the gambler-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


But　he　is　a　good　fellow　all　the　same。　For　instance；　he　does　not
blame　the　General　in　the　matter；　but　declares　that　Mlle。
Blanchethat　loveBut　no；　I　do　not　know；　I　do　not　know。〃　She
stopped　suddenly；　as　though　she　had　said　her　say；　and　was
feeling　bewildered。　〃What　poor　creatures　these　people　are。　How
sorry　I　am　for　them；　and　for　Grandmamma！　But　when　are　you　going
to　kill　De　Griers？　Surely　you　do　not　intend　actually　to　murder
him？　You　fool！　Do　you　suppose　that　I　should　ALLOW　you　to　fight
De　Griers？　Nor　shall　you　kill　the　Baron。〃　Here　she　burst　out
laughing。　〃How　absurd　you　looked　when　you　were　talking　to　the
Burmergelms！　I　was　watching　you　all　the　timewatching　you　from
where　I　was　sitting。　And　how　unwilling　you　were　to　go　when　I
sent　you！　Oh；　how　I　laughed　and　laughed！〃

Then　she　kissed　and　embraced　me　again；　again　she　pressed　her
face　to　mine　with　tender　passion。　Yet　I　neither　saw　nor　heard
her；　for　my　head　was　in　a　whirl。　。　。　。

It　must　have　been　about　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　I
awoke。　Daylight　had　come；　and　Polina　was　sitting　by　my　sidea
strange　expression　on　her　face；　as　though　she　had　seen　a　vision
and　was　unable　to　collect　her　thoughts。　She　too　had　just
awoken；　and　was　now　staring　at　the　money　on　the　table。　My　head
ached；　it　felt　heavy。　I　attempted　to　take　Polina's　hand；　but　she
pushed　me　from　her；　and　leapt　from　the　sofa。　The　dawn　was　full
of　mist；　for　rain　had　fallen；　yet　she　moved　to　the　window；
opened　it；　and；　leaning　her　elbows　upon　the　window…sill；　thrust
out　her　head　and　shoulders　to　take　the　air。　In　this　position　did
she　remain　for　several　minutes；　without　ever　looking　round　at
me；　or　listening　to　what　I　was　saying。　Into　my　head　there　came
the　uneasy　thought：　What　is　to　happen　now？　How　is　it　all　to　end？
Suddenly　Polina　rose　from　the　window；　approached　the　table；　and；
looking　at　me　with　an　expression　of　infinite　aversion；　said　with
lips　which　quivered　with　anger：

〃Well？　Are　you　going　to　hand　me　over　my　fifty　thousand　francs？〃

〃Polina；　you　say　that　AGAIN；　AGAIN？〃　I　exclaimed。

〃You　have　changed　your　mind；　then？　Ha；　ha；　ha！　You　are　sorry
you　ever　promised　them？〃

On　the　table　where；　the　previous　night；　I　had　counted　the　money
there　still　was　lying　the　packet　of　twenty　five　thousand
florins。　I　handed　it　to　her。

〃The　francs　are　mine；　then；　are　they？　They　are　mine？〃　she
inquired　viciously　as　she　balanced　the　money　in　her　hands。

〃Yes；　they　have　ALWAYS　been　yours；〃　I　said。

〃Then　TAKE　your　fifty　thousand　francs！〃　and　she　hurled　them
full　in　my　face。　The　packet　burst　as　she　did　so；　and　the　floor
became　strewed　with　bank…notes。　The　instant　that　the　deed　was
done　she　rushed　from　the　room。

At　that　moment　she　cannot　have　been　in　her　right　mind；　yet；　what
was　the　cause　of　her　temporary　aberration　I　cannot　say。　For　a
month　past　she　had　been　unwell。　Yet　what　had　brought　about　this
PRESENT　condition　of　mind；above　all　things；　this　outburst？　Had
it　come　of　wounded　pride？　Had　it　come　of　despair　over　her
decision　to　come　to　me？　Had　it　come　of　the　fact　that；　presuming
too　much　on　my　good　fortune；　I　had　seemed　to　be　intending　to
desert　her　（even　as　De　Griers　had　done）　when　once　I　had　given
her　the　fifty　thousand　francs？　But；　on　my　honour；　I　had　never
cherished　any　such　intention。　What　was　at　fault；　I　think；　was
her　own　pride；　which　kept　urging　her　not　to　trust　me；　but；
rather；　to　insult　meeven　though　she　had　not　realised　the　fact。
In　her　eyes　I　corresponded　to　De　Griers；　and　therefore　had　been
condemned　for　a　fault　not　wholly　my　own。　Her　mood　of　late　had　
been　a　sort　of　delirium；　a　sort　of　light…headednessthat　I　knew　
full　well；　yet；　never　had　I　sufficiently　taken　it　into　consideration。　
Perhaps　she　would　not　pardon　me　now？　Ah；　but　this　was　THE　PRESENT。　
What　about　the　future？　Her　delirium　and　sickness　were　not　likely　to
make　her　forget　what　she　had　done　in　bringing　me　De　Griers'
letter。　No；　she　must　have　known　what　she　was　doing　when　she
brought　it。

Somehow　I　contrived　to　stuff　the　pile　of　notes　and　gold　under
the　bed；　to　cover　them　over；　and　then　to　leave　the　room　some　ten
minutes　after　Polina。　I　felt　sure　that　she　had　returned　to　her
own　room；　wherefore；　I　intended　quietly　to　follow　her；　and　to　ask
the　nursemaid　aid　who　opened　the　door　how　her　mistress　was。
Judge；　therefore；　of　my　surprise　when；　meeting　the　domestic　on
the　stairs；　she　informed　me　that　Polina　had　not　yet　returned；
and　that　she　（the　domestic）　was　at　that　moment　on　her　way　to　my
room　in　quest　of　her！

〃Mlle。　left　me　but　ten　minutes　ago；〃　I　said。　
〃What　can　have　become　of　her？〃　The　nursemaid　looked　at　me　
reproachfully。

Already　sundry　rumours　were　flying　about　the　hotel。　Both　in　the
office　of　the　commissionaire　and　in　that　of　the　landlord　it　was
whispered　that；　at　seven　o'clock　that　morning；　the　Fraulein　had
left　the　hotel；　and　set　off；　despite　the　rain；　in　the　direction
of　the　Hotel　d'Angleterre。　From　words　and　hints　let　fall　I　could
see　that　the　fact　of　Polina　having　spent　the　night　in　my　room
was　now　public　property。　Also；　sundry　rumours　were　circulating
concerning　the　General's　family　affairs。　It　was　known　that　last
night　he　had　gone　out　of　his　mind；　and　paraded　the　hotel　in
tears；　also；　that　the　old　lady　who　had　arrived　was　his　mother；
and　that　she　had　come　from　Russia　on　purpose　to　forbid　her　son's
marriage　with　Mlle。　de　Cominges；　as　well　as　to　cut　him　out　of
her　will　if　he　should　disobey　her；　also　that；　because　he　had
disobeyed　her；　she　had　squandered　all　her　money　at　roulette；　in
order　to　have　nothing　more　to　leave　to　him。　〃Oh；　these
Russians！〃　exclaimed　the　landlord；　with　an　angry　toss　of　the
head；　while　the　bystanders　laughed　and　the　clerk　betook　himself
to　his　accounts。　Also；　every　one　had　learnt　about　my　winnings；
Karl；　the　corridor　lacquey；　was　the　first　to　congratulate　me。
But　with　these　folk　I　had　nothing　to　do。　My　business　was　to　set
off　at　full　speed　to　the　Hotel　d'Angleterre。

As　yet　it　was　early　for　Mr。　Astley　to　receive　visitors；　but；　as
soon　as　he　learnt　that　it　was　I　who　had　arrived；　he　came　out
into　the　corridor　to　meet　me；　and　stood　looking　at　me　in　silence
with　his　steel…grey　eyes　as　he　waited　to　hear　what　I　had　to　say。
I　inquired　after　Polina。

〃She　is　ill；〃　he　replied；　still　looking　at　me　with　his　direct；
unwavering　glance。

〃And　she　is　in　your　rooms。〃

〃Yes；　she　is　in　my　rooms。〃

〃Then　you　are　minded　to　keep　her　there？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　minded　to　keep　her　there。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Astley；　that　will　raise　a　scandal。　It　ought　not　to　be
allowed。　Besides；　she　is　very　ill。　Perhaps　you　had　not　remarked
that？〃

〃Yes；　I　have。　It　was　I　who　told　you　about　it。　Had　she　not　been
ill；　she　would　not　have　gone　and　spent　the　night　with　you。〃

〃Then　you　know　all　about　it？〃

〃Yes；　for　last　night　she　was　to　have　accompanied　me　to　the
house　of　a　relative　of　mine。　Unfortunately；　being　ill；　she　made
a　mistake；　and　went　to　your　rooms　instead。〃

〃Indeed？　Then　I　wish　you　joy；　Mr。　Astley。　Apropos；　you　have
reminded　me　of　something。　Were　you　beneath　my　window　last　night？
Every　moment　Mlle。　Polina　kept　telling　me　to　open　the　window　and
see　if　you　were　there；　after　which　she　always　smiled。〃

〃Indeed？　No；　I　was　not　there；　but　I　was　waiting　in　the
corridor；　and　walking　about　the　hotel。〃

〃She　ought　to　see　a　doctor；　you　know；　Mr。　Astley。〃　

〃Yes；　she　ought。　I　have　sent　for　one；　and；　if　she　dies；　I　shall
hold　you　responsible。〃

This　surprised　me。

〃Pardon　me；〃　I　replied；　〃but　what　do　you　mean？〃

〃Never　mind。　Tell　me　if　it　is　true　that；　last　night；　you　won　two
hundred　thousand　thalers？〃

〃No；　I　won　a　hundred　thousand　florins。〃

〃Good　heavens！　Then　I　suppose　you　will　be　off　to　Paris　this
morning？

〃Why？〃

〃Because　all　Russians　who　have　grown　rich　go　to　Paris；〃
explained　Astley；　as　though　he　had　read　the　fact　in　a　book。

〃But　what　could　I　do　in　Paris　in　summer　time？I　LOVE　her；　Mr。
Astley！　Surely　you　know　that？〃

〃Indeed？　I　am　sure　that　you　do　NOT。　Moreover；　if　you　were　to
stay　here；　you　would　lose　everything　that　you　possess；　and　have
nothing　left　with　which　to　pay　your　expenses　in　Paris。　Well；
good…bye　now。　I　feel　sure　that　today　will　see　you　gone　from
here。〃

〃Good…bye。　But　I　am　NOT　going　to　Paris。　Likewisepardon　mewhat
is　to　become　of　this　family？　I　mean　that　the　affair　of　the
General　and　Mlle。　Polina　will　soon　be　all　over　the　town。〃

〃I　daresay；　yet；　I　hardly　suppose　that　that　will　break　the
General's　heart。　Moreover；　Mlle。　Polina　has　a　perfect　right　to
live　where　she　chooses。　In　short；　we　may　say　that；　as　a　family；
this　family　has　ceased　to　exist。〃

I　departed；　and　found　myself　smiling　at　the　Englishman's　strange
assurance　that　I　should　soon　be　leaving　for　Paris。　〃I　suppose
he　means　to　shoot　me　in　a　duel；　should　Polina　die。　Yes；　that　is
what　he　intends　to　do。〃　　Now；　although　I　was　honestly　sorry　for
Polina；　it　is　a　fact　that；　from　the　moment　when；　the　previous
night；　I　had　approached　the　gaming…table；　and　begun　to　rake　in
the　packets　of　bank…notes；　my　love　for　her　had　entered　upon　a
new　plane。　Yes；　I　can　say　that　now；　although；　at　the　time；　I　was
barely　conscious　of　it。　Was　I；　then；　at　heart　a　gambler？　Did　I；
after　all；　love　Polina　not　so　very　much？　No；　no！　As　God　is　my
witness；　I　loved　her！　Even　when　I　was　returning　home　from　Mr。
Astley's　my　suffering　was　genuine；　and　my　self…reproach　sincere。
But　presently　I　was　to　go　through　an　exceedingly　strange　and
ugly　experience。

I　was　proceeding　to　the　General's　rooms　when　I　heard　a　door　near
me　open；　and　a　voice　call　me　by　name。　It　was　Mlle。's　mother；　the
Widow　de　Cominges　who　was　inviting　me；　in　her　daughter's
name；　to　enter。

I　did　so；　whereupon；　I　heard　a　laugh　and　a　little　cry　proceed
from　the　bedroom　（the　pair　occupied　a　suite　of　two　apartments）；
where　Mlle。　Blanche　was　just　arising。

〃Ah；　c'est　lui！　Viens；　donc；　bete！　Is　it　true　that　you　have　won
a　mountain　of　gold　and　silver？　J'aimerais　mieux　l'or。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　replied　with　a　smile。

〃How　much？〃

〃A　hundred　thousand　florins。〃

〃Bibi；　comme　tu　es　bete！　Come　in　here；　for　I　can't　hear　you
where　you　are　now。　Nous　ferons　bombance；　n'est…ce　pas？〃

Entering　her　room；　I　found　her　lolling　under　a　pink　satin
coverlet；　and　revealing　a　pair　of　swarthy；　wonderfully　healthy
sh