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Updated: May 7, 2025
"I shall sleep badly to-night," she said to me when the mazurka was over. "Grushnitski is to blame for that." "Oh, no!" And her face became so pensive, so sad, that I promised myself that I would not fail to kiss her hand that evening. The guests began to disperse. As I was handing Princess Mary into her carriage, I rapidly pressed her little hand to my lips.
The doctor drew a silver coin from his pocket and held it up. "Tail!" cried Grushnitski hurriedly, like a man suddenly aroused by a friendly nudge. "Head," I said. The coin spun in the air and fell, jingling. We all rushed towards it. "You are lucky," I said to Grushnitski. "You are to fire first! But remember that if you do not kill me I shall not miss I give you my word of honour."
Grushnitski started, and answered rapidly, without raising his eyes: "My dear sir, what I say, I mean, and I am prepared to repeat... I am not afraid of your menaces and am ready for anything." "The latter you have already proved," I answered coldly; and, taking the captain of dragoons by the arm, I left the room. "What do you want?" asked the captain.
Doctor Werner came in after him. "I do not congratulate you," he said to Grushnitski. "Why not?" "Because the soldier's cloak suits you very well, and you must confess that an infantry uniform, made by one of the local tailors, will not add anything of interest to you... Do you not see? Hitherto, you have been an exception, but now you will come under the general rule."
They suddenly fell silent. Our negotiations were somewhat protracted. At length we decided the matter as follows: about five versts from here there is a hollow gorge; they will ride thither tomorrow at four o'clock in the morning, and we shall leave half an hour later. You will fire at six paces Grushnitski himself demanded that condition.
The captain winked to Grushnitski, and the latter, thinking that I was losing courage, assumed a haughty air, although, until that moment, his cheeks had been covered with a dull pallor. For the first time since our arrival he lifted his eyes on me; but in his glance there was a certain disquietude which evinced an inward struggle.
Grushnitski is looked upon as a man of distinguished courage. I have seen him in action. He waves his sabre, shouts, and hurls himself forward with his eyes shut. That is not what I should call Russian courage!... I reciprocate Grushnitski's dislike. I feel that some time or other we shall come into collision upon a narrow road, and that one of us will fare badly.
When I went up to her, she was listening absent-mindedly to Grushnitski, who was apparently falling into raptures about Nature, but, so soon as she perceived me, she began to laugh at a most inopportune moment pretending not to notice me. I went on a little further and began stealthily to observe her. She turned away from her companion and yawned twice.
In order completely to undeceive her, I replied in French, with a slight bow: "Ne craignez rien, madame, je ne suis pas plus dangereux que votre cavalier"... She grew embarrassed but at what? At her own mistake, or because my answer struck her as insolent? I should like the latter hypothesis to be correct. Grushnitski cast a discontented glance at me.
I know that you will not acknowledge it because Grushnitski has been killed" she crossed herself. "God forgive him and you too, I hope... That does not concern me... I dare not condemn you because my daughter, although innocently, has been the cause. She has told me everything... everything, I think. You have declared your love for her... She has admitted hers to you."
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