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Updated: June 13, 2025
There she reminded him of all that Vaninka, haughty but generous, had allowed his sister to do for him. Ivan protested his devotion so warmly that Annouschka hesitated no longer, and, raising the lid of the chest, showed him the corpse of Foedor.
The two women uttered a loud cry: the chest was now a coffin; the young officer, stifled for want of air, lay dead within. For a long time the two women hoped it was only a swoon. Annouschka sprinkled his face with water; Vaninka put salts to his nose. All was in vain.
She then took a flaming brand from the stove and set fire in succession to the four corners of the room. "What are you doing?" said Annouschka, wild with terror, trying to stop her. "I am going to bury our secret in the ashes of this house," answered Vaninka. "But my brother, my poor brother!" said the girl. "Your brother is a wretch who has betrayed me, and we are lost if we do not destroy him."
Annouschka obeyed; and Vaninka, with flowers in her hair and her breast covered with jewels, glided like a phantom into her servant's room.
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.
Annouschka, at a sign from her mistress, left her alone with her father. The general held out his hand to Vaninka, and she took it without hesitation. "My child," said the general, "I have to speak to you about a very important matter." "What is it, father?" said Vaninka.
"It is all right," said Vaninka: "do not disturb yourselves; drink, my friends, drink." The revellers profited by this permission, and each emptied the glass before him. Scarcely had Gregory emptied his before he fell forward on the table. "Good!" said Vaninka to her maid in a low voice: "the opium is taking effect." "What do you mean to do?" said Annouschka. "You will soon see," was the answer.
Such was her trust in her foster-sister that she left her to accomplish the dark and terrible task with which she had burdened herself. A minute later, Annouschka saw the carriage containing the general and his daughter leave by the main gate of the hotel. She let half an hour go by, and then went down to look for Ivan.
"It is all right," said Vaninka: "do not disturb yourselves; drink, my friends, drink." The revellers profited by this permission, and each emptied the glass before him. Scarcely had Gregory emptied his before he fell forward on the table. "Good!" said Vaninka to her maid in a low voice: "the opium is taking effect." "What do you mean to do?" said Annouschka. "You will soon see," was the answer.
She preferred, therefore, to make a superhuman effort to control herself; and, going up again into her room, accompanied by her faithful Annouschka, she began to dress with as much care as if her heart were full of joy. When this cruel business was finished, she ordered Annouschka to shut the door; for she wished to see Foedor once more, and to bid a last farewell to him who had been her lover.
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