
There was a minute when I felt unbearably sorry for her, for trusting me so implicitly, and I made up my mind that I would really take her to Pyatigorsk, but remembering that I had only six hundred roubles in my portmanteau, and that it would be far more difficult to break it off with her in the autumn than now, I made haste to suppress my compassion.
She hurried through the gate of one of the best houses in Pyatigorsk; her mother walked behind her and bowed adieu to Raevich at the gate. It was only then that the poor, passionate cadet noticed my presence. "Did you see?" he said, pressing my hand vigorously. "She is an angel, simply an angel!" "Why?" I inquired, with an air of the purest simplicity. "Did you not see, then?" "No.
The idea of not finding Vera in Pyatigorsk struck my heart like a hammer.
"My friend, I am terribly tired of even other society than that of Pyatigorsk. So you visit the Ligovskis?" "Not yet. I have spoken to Princess Mary once or twice, but that is all. You know it is rather awkward to go and visit them without being invited, although that is the custom here... It would be a different matter if I was wearing epaulettes"... "Good heavens!
"You do not love Mary, do you? You will not marry her? Listen, you must offer me that sacrifice. I have lost everything in the world for you"... Like a madman I sprang on the steps, jumped on my Circassian horse which was being led about the courtyard, and set off at full gallop along the road to Pyatigorsk.
The latter is evidently not very fastidious, for, ever since, she answers his bow with a most charming smile. "Are you sure you do not wish to make the Ligovskis' acquaintance?" he said to me yesterday. "Positive." "Good gracious! The pleasantest house at the waters! All the best society of Pyatigorsk is to be found there"...
I drank the appointed number of glasses of Narzan water, and, after sauntering a few times about the long linden avenue, I met Vera's husband, who had just arrived from Pyatigorsk. He took my arm and we went to the restaurant for breakfast. He was dreadfully uneasy about his wife. "What a terrible fright she had last night," he said.
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