IV. THE DUEL.
Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became notonly supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of thefamily in the Commandant's house. The husband and wife were excellentpeople. Ivan Mironoff, from being the adopted child of the regiment,rose to officer's rank. He was a plain, simple, uneducated man, butthoroughly good and loyal. His wife governed him, and that suited hisnatural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the garrison, as shedid her household, and commanded through the fortress as she did inher own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we becamebetter acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection andintelligence. Little by little I became deeply attached to this goodfamily.
I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did notoppress me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty todo, no guard to mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his ownamusement, the Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet succeededin teaching them which was the right flank and which the left.
Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, sothat a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, andessayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every dayI dined at the Commandant's, where, as a general thing, I spent therest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife,Accoulina, the greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I metdaily, yet gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual jokes uponthe Commandant's family, and above all his biting remarks about Marie,rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had no othersociety than this family in the fortress, and I desired no other. Allpredictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, and peacereigned around us.
I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. Oneday I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is wellknown that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek akindly audience. I copied my little song and took it to Alexis, theonly one in the fortress who could appreciate a poetical work. Afterpreluding a little, I drew my pages from my pocket and read my verses tohim.
"How do you like that?" said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. Tomy great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my writings,declared frankly that my song was worth nothing.
"What do you mean?" said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper outof my hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every word,tearing me up in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. I snatchedthe paper from him, declaring that never again would I show him any ofmy compositions.
"We shall see," said he, "if you can keep your word; poets need alistener as Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. Whois this Marie to whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it not beMarie Mironoff?"
"That is none of your business," said I, frowning. "I want neither youradvice nor supposition."
"Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover," continued Alexis, irritating memore and more, "listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed donot confine yourself to songs."
"What do you mean, sir? Explain!"
"With pleasure," he replied. "I mean that if you wish to form anintimacy with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair ofearrings instead of your lackadaisical verses."
All my blood boiled. "Why have you this opinion of her?" I asked, withmuch effort restraining my anger.
"Because," said he, "of my own experience."
"You lie, wretch," I cried, with furry, "you lie, shamelessly."
Alexis was enraged.
"That shall not pass so," he said, grasping my hand. "You shall give mesatisfaction."
"When ever you like," I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I wasready to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whomI found with a needle in his hand. According to orders from theCommandant's wife, he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried forwinter use.
"Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sendsyou here?"
In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him,Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with greatattention, opening wide his only eye.
"You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I shouldwitness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?"
"Precisely."
"Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harshword can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, givehim the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, youa third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if youfight--well, if _you_ should kill _him_, God be with him! for I do notlike him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece ofbusiness! Then who will pay for the broken pots?"
The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution.
"Do as you like," said Ignatius, "but what's the use of having me as awitness? People fight--that's nothing extraordinary--I have often beenquite close to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of color."
I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, orcould not understand me. "Follow your own fashion," said he, "if I wereto meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan Mironoff,according to rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress for thecommission of a criminal action--one contrary to the interests of thecrown."
I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. Hegave me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. Asusual I passed the evening at the Commandant's, forcing myself tobe calm and gay, in order not to awaken suspicions and to avoidquestioning. I confess that I had not the coolness of which people boastwho have been in a similar position. I was disposed to tenderness. MarieMironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The idea that perhaps I sawher for the last time, gave her a touching grace.
Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation withIgnatius.
"What's the good of seconds," said he, dryly. "We can do without them."
We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o'clock.
Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us."You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than agood quarrel."
"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playingpatience in a corner, "I do not quite understand?"
Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confusedand knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: "He approves ofpeace."
"With whom had you quarreled?" said she.
"With Peter Grineff--a few high words."
"Why?"
"For a mere nothing--a song."
"Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened."
"Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sanghis song for me. Then I chanted mine:
'Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.'
As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that everyone is at liberty to sing what he pleases."
The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understoodhis allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general.The Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, andadvised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service,and leading to nothing good.
As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to takeleave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, triedits point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in themorning at six o'clock.
The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting myadversary, who did not fail to appear. "We may be surprised," hesaid; "be quick." We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from thescabbards, when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out frombehind a haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of theCommandant. We obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius
conductedus in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity. We enteredthe Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, and exclaimedwith emphasis: "They are taken!"
Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassinationin our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, giveup your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you;are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he wastransferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish;and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour."
Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see!You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code."
Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could nothelp smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and saidto Basilia: "Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you takeuseless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to IvanMironoff; it is his business."
"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the sameflesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boysinstantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water, to expel thisstupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on orderthat they may repent before God and man."
Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. Thetempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us toembrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left thehouse, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself," I said to him, "to have denounced usto the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?"
"As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it allfrom me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge ofthe Commandant. Thank God it finished as it did." He went to his room; Iremained with Alexis.
"Our affair can not end thus," I remarked.
"Certainly not," replied Alexis. "You shall pay me with your blood foryour impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feignfor a few days. Until then, adieu!"
We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant's,and seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and hermother busy with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Mariereproached me gently for the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. "Myheart failed me," she said, "when I heard you were going to fight withswords. How strange men are! For a word, they are ready to strangle eachother, and sacrifice, not only their own life, but even the honor andhappiness of those who-- I am sure you did not begin the quarrel? Alexiswas the aggressor?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would notdisplease him, although he is quite disagreeable to me."
"What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?"
Marie blushed. "It seems," said she, "that I please him."
"How do you know?"
"Because he made me an offer of marriage."
"He made you an offer of marriage! When?"
"Last year, two months before your arrival."
"You did not accept?"
"Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of anexcellent family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that beneaththe crown, on my marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss him beforeevery one! No! no! not for any thing in the world."
Marie's words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexisin aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutualinclination, and was trying to turn us from each other. The words whichhad provoked our quarrel seemed to me the more infamous, as instead ofbeing a vulgar joke, it was deliberate calumny. The desire to punishthis shameless liar became so strong that I waited impatiently thefavorable moment. I had not long to wait. The next day, occupiedcomposing an elegy, biting my pen in the expectation of a rhyme, Alexisknocked at my window. I put down my pen, took my sword, and went out ofthe house.
"Why defer?" said Alexis, "we are no longer watched, let us go down tothe river-side; there none will hinder us."
We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped atthe water's edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I inthe use of arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who hadbeen, amongst other things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. Alexis didnot expect to find in me an adversary of so dangerous a character.
For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, butat last noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked himenergetically, and almost drove him backward into the river, whensuddenly I heard my name pronounced in a high voice. Turning my headrapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the path. As I turnedmy head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right shoulder,and I fell, unconscious.