XXI
It was quite morning when he fell asleep. And no wonder! In theblast of that instantaneous summer hurricane, he had almost asinstantaneously felt, not that Gemma was lovely, not that he likedher--that he had known before ... but that he almost ... loved her!As suddenly as that blast of wind, had love pounced down upon him.And then this senseless duel! He began to be tormented by mournfulforebodings. And even suppose they didn't kill him.... What could comeof his love for this girl, another man's betrothed? Even supposingthis 'other man' was no danger, that Gemma herself would care for him,or even cared for him already ... What would come of it? How ask what!Such a lovely creature!...
He walked about the room, sat down to the table, took a sheet ofpaper, traced a few lines on it, and at once blotted them out....He recalled Gemma's wonderful figure in the dark window, in thestarlight, set all a-fluttering by the warm hurricane; he rememberedher marble arms, like the arms of the Olympian goddesses, felt theirliving weight on his shoulders.... Then he took the rose she hadthrown him, and it seemed to him that its half-withered petals exhaleda fragrance of her, more delicate than the ordinary scent of the rose.
'And would they kill him straight away or maim him?'
He did not go to bed, and fell asleep in his clothes on the sofa.
Some one slapped him on the shoulder.... He opened his eyes, and sawPantaleone.
'He sleeps like Alexander of Macedon on the eve of the battle ofBabylon!' cried the old man.
'What o'clock is it?' inquired Sanin.
'A quarter to seven; it's a two hours' drive to Hanau, and we mustbe the first on the field. Russians are always beforehand with theirenemies! I have engaged the best carriage in Frankfort!'
Sanin began washing. 'And where are the pistols?'
'That _ferroflucto Tedesco_ will bring the pistols. He'll bring adoctor too.'
Pantaleone was obviously putting a good face on it as he had done theday before; but when he was seated in the carriage with Sanin, whenthe coachman had cracked his whip and the horses had started off at agallop, a sudden change came over the old singer and friend of Paduandragoons. He began to be confused and positively faint-hearted.Something seemed to have given way in him, like a badly built wall.
'What are we doing, my God, _Santissima Madonna!_' he cried in anunexpectedly high pipe, and he clutched at his head. 'What am I about,old fool, madman, _frenetico_?'
Sanin wondered and laughed, and putting his arm lightly roundPantaleone's waist, he reminded him of the French proverb: '_Le vinest tire--il faut le boire_.'
'Yes, yes,' answered the old man, 'we will drain the cup together tothe dregs--but still I'm a madman! I'm a madman! All was going on soquietly, so well ... and all of a sudden: ta-ta-ta, tra-ta-ta!'
'Like the _tutti_ in the orchestra,' observed Sanin with a forcedsmile. 'But it's not your fault.'
'I know it's not. I should think not indeed! And yet ... such insolentconduct! _Diavolo, diavolo_!' repeated Pantaleone, sighing and shakinghis topknot.
The carriage still rolled on and on.
It was an exquisite morning. The streets of Frankfort, which were justbeginning to show signs of life, looked so clean and snug; the windowsof the houses glittered in flashes like tinfoil; and as soon as thecarriage had driven beyond the city walls, from overhead, from a bluebut not yet glaring sky, the larks' loud trills showered down infloods. Suddenly at a turn in the road, a familiar figure came frombehind a tall poplar, took a few steps forward and stood still. Saninlooked more closely.... Heavens! it was Emil!
'But does he know anything about it?' he demanded of Pantaleone.
'I tell you I'm a madman,' the poor Italian wailed despairingly,almost in a shriek. 'The wretched boy gave me no peace all night, andthis morning at last I revealed all to him!'
'So much for your _segredezza_!' thought Sanin. The carriage had gotup to Emil. Sanin told the coachman to stop the horses, and called the'wretched boy' up to him. Emil approached with hesitating steps, paleas he had been on the day he fainted. He could scarcely stand.
'What are you doing here?' Sanin asked him sternly. 'Why aren't you athome?'
'Let ... let me come with you,' faltered Emil in a trembling voice,and he clasped his hands. His teeth were chattering as in a fever. 'Iwon't get in your way--only take me.'
'If you feel the very slightest affection or respect for me,' saidSanin, 'you will go at once home or to Herr Klueber's shop, and youwon't say one word to any one, and will wait for my return!'
'Your return,' moaned Emil--and his voice quivered and broke, 'but ifyou're--'
'Emil!' Sanin interrupted--and he pointed to the coachman, 'do controlyourself! Emil, please, go home! Listen to me, my dear! You say youlove me. Well, I beg you!' He held out his hand to him. Emil bentforward, sobbed, pressed it to his lips, and darting away from theroad, ran back towards Frankfort across country.
'A noble heart too,' muttered Pantaleone; but Sanin glanced severelyat him.... The old man shrank into the corner of the carriage. He wasconscious of his fault; and moreover, he felt more and more bewilderedevery instant; could it really be he who was acting as second, who hadgot horses, and had made all arrangements, and had left his peacefulabode at six o'clock? Besides, his legs were stiff and aching.
Sanin thought it as well to cheer him up, and he chanced on the verything, he hit on the right word.
'Where is your old spirit, Signor Cippatola? Where is _il anticovalor_?'
Signor Cippatola drew himself up and scowled '_Il antico valor_?' heboomed in a bass voice. '_Non e ancora spento_ (it's not all lostyet), _il antico valor!_'
He put himself in a dignified attitude, began talking of his career,of the opera, of the great tenor Garcia--and arrived at Hanau a hero.
After all, if you think of it, nothing is stronger in the world ...and weaker--than a word!
XXII
The copse in which the duel was to take place was a quarter of a milefrom Hanau. Sanin and Pantaleone arrived there first, as the latterhad predicted; they gave orders for the carriage to remain outsidethe wood, and they plunged into the shade of the rather thick andclose-growing trees. They had to wait about an hour.
The time of waiting did not seem particularly disagreeable to Sanin;he walked up and down the path, listened to the birds singing, watchedthe dragonflies in their flight, and like the majority of Russians insimilar circumstances, tried not to think. He only once dropped intoreflection he came across a young lime-tree, broken down, in allprobability by the squall of the previous night. It was unmistakablydying ... all the leaves on it were dead. 'What is it? an omen?'was the thought that flashed across his mind; but he promptly beganwhistling, leaped over the very tree, and paced up and down the path.As for Pantaleone, he was grumbling, abusing the Germans, sighingand moaning, rubbing first his back and then his knees. He evenyawned from agitation, which gave a very comic expression to his tinyshrivelled-up face. Sanin could scarcely help laughing when he lookedat him.
They heard, at last, the rolling of wheels along the soft road. 'It'sthey!' said Pantaleone, and he was on the alert and drew himself up,not without a momentary nervous shiver, which he made haste, however,to cover with the ejaculation 'B-r-r!' and the remark that the morningwas rather fresh. A heavy dew drenched the grass and leaves, but thesultry heat penetrated even into the wood.
Both the officers quickly made their appearance under its archedavenues; they were accompanied by a little thick-set man, with aphlegmatic, almost sleepy, expression of face--the army doctor. Hecarried in one hand an earthenware pitcher of water--to be ready forany emergency; a satchel with surgical instruments and bandages hungon his left shoulder. It was obvious that he was thoroughly used tosuch excursions; they constituted one of the sources of his income;each duel yielded him eight gold crowns--four from each of thecombatants. Herr von Richter carried a case of pistols, Herr vonDoenhof--probably considering it the thing--was swinging in his hand alittle cane.
'Pantaleone!' Sanin whispered to the old man; '
if ... if I'mkilled--anything may happen--take out of my side pocket apaper--there's a flower wrapped up in it--and give the paper toSignorina Gemma. Do you hear? You promise?'
The old man looked dejectedly at him, and nodded his headaffirmatively.... But God knows whether he understood what Sanin wasasking him to do.
The combatants and the seconds exchanged the customary bows; thedoctor alone did not move as much as an eyelash; he sat down yawningon the grass, as much as to say, 'I'm not here for expressions ofchivalrous courtesy.' Herr von Richter proposed to Herr 'Tshibadola'that he should select the place; Herr 'Tshibadola' responded, movinghis tongue with difficulty--'the wall' within him had completely givenway again. 'You act, my dear sir; I will watch....'
And Herr von Richter proceeded to act. He picked out in the wood closeby a very pretty clearing all studded with flowers; he measured outthe steps, and marked the two extreme points with sticks, which he cutand pointed. He took the pistols out of the case, and squatting on hisheels, he rammed in the bullets; in short, he fussed about and exertedhimself to the utmost, continually mopping his perspiring brow with awhite handkerchief. Pantaleone, who accompanied him, was more like aman frozen. During all these preparations, the two principals stood ata little distance, looking like two schoolboys who have been punished,and are sulky with their tutors.
The decisive moment arrived.... 'Each took his pistol....'
But at this point Herr von Richter observed to Pantaleone that it washis duty, as the senior second, according to the rules of the duel,to address a final word of advice and exhortation to be reconciledto the combatants, before uttering the fatal 'one! two! three!'; thatalthough this exhortation had no effect of any sort and was, as arule, nothing but an empty formality, still, by the performance ofthis formality, Herr Cippatola would be rid of a certain share ofresponsibility; that, properly speaking, such an admonition formed thedirect duty of the so-called 'impartial witness' (_unpartheiischerZeuge_) but since they had no such person present, he, Herr vonRichter, would readily yield this privilege to his honoured colleague.Pantaleone, who had already succeeded in obliterating himself behinda bush, so as not to see the offending officer at all, at first madeout nothing at all of Herr von Richter's speech, especially, as ithad been delivered through the nose, but all of a sudden he started,stepped hurriedly forward, and convulsively thumping at his chest, ina hoarse voice wailed out in his mixed jargon: '_A la la la ... Chebestialita! Deux zeun ommes comme ca que si battono--perche? Chediavolo? An data a casa!_'
'I will not consent to a reconciliation,' Sanin intervened hurriedly.
'And I too will not,' his opponent repeated after him.
'Well, then shout one, two, three!' von Richter said, addressing thedistracted Pantaleone. The latter promptly ducked behind the bushagain, and from there, all huddled together, his eyes screwed up, andhis head turned away, he shouted at the top of his voice: '_Una ...due ... tre!_'
The first shot was Sanin's, and he missed. His bullet wentping against a tree. Baron von Doenhof shot directly afterhim--intentionally, to one side, into the air.
A constrained silence followed.... No one moved. Pantaleone uttered afaint moan.
'Is it your wish to go on?' said Doenhof.
'Why did you shoot in the air?' inquired Sanin.
'That's nothing to do with you.'
'Will you shoot in the air the second time?' Sanin asked again.
'Possibly: I don't know.'
'Excuse me, excuse me, gentlemen ...' began von Richter; 'duellistshave not the right to talk together. That's out of order.'
'I decline my shot,' said Sanin, and he threw his pistol on theground.
'And I too do not intend to go on with the duel,' cried Doenhof, and hetoo threw his pistol on the ground. 'And more than that, I am preparedto own that I was in the wrong--the day before yesterday.'
He moved uneasily, and hesitatingly held out his hand. Sanin wentrapidly up to him and shook it. Both the young men looked at eachother with a smile, and both their faces flushed crimson.
'_Bravi! bravi!_' Pantaleone roared suddenly as if he had gone mad,and clapping his hands, he rushed like a whirlwind from behind thebush; while the doctor, who had been sitting on one side on a felledtree, promptly rose, poured the water out of the jug and walked offwith a lazy, rolling step out of the wood.
'Honour is satisfied, and the duel is over!' von Richter announced.
'_Fuori!_' Pantaleone boomed once more, through old associations.
* * * * *
When he had exchanged bows with the officers, and taken his seat inthe carriage, Sanin certainly felt all over him, if not a sense ofpleasure, at least a certain lightness of heart, as after an operationis over; but there was another feeling astir within him too, a feelingakin to shame.... The duel, in which he had just played his part,struck him as something false, a got-up formality, a common officers'and students' farce. He recalled the phlegmatic doctor, he recalledhow he had grinned, that is, wrinkled up his nose when he saw himcoming out of the wood almost arm-in-arm with Baron Doenhof. Andafterwards when Pantaleone had paid him the four crowns due to him ...Ah! there was something nasty about it!
Yes, Sanin was a little conscience-smitten and ashamed ... though, onthe other hand, what was there for him to have done? Could he haveleft the young officer's insolence unrebuked? could he have behavedlike Herr Klueber? He had stood up for Gemma, he had championed her ...that was so; and yet, there was an uneasy pang in his heart, and hewas conscience--smitten, and even ashamed.
Not so Pantaleone--he was simply in his glory! He was suddenlypossessed by a feeling of pride. A victorious general, returning fromthe field of battle he has won, could not have looked about him withgreater self-satisfaction. Sanin's demeanour during the duel filledhim with enthusiasm. He called him a hero, and would not listen to hisexhortations and even his entreaties. He compared him to a monumentof marble or of bronze, with the statue of the commander in Don Juan!For himself he admitted he had been conscious of some perturbationof mind, 'but, of course, I am an artist,' he observed; 'I have ahighly-strung nature, while you are the son of the snows and thegranite rocks.'
Sanin was positively at a loss how to quiet the jubilant artist.
* * * * *
Almost at the same place in the road where two hours before they hadcome upon Emil, he again jumped out from behind a tree, and, with acry of joy upon his lips, waving his cap and leaping into the air,he rushed straight at the carriage, almost fell under the wheel,and, without waiting for the horses to stop, clambered up over thecarriage-door and fairly clung to Sanin.
'You are alive, you are not wounded!' he kept repeating. 'Forgive me,I did not obey you, I did not go back to Frankfort ... I could not! Iwaited for you here ... Tell me how was it? You ... killed him?'
Sanin with some difficulty pacified Emil and made him sit down.
With great verbosity, with evident pleasure, Pantaleone communicatedto him all the details of the duel, and, of course, did not omit torefer again to the monument of bronze and the statue of the commander.He even rose from his seat and, standing with his feet wide apart topreserve his equilibrium, folding his arm on his chest and lookingcontemptuously over his shoulder, gave an ocular representation of thecommander--Sanin! Emil listened with awe, occasionally interruptingthe narrative with an exclamation, or swiftly getting up and asswiftly kissing his heroic friend.
The carriage wheels rumbled over the paved roads of Frankfort, andstopped at last before the hotel where Sanin was living.
Escorted by his two companions, he went up the stairs, when suddenly awoman came with hurried steps out of the dark corridor; her face washidden by a veil, she stood still, facing Sanin, wavered a little,gave a trembling sigh, at once ran down into the street and vanished,to the great astonishment of the waiter, who explained that 'thatlady had been for over an hour waiting for the return of the foreigngentleman.' Momentary as was the apparition, Sanin recognised Gemm
a.He recognised her eyes under the thick silk of her brown veil.
'Did Fraeulein Gemma know, then?'... he said slowly in a displeasedvoice in German, addressing Emil and Pantaleone, who were followingclose on his heels.
Emil blushed and was confused.
'I was obliged to tell her all,' he faltered; 'she guessed, and Icould not help it.... But now that's of no consequence,' he hurried toadd eagerly, 'everything has ended so splendidly, and she has seen youwell and uninjured!'
Sanin turned away.
'What a couple of chatterboxes you are!' he observed in a tone ofannoyance, as he went into his room and sat down on a chair.
'Don't be angry, please,' Emil implored.
'Very well, I won't be angry'--(Sanin was not, in fact, angry--and,after all, he could hardly have desired that Gemma should know nothingabout it). 'Very well ... that's enough embracing. You get along now.I want to be alone. I'm going to sleep. I'm tired.'
'An excellent idea!' cried Pantaleone. 'You need repose! You havefully earned it, noble signor! Come along, Emilio! On tip-toe! Ontip-toe! Sh--sh--sh!'
When he said he wanted to go to sleep, Sanin had simply wished to getrid of his companions; but when he was left alone, he was really awareof considerable weariness in all his limbs; he had hardly closed hiseyes all the preceding night, and throwing himself on his bed he fellimmediately into a sound sleep.
XXIII
He slept for some hours without waking. Then he began to dream thathe was once more fighting a duel, that the antagonist standing facinghim was Herr Klueber, and on a fir-tree was sitting a parrot, and thisparrot was Pantaleone, and he kept tapping with his beak: one, one,one!