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Updated: June 13, 2025
Annouschka and I, with the permission 2668 of the master of the house, will sit near the stove till the storm is over." Gregory tried to rise and place stools near the stove, but whether he was quite drunk or whether some narcotic had been mixed with the brandy, he fell back on his seat, trying to stammer out an excuse.
She found him drinking with Gregory, with whom the general had kept his word, and who had received the same day one thousand roubles and his liberty. Fortunately, the revellers were only beginning their rejoicings, and Ivan in consequence was sober enough for his sister to entrust her secret to him without hesitation. Ivan followed Annouschka into the chamber of her mistress.
"Because he is Annouschka's brother," said Gregory, "and Annouschka is my lady's foster-sister." "That may be so," said the two slaves. "For that reason or for some other," said Ivan; "but, in short, that is the case." "Yes; but if your sister should die?" said Gregory. "Ah!" "If my sister should die, that would be a pity, for she is a good girl. I drink to her health!
"Annouschka," said a voice outside, "knock at this door and ask Gregory if he has not some of our servants with him." Gregory and the two other slaves looked at one another, stupefied: they had recognised Vaninka's voice. As for Ivan, he flung himself back in his chair, balancing himself with marvellous impertinence.
"Listen now," said Annouschka: "your position is terrible, I grant that, and your grief is great; but your grief could be greater and your position more terrible still. If the general knew this." "What difference would it make to me?" said Vaninka. "I shall weep for him before the whole world." "Yes, but you will be dishonoured before the whole world!
"We can do nothing this morning," said Annouschka, drawing back the window curtains. "Look, the dawn is breaking." "But what can we do with the body of this unhappy man?" cried Vaninka. "It must remain hidden where it is all day, and this evening, while you are at the Court entertainment, my brother shall remove it."
"Oh, my brother, my poor brother!" "You can die with him if you like," said Vaninka, accompanying the proposal with a smile which showed she would not have been sorry if Annouschka had carried sisterly affection to that length. "But look at the fire, madam the fire!"
Annouschka again opened the chest, and Vaninka, without shedding a tear, without breathing a sigh, with the profound and death-like calm of despair, leant down towards Foedor and took off a plain ring which the young man had on his finger, placed it on her own, between two magnificent rings, then kissing him on the brow, she said, "Goodbye, my betrothed."
Vaninka followed the progress of the fire with blazing eyes, fearing to see some half-burnt spectral shape rush out of the flames. At last the roof fell in, and Vaninka, relieved of all fear, then at last made her way to the general's house, into which the two women entered without being seen, thanks to the permission Annouschka had to go out at any hour of the day or night.
The first crisis over, Vaninka was able to pray. She spent an hour on her knees, then, yielding to the entreaties of her faithful attendant, went to bed. Annouschka sat down at the foot of the bed. Neither slept, but when day came the tears which Vaninka had shed had calmed her. Annouschka was instructed to reward her brother.
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