the gambler-第14部分

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borne　aloft　in　her　armchair。　Every　person　whom　she　met　she
scanned　with　an　inquisitive　eye；　after　first　of　all
interrogating　me　about　him　or　her　at　the　top　of　her　voice。　She
was　stout　of　figure；　and；　though　she　could　not　leave　her　chair；
one　felt；　the　moment　that　one　first　looked　at　her；　that　she　was
also　tall　of　stature。　Her　back　was　as　straight　as　a　board；
and　never　did　she　lean　back　in　her　seat。　Also；　her　large　grey
head；　with　its　keen；　rugged　features；　remained　always　erect　as
she　glanced　about　her　in　an　imperious；　challenging　sort　of　way；
with　looks　and　gestures　that　clearly　were　unstudied。　Though　she
had　reached　her　seventy…sixth　year；　her　face　was　still　fresh；
and　her　teeth　had　not　decayed。　Lastly；　she　was　dressed　in　a
black　silk　gown　and　white　mobcap。

〃She　interests　me　tremendously；〃　whispered　Mr。　Astley　as；　still
smoking；　he　walked　by　my　side。　Meanwhile　I　was　reflecting　that
probably　the　old　lady　knew　all　about　the　telegrams；　and　even
about　De　Griers；　though　little　or　nothing　about　Mlle。　Blanche。　I
said　as　much　to　Mr。　Astley。

But　what　a　frail　creature　is　man！　No　sooner　was　my　first
surprise　abated　than　I　found　myself　rejoicing　in　the　shock　which
we　were　about　to　administer　to　the　General。　So　much　did　the
thought　inspire　me　that　I　marched　ahead　in　the　gayest　of
fashions。

Our　party　was　lodging　on　the　third　floor。　Without　knocking　at
the　door；　or　in　any　way　announcing　our　presence；　I　threw　open
the　portals；　and　the　Grandmother　was　borne　through　them　in
triumph。　As　though　of　set　purpose；　the　whole　party　chanced　at
that　moment　to　be　assembled　in　the　General's　study。　The　time　was
eleven　o'clock；　and　it　seemed　that　an　outing　of　some　sort　（at
which　a　portion　of　the　party　were　to　drive　in　carriages；　and
others　to　ride　on　horseback；　accompanied　by　one　or　two
extraneous　acquaintances）　was　being　planned。　The　General　was
present；　and　also　Polina；　the　children；　the　latter's　nurses；　De
Griers；　Mlle。　Blanche　（attired　in　a　riding…habit）；　her　mother；
the　young　Prince；　and　a　learned　German　whom　I　beheld　for　the
first　time。　Into　the　midst　of　this　assembly　the　lacqueys
conveyed　Madame　in　her　chair；　and　set　her　down　within　three
paces　of　the　General！　

Good　heavens！　Never　shall　I　forget　the　spectacle　which　ensued！　
Just　before　our　entry；　the　General　had
been　holding　forth　to　the　company；　with　De　Griers　in　support　of
him。　I　may　also　mention　that；　for　the　last　two　or　three　days；
Mlle。　Blanche　and　De　Griers　had　been　making　a　great　deal　of　the
young　Prince；　under　the　very　nose　of　the　poor　General。　In　short；
the　company；　though　decorous　and　conventional；　was　in　a　gay；
familiar　mood。　But　no　sooner　did　the　Grandmother　appear　than　the
General　stopped　dead　in　the　middle　of　a　word；　and；　with　jaw
dropping；　stared　hard　at　the　old　ladyhis　eyes　almost　starting
out　of　his　head；　and　his　expression　as　spellbound　as　though　he
had　just　seen　a　basilisk。　In　return；　the　Grandmother　stared　at
him　silently　and　without　movingthough　with　a　look　of　mingled
challenge；　triumph；　and　ridicule　in　her　eyes。　For　ten　seconds
did　the　pair　remain　thus　eyeing　one　another；　amid　the　profound
silence　of　the　company；　and　even　De　Griers　sat　petrifiedan
extraordinary　look　of　uneasiness　dawning　on　his　face。　As　for
Mlle。　Blanche；　she　too　stared　wildly　at　the　Grandmother；　with
eyebrows　raised　and　her　lips　parted　while　the　Prince　and　the
German　savant　contemplated　the　tableau　in　profound　amazement。
Only　Polina　looked　anything　but　perplexed　or　surprised。
Presently；　however；　she　too　turned　as　white　as　a　sheet；　and　then
reddened　to　her　temples。　Truly　the　Grandmother's　arrival　seemed
to　be　a　catastrophe　for　everybody！　For　my　own　part；　I　stood
looking　from　the　Grandmother　to　the　company；　and　back　again；
while　Mr。　Astley；　as　usual；　remained　in　the　background；　and
gazed　calmly　and　decorously　at　the　scene。

〃Well；　here　I　amand　instead　of　a　telegram；　too！〃　the
Grandmother　at　last　ejaculated；　to　dissipate　the　silence。　
〃What？　You　were　not　expecting　me？〃

〃Antonida　Vassilievna！　O　my　dearest　mother！　But　how　on　earth
did　you；　did　you？〃　The　mutterings　of　the　unhappy　General　died
away。

I　verily　believe　that　if　the　Grandmother　had　held　her　tongue　a
few　seconds　longer　she　would　have　had　a　stroke。

〃How　on　earth　did　I　WHAT？〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Why；　I　just　got
into　the　train　and　came　here。　What　else　is　the　railway　meant
for？　But　you　thought　that　I　had　turned　up　my　toes　and　left　my
property　to　the　lot　of　you。　Oh；　I　know　ALL　about　the　telegrams
which　you　have　been　dispatching。　They　must　have　cost　you　a
pretty　sum；　I　should　think；　for　telegrams　are　not　sent　from
abroad　for　nothing。　Well；　I　picked　up　my　heels；　and　came　here。
Who　is　this　Frenchman？　Monsieur　de　Griers；　I　suppose？〃

〃Oui；　madame；〃　assented　De　Griers。　〃Et；　croyez；　je　suis　si
enchante！　Votre　santec'est　un　miracle　vous　voir　ici。　Une
surprise　charmante！〃

〃Just　so。　'Charmante！'　I　happen　to　know　you　as　a　mountebank；
and　therefore　trust　you　no　more　than　THIS。〃　She　indicated　her
little　finger。　〃And　who　is　THAT？〃　she　went　on；　turning　towards
Mlle。　Blanche。　Evidently　the　Frenchwoman　looked　so　becoming　in
her　riding…habit；　with　her　whip　in　her　hand；　that　she　had　made
an　impression　upon　the　old　lady。　〃Who　is　that　woman　there？〃

〃Mlle。　de　Cominges；〃　I　said。　〃And　this　is　her　mother；　Madame　de
Cominges。　They　also　are　staying　in　the　hotel。〃

〃Is　the　daughter　married？〃　asked　the　old　lady；　without　the
least　semblance　of　ceremony。

〃No；〃　I　replied　as　respectfully　as　possible；　but　under　my
breath。

〃Is　she　good　company？〃

I　failed　to　understand　the　question。

〃I　mean；　is　she　or　is　she　not　a　bore？　Can　she　speak　Russian？
When　this　De　Griers　was　in　Moscow　he　soon　learnt　to　make　himself
understood。〃

I　explained　to　the　old　lady　that　Mlle。　Blanche　had　never　visited
Russia。

〃Bonjour；　then；〃　said　Madame；　with　sudden　brusquerie。

〃Bonjour；　madame；〃　replied　Mlle。　Blanche　with　an　elegant；
ceremonious　bow　as；　under　cover　of　an　unwonted　modesty；　she
endeavoured　to　express；　both　in　face　and　figure；　her　extreme
surprise　at　such　strange　behaviour　on　the　part　of　the
Grandmother。

〃How　the　woman　sticks　out　her　eyes　at　me！　How　she　mows　and
minces！〃　was　the　Grandmother's　comment。　Then　she　turned
suddenly　to　the　General；　and　continued：　〃I　have　taken　up　my
abode　here；　so　am　going　to　be　your　next…door　neighbour。　Are　you
glad　to　hear　that；　or　are　you　not？〃

〃My　dear　mother；　believe　me　when　I　say　that　I　am。　sincerely
delighted；〃　returned　the　General；　who　had　now；　to　a　certain
extent；　recovered　his　senses；　and　inasmuch　as；　when　occasion
arose；　he　could　speak　with　fluency；　gravity；　and　a　certain
effect；　he　set　himself　to　be　expansive　in　his　remarks；　and　went
on：　〃We　have　been　so　dismayed　and　upset　by　the　news　of　your
indisposition！　We　had　received　such　hopeless　telegrams　about
you！　Then　suddenly〃

〃Fibs；　fibs！〃　interrupted　the　Grandmother。

〃How　on　earth；　too；　did　you　come　to　decide　upon　the　journey？〃
continued　the　General；　with　raised　voice　as　he　hurried　to
overlook　the　old　lady's　last　remark。　〃Surely；　at　your　age；　and
in　your　present　state　of　health；　the　thing　is　so　unexpected　that
our　surprise　is　at　least　intelligible。　However；　I　am　glad　to　see
you　（as　indeed；　are　we　all〃he　said　this　with　a　dignified；　yet
conciliatory；　smile）；　〃and　will　use　my　best　endeavours　to
render　your　stay　here　as　pleasant　as　possible。〃

〃Enough！　All　this　is　empty　chatter。　You　are　talking　the　usual
nonsense。　I　shall　know　quite　well　how　to　spend　my　time。　How　did
I　come　to　undertake　the　journey；　you　ask？　Well；　is　there
anything　so　very　surprising　about　it？　It　was　done　quite　simply。
What　is　every　one　going　into　ecstasies　about？How　do　you　do；
Prascovia？　What　are　YOU　doing　here？〃

〃And　how　are　YOU；　Grandmother？〃　replied　Polina；　as　she
approached　the　old　lady。　〃Were　you　long　on　the　journey？〃。

〃The　most　sensible　question　that　I　have　yet　been　asked！　Well；
you　shall　hear　for　yourself　how　it　all　happened。　I　lay　and　lay；
and　was　doctored　and　doctored；；　until　at　last　I　drove　the
physicians　from　me；　and　called　in　an　apothecary　from　Nicolai　who
had　cured　an　old　woman　of　a　malady　similar　to　my　owncured　her
merely　with　a　little　hayseed。　Well；　he　did　me　a　great　deal　of
good；　for　on　the　third　day　I　broke　into　a　sweat；　and　was　able　to
leave　my　bed。　Then　my　German　doctors　held　another　consultation；
put　on　their　spectacles；　and　told　me　that　if　I　would　go　abroad；
and　take　a　course　of　the　waters；　the　indisposition　would　finally
pass　away。　'Why　should　it　not？'　I　thought　to　myself。　So　I　had
got　things　ready；　and　on　the　following　day；　a　Friday；　set　out　for
here。　I　occupied　a　special　compartment　in　the　train；　and　where
ever　I　had　to　change　I　found　at　the　station　bearers　who　were
ready　to　carry　me　for　a　few　coppers。　You　have　nice　quarters
here；〃　she　went　on　as　she　glanced　around　the　room。　〃　But　where
on　earth　did　you　get　the　money　for　them；　my　good　sir？　I　thought
that　everything　of　yours　had　been　mortgaged？　This　Frenchman
alone　must　be　your　creditor　for　a　good　deal。　Oh；　I　know　all
about　it；　all　about　it。〃

〃I…I　am　surprised　at　you；　my　dearest　mother；〃　said　the　General
in　some　confusion。　〃I…I　am　greatly　surprised。　But　I　do　not
need　any　extraneous　control　of　my　finances。　Moreover；　my
expenses　do　not　exceed　my　income；　and　we〃

〃They　do　not　exceed　it？　Fie！　Why；　you　are　robbing　your　children
of　their　last　kopeckyou；　their　guardian！〃

〃After　this；〃　said　the　General；　completely　taken　aback；　
〃after　what　you　have　just　said；　I　do　not　know　whether〃

〃You　do　not　know　what？　By　heavens；　are　you　never　going　to　drop
that　roulette　of　yours？　Are　you　going　to　whistle　all　your
property　away？〃

This　made　such　an　impression　upon　the　General　that　he　almost
choked　with　fury。

〃Roulette；　indeed？　I　play　roulette？　Really；　in　view　of　my
position　Recollect　what　you　are　saying；　my　dearest　mother。　You
must　still　be　unwell。〃

〃Rubbish；　rubbish！〃　she　retorted。　〃The　truth　is　that　you
CANNOT　be　got　away　from　that　roulette。　You　are　simply　telling
lies。　This　very　day　I　mean　to　go　and　see　for　myself　what
roulette　is　like。　Prascovia；　tell　me　what　there　is　to　be　seen
here；　and　do　you；　Alexis　Ivanovitch；　show　me　everything；　and　do
you；　Potapitch；　make　me　a　list　of　excursions。　What　IS