Chapter 16 queen of spades

The Queen of Spades harbors evil intentions. —— "The Latest Complete Book of Divination" one windy and rainy weather, they often gather together. —By God! —— A game of betting on a few hands of poker. Bet fifty rubles, Get back a hundred rubles! Winning money, full of joy, With a flick of chalk, Make a note. so and so, windy and rainy weather, they work hard That serious stuff. Once, playing cards at the house of Narumov, a cavalry officer in the Guards.The long winter night passed without knowing it.At five o'clock in the morning everyone sat down to dinner.The few characters who won the money had a big appetite; the rest, disheartened, sat staring at the empty plate in front of them.But the champagne was served, and the chatter and laughter started again, and everyone joined in the conversation.

"How are you, Surin?" asked the host. "I've lost, I'm used to losing. Admittedly, I've been unlucky: I've played calmly, never put all my eggs in one basket, and don't get dizzy at all, but I always lose!" "Haven't you ever been obsessed with a ghost once? Haven't you ever bet on "Single One"? . . . I am amazed at your iron will!" ①The original text is a gambling term, referring to the same card that wins money again and again. "Look at Gehrman!" said one of the guests, pointing to a young engineer officer. "He has never been born with a card, and he has never drawn a card to bet, but he sits with us until five o'clock in the morning." At one o'clock, just watch us gamble."

"Gambling appeals to me," Gehrman replied, "but I can't sacrifice food and clothing in order to make more money." "German's a German. He's a good abacuser, that's all!" said Tomsky, "but there's one person I don't quite understand, and that's my grandmother, Countess Anna Fedor Tovna." "What? What's the matter?" cried the guests. "I don't understand," Tomsky went on, "why did my grandma quit washing her hands?" "What's so strange about that," Narumov said, "how can an eighty-year-old lady gamble?"

"So you haven't heard anything about her?" "No, really, not at all." "Oh! Then I'll tell you! "You know, my grandmother went to Paris sixty years ago, where she was very popular. Many people chased her in order to meet the Venus of Moscow. Richelieu circled around her, and my grandmother was convinced , he almost shot himself because of her coldness to him. "The ladies of those days bet against the Pharaoh. Once at court she lost a lot of money to the Duke of Orleans on credit without cash. When she got home, grandma took off her veil and her hoop skirt, and announced to my grandfather, She lost the money and ordered him to pay the full amount.

"I remember that my grandpa is the descendant of my grandma's manager. He was terrified of her. However, when he heard that she had lost a terrible amount, he went out of his way and showed her the account book. After half a year, they Half a million has already been spent, he said. In Paris, they don't have estates like Moscow or Saratov province, and he asked her to simply refuse to pay. Grandma slapped him and went to bed alone, using This means that he no longer loves him. ①The original text is French. ② a card game. "The next day she ordered her husband to be called, hoping that the punishment within the family would do something to him. However, he would not give in. For the first time in her life, she came to the point where she had to bargain and explain with him; He, humbly, proved to him that there is a difference between debts, that a debt owed to a prince is very different from a debt owed to a coachman. It is useless! Grandpa is furious. No! More violently! Grandma is at a loss.

"She was on good terms with a wonderful character. You must have heard of the Comte de Saint-Germont! There are many anecdotes about him. He dressed himself up as an eternal Jew, with potions of longevity and poinsettia." Inventor of gold and stones and such. People ridiculed him as a charlatan, and Cazanova said in his notes that he was a spy. Besides, Saint-Germont was mysterious, but his appearance was awe-inspiring. , but he is amiable in company. Grandma has always been madly partial to him, and she gets angry if people talk about his lack of respect. Grandma knows that Saint-Germont can pay her a huge gambling debt. She decided to ask him , wrote a note asking him to come to her immediately.

① Saint-Germont - French alchemist and adventurer in the eighteenth century. ② Cazanova (1725-1798), a famous Italian adventurer, wrote many interesting memoirs. "The old monster went at once, and found her in great distress. She described her husband's unreasonableness in the most bitter terms, and finally said that all her hopes depended on his friendship and kindness." Saint-Geres Meng thought about it. I can pay you that amount, he said, but I know you won't be at peace until you have paid me back, and I don't want to make you go into trouble with new debts.I have another solution: you can win it back.But, my dear count!My grandma replied, I tell you, we have nothing left.

No money is needed, said Saint-Germont, and let me tell you.He revealed a secret to her.Any of us would be willing to give for that secret..." The young gamblers listened, and Tomsky, puffing on his pipe, stopped talking, and finally went on. "Grandmother went to Versailles that evening to play cards with the Queen. The Grand Duke of Orléans was the banker. Grandmother apologized a little because she hadn't brought the money she lost, so she made up a little story to cover it up, and then went on. Sit down across from him and place a bet. She picks three cards and bets one after the other. Three in a row and Grandma wins it all back."

①The original text is French. "Coincidentally!" said one visitor. "The Arabian Nights!" said Gehrman. "Maybe the playing cards did something?" The third person answered. "I don't feel that way," Tomsky replied solemnly. "Why?" Naumoff said, "you have a good grandmother who can guess three cards in a row, but you, why haven't you learned her magic trick yet?" "Hey! Two different things!" Tomsky replied. "She has four sons, including my father. All four sons are desperate gamers, and she hasn't revealed her secret to any of them. Even for me, there is no harm, it is really good. My uncle, Count Ivan Ilyich, really told me a story. Tchaplitsky, who died, was the one who lost a million and died penniless Well, once when he was young he lost—to Zorin, I remember—about three hundred thousand. He was desperate. My grandma, who is always strict with young people’s nonsense, somehow treated Chapletz this time. But Ki showed mercy. She told him three cards, told him to bet one after the other, and made him swear that he would never play in the future. Chaplitsky went to the winner. They sat down and started betting .Chaplitsky bet 50,000 on the first card and won; folded the second and third cards, and there is still money left after getting back the capital...

But it was time for bed: it was only a quarter to six. Indeed, it was dawn.The young gamblers drank what was left in their glasses and dispersed. two "It seems that you prefer the handmaiden." "What can I do, ma'am? They're fresher."① gossip in the social arena The old countess sat in front of the large mirror in her dressing room.Three servant girls surrounded her.One held a rouge box, another a hair pin case, and the third a tall hat with a fiery red ribbon fluttering.The Countess has nothing to do with her withered appearance, but she still can't bear to let go of the habit she formed when she was in her prime. She also rigidly copied the old modernity of the 1970s, so it took a long time to make up. For a long time, you have to study carefully, it is exactly the same as it was sixty years ago.Beside the embroidery stand in front of the window sat a young lady, who was her adopted daughter.

"Hello, Grandma," said a young officer, coming in, "Hello, Lisa! Grandma, I have one thing to ask of you." ①The original text is French. ②The original text is French. "What is it, Paul?" "Permit me to introduce you to a friend of mine who I will bring to you at the dance on Friday." "Okay! Take him straight to the dance and introduce me then! Did you go to x last night?" "Why didn't you go! It was so much fun. Dancing until five in the morning. How beautiful Yeletskaya is!" "Oh! my dear, what's so good about her? Is her grandma, Countess Dadarya Petrovna, like her? . . . But she must be old enough, too! I mean Countess Darya Petrovna." "What do you mean old?" said Tomsky casually. "She's been dead for seven years!" The lady in front of the window raised her head and hinted at the young man.He knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, because he had to deny the death of her girlfriend to the old countess, so he had to bite his lip.However, the countess was not moved by this news, which was still new to her. "Is she dead?" she said, "I don't know yet! Back in the day, I went to the palace with her, and we were canonized together as the Royal History, and Her Majesty..." And so, for the hundredth time, the countess told her grandson about her court anecdote. "There, Paul," she said afterward, "come! Help me to my feet. Lisa! Where's my snuff-box?" Then, surrounded by the maids, the countess disappeared behind the curtain, where she finished the last process of her make-up.Tomsky stayed outside with the lady. "Who do you want to introduce?" Lizaveta Ivanovna asked in a low voice. "Narumoff. Do you know him?" "No! Is he a soldier or a civilian?" "soldier." "Is it an engineer?" "No! A cavalryman. But why do you think he's an engineer?" The lady smiled and did not answer. "Paul!" cried the countess from the other side of the curtain, "find me some new novel, but please don't look for a contemporary one." "How's it going, grandma?" "That is to say, the protagonist in the novel does not kill his parents, and no one falls into the water and drowns. I am most afraid of falling sand ghosts! " "There are no such novels nowadays! Would you like a Russian novel?" "Are there any Russian novels nowadays? Here, my boy, please take a look!" "Good-bye, grandma! I have something to do... Good-bye! Lizaveta Ivanovna! Why do you think Narumov is an engineer?" Tomsky came out of the dressing room. Lizaveta Ivanovna was left alone.She put down her sewing and looked out of the window. Immediately around the corner from across the street, a young officer appeared.Her face was flushed, and she began to work again, her head was lowered, and she lay down on the embroidered cloth.At this moment, the Countess came in after she had finished her dressing. "Lisa!" she said, "order the harness, we've got to go for a drive." Lisa got up from the embroidery frame and put away her work. "What is the matter with you, lady! Are you deaf?" cried the countess. "Hurry up and order the harness." "At once!" whispered the young lady, and ran off into the hall. A servant came in and presented the countess with a book by order of Prince Pavel Alexandrovich. "Well, thank you!" said the countess. "Lisa! Liza! where has she gone?" "I'm getting dressed." "Don't worry, lady! Sit here. Open volume one and read to me..." The young lady picked up the book and read a few lines. "Louder!" said the countess. "What's the matter with you? My little lady! What, you're hoarse from sleep? . . . Wait a minute, move the stool closer... come on!" Lizaveta Ivanovna read two pages.The Countess yawned. "Throw away this book," she said, "what nonsense! Give it back to Duke Pavel, and thank him... How is the carriage?" "The carriage is ready," replied Lizaveta Ivanovna, glancing out of the window. "Why aren't you dressed yet?" said the Countess. "It's so unbearable to have to wait for you, my lady!" Lisa ran back to her room.Not two minutes later, the old lady rang the bell vigorously again.Three servant girls ran in through one door at the same time, while a male servant ran in through another door. "Why don't you agree?" said the countess to them. "Tell Lizaveta Ivanovna that I am waiting for her." Lizaveta Ivanovna hurried into the room in a dressing-gown and a hat. "There you are, little lady!" said the countess. "Look at you all dressed up! Why do you do this? . . . Who are you seducing? . . . And what's the weather outside?—it seems to be windy." "It's not blowing at all, ma'am! It's a fine day," answered the manservant. "You're always talking nonsense! Open the little draft window. It's windy, it's windy! It's cold! Get out of the wagon! Lisa, we don't have to go for a ride, and we don't have to dress." "This is my life!" thought Lizaveta Ivanovna to herself. Lizaveta Ivanovna was indeed the most unfortunate creature.Dante said that the bread of others is bitter, and the steps under the eaves of others are difficult to climb. Who can know the bitterness of the life of the poor adopted daughter of a prominent old woman living under the fence? Countess ××, of course, is not cruel-hearted, but she has a strange and bad temper, just like a spoiled woman in the social world; she is mean and cruel, only has herself in mind, and has no consideration for others, just like remembering the past And like an old man who is out of tune with everything now.She participated in all the ceremonies of high society, attended all the balls, and sat there in a corner with her old rouge and rouge, and her old-fashioned modern attire, like an ugly but necessary decoration in the ballroom.The guests who came in all walked up to her as if they had completed a legal procedure, bowed respectfully, and then walked away, ignoring her again.In her own home she received the whole town with strict decorum, but she could not recognize a single one of them.There are a lot of servants in her, they have nothing to do, they sit stuffy in her front hall and wing room, all of them are full of fat, they can do whatever they want, steal as much as they can, steal as much as they can, keep going Empty this dying old woman.But Lizaveta Ivanovna was a convict in the family. She sifted tea and was blamed for adding a small piece of sugar; ; She wants to accompany the old woman for a ride in the car. The weather is bad and the road is uneven, and she is responsible for it all.Promised to pay her a salary, but never paid it; and at the same time required her to dress like everyone else, that is to say, like the very few rich women.In the social arena, she played a role that could not be more pitiful.Everyone knew her, but no one took her seriously; she was asked to dance at balls only when there was a shortage of partners; Every time I have to walk with her arm.Self-respecting, deeply aware of her low position, she looked around—impatiently expecting a man who would rescue her from her misery.But the gang of young prodigal sons, in their pretentious pursuit of vanity, calculated everything wisely, and dismissed her, although Lizaveta Ivanovna, compared with the impudent and cold-blooded people they flocked to, The girls are a hundred times cuter.How many times did she steal away from the dreary and luxurious living room and go into her poor little room to weep bitterly, where there was a small screen pasted with floral paper, a small chest, a small mirror, a painted A small bed, a small candle on a copper candlestick, dimly lit. Once—this happened two days after the night described at the beginning of this novel, and a week before the scene just described—Lizaveta Ivanovna was sitting at the window embroidering, and by chance Glancing up the street, she saw a young engineer officer standing motionless across the street, staring at her window.She lowered her head and began to embroider again.After five minutes she looked again, and the young officer was still standing there.She did not have the bad habit of flirting with passers-by, and she stopped looking into the street. She worked on her needlework for two hours without looking up.When lunch was ready, she stood up and began to tidy up the embroidery frame. She glanced across the street by chance and saw the officer again.She felt that this matter was a bit strange.After lunch, she went to the window nervously, but the officer was no longer there.She also forgot about him... Two days later, she went out with the countess in the car and saw him again.He stood at the foot of the gate steps, with the collar of his beaver fur coat turned up over his face: under his hat, his black eyes were like two fires.Lizaveta Ivanovna was frightened for some reason, and got into the carriage with inexplicable surprise. When she got home, she ran to the window and saw the officer standing there again, staring at her window.She walked away from the window, tormented by curiosity, stirring in her heart a feeling she had never known before. Since then, there has been no interruption for a day, and at a certain time, the young officer will come to the window on time.There seemed to be an invisible tacit understanding between him and her.Sitting in her seat as a female celebrity, she felt that he was coming, and when she raised her head, she saw him.The time to see him is getting longer and longer every day.The young man seemed grateful to her for that.Every time their eyes met, her youthful piercing eyes caught a sudden flush of shame in his pale cheeks.After a week, she smiled at him... The poor girl's heart beat violently when Tomsky asked the countess to allow him to introduce one of his friends to her.However, after learning that Narumov was not an engineer officer, but a cavalry officer, she regretted it again, for fear that the question she asked not carefully would reveal her secret to the frivolous Tomsky. Gehrmann was the son of a Russified German.Her father had left him a small capital.He was convinced that his independence must be strengthened, so Gehrman did not touch the interest on his own money, lived only on salary, and did not allow himself the slightest whim.At the same time, he has a deep personality and a lot of vanity, so it is difficult for his colleagues to have the opportunity to laugh at him for being too frugal.He has a strong passion and a fiery imagination, but a strong will saves him from the common absurdities of youth.For example, he was born a gambler, but he never touched the cards, because he calculated, and his situation did not allow him to sacrifice food and clothing in order to get more money (as he said himself)-but at the same time However, he sat at the card table all night long, trembling like a pendulum, staring at the ever-changing game. The legend of the three cards had such a strong influence on his thoughts that it did not leave his mind all night. "Well?" he thought, as he strolled along Petersburg Avenue next evening, "if the old countess would tell me the secret, or tell me about the three-pack of winning cards, that would be all right! Why not?" Try your luck? Introduce yourself to her, win her favor—perhaps, what's the harm in being her lover?—but it will take a lot of time, and she is eighty-seven years old, she It is likely to die in a week, maybe only two days! ... Is the story of the card reliable? ... Can you believe it? ... No! Budget carefully, save money, work hard, these are my three cards that must win Ace, triple, sixfold my capital, and I shall be able to win well-being and independence." With this in mind, he strolled to a main street in Petersburg, facing an ancient building.There was a lot of traffic on the street, and cars drove up to the gate of the mansion one after another.Dazzling, sometimes a pair of young beauty's slender feet are exposed from the car, sometimes a pair of jingling cavalry boots are put out, and sometimes a diplomat's pointed-toed leather shoe with embroidered socks is stretched out.Leather jackets and cloaks passed before the eyes of the imposing gatekeeper.Gehrman stopped. "Whose mansion is this?" he asked the patrolman on the corner. "Countess ___'s house." replied the patrolman. Gehrman shuddered.Fantastic stories appeared in his mind again.He began to make circles around the house, thinking about the mistress of the house and her magical ability.It was late when he returned to his shabby corner.He could not fall asleep for a long time, and when drowsiness struck, he dreamed of a table covered with green baize, playing cards, stacks of banknotes, and piles of gold coins.He played the cards, bet one after another, decisively showed the cards, won and won again, scooping up gold in his arms and stuffing banknotes in his pockets.Woke up from the dream, it was very late, he sighed, regretting that the money in the dream was missing.He went out for a walk in the street again, and strolled to the house of the Countess of ××.An inexplicable force dragged him to this place.He stopped and looked up at the windows. He saw a black-haired head in one window, bowed down, as if reading or working.The little head looked up.Gehrman saw a bright little face and a pair of dark eyes.This moment sealed his fate. three My dear!I can't read your four-page love letter as fast as you can write it! ① ①The original text is French. communication Lizaveta Ivanovna had just undressed and took off her hat when the countess sent for her again, and at the same time ordered the carriage to be harnessed.They went out to ride again.Two servants helped the old lady into the carriage.At that very moment, Lisa saw her engineer by the wheel.He grabbed her hand and she was petrified.The young man blinked and disappeared: a letter remained in her hand.She hid the letter in her glove, and she didn't see it, and she didn't hear it all the way.The countess had a habit of constantly asking questions in a car: who did we meet just now?What is the name of this bridge?What is written on the signboard?This time Lizaveta Ivanovna replied so casually that the donkey's lip was not right, and the countess was very angry. "What's wrong with you, little lady? Stupid, have you become stupid? Can't you hear me, or can't you understand?... I speak clearly, and I'm not stupid!" Lisa still didn't hear her words.At home, Lisa ran to her room and took out the letter from her glove: it was still unsealed.She read the letter through.The content of the letter was a confession of love, and it was written tenderly and respectfully, copying every word from a German romance novel.Fortunately, Lizaveta Ivanovna did not understand German, so her heart was drunk. However, receiving this letter made her really uneasy.For the first time in her life, she had a secret relationship with a young man.Terrified by the man's audacity, she blamed herself for her indiscretion and did not know what to do.No more sitting at the window, ignoring him, cooling the young officer's enthusiasm for further pursuits?Or, return the letter to him?Reply him a letter, coldly expressing a firm refusal?She has no one to talk to, because she has no girlfriend and no female mentor.Lizaveta Ivanovna decided to write him a letter. She sat at the desk, picked up a pen, and meditated.I started it several times and tore it up again.Sometimes she felt the tone was too soft, sometimes too hard.Finally she wrote a few lines and was satisfied. "I believe," she wrote, "that you have good motives and will not insult me ​​by a rash move. However, our acquaintance should not have begun in this way. I return this letter to you, And I believe that in the future, I will not regret it because of your disrespect for me." The next day, seeing Germanman approaching, Lizaveta Ivanovna got up from the embroidery stand, went into the hall, opened the small window, and threw a letter into the street, hoping The young officer quickly picked it up.Germann ran forward, picked up the letter, and went into a candy store.Opening the envelope, he saw his own letter and Lizaveta Ivanovna's reply.He had expected this a long time ago, and when he returned home, he became busy again with his cheating tricks. Three days later, a young girl with watery eyes brought a letter from the boutique.Lizaveta Ivanovna opened the letter anxiously, thinking it was a note demanding payment, but when she opened it, it turned out to be Gehrman's handwriting. "My girl! You are mistaken," she said. "This note is not for me." "No, it's for you!" answered the girl boldly, smiling openly at her slyly. "Please read on." Lizaveta Ivanovna went over it.Gehrman's letter asks for a tryst. "Impossible!" said Lizaveta Ivanovna, who was terrified by his hasty demands and the way the letter was delivered. "This letter must not be for me." She tore it into pieces . "If the letter is not for you, why did you tear it up?" said the girl, "I could have returned the letter to the man who wrote it!" "Good girl!" said Lizaveta Ivanovna, flushing with shame because the girl had seen through it, "please don't send me such notes again. Tell the man who sent you that he should be ashamed..." But Gehrman didn't let it go.Lizaveta Ivanovna received letters from him every day, sometimes in this way, sometimes in another way.These letters are no longer translated and copied from German romance novels.Gehrman writes with gusto, in his own idiosyncratic style of language.The letter expresses his indomitable will and wild fantasies.Lizaveta has stopped sending them back.Intoxicated by it, she began to answer letters—and her letters grew longer and more emotional.Finally, she threw a letter from the window, which read as follows: "Minister ×× is holding a ball today. The countess will be there. We will stay until about two o'clock. When the time comes, you and I can meet alone. As soon as the countess leaves, all her staff will separate. The hall There is only one person left to watch the door, but he usually goes to his own little room. If you come at half-past eleven, just go upstairs. If you meet anyone in the vestibule, ask: "Count." Is the lady at home? Will answer that she is not—then there is nothing you can do. Then you will have to go back. But you will probably meet no one. The maids will all sit in their own room. From the front hall to Turn left and go straight to the countess' bedroom. There are two small doors behind the screen in the bedroom: the right leads to the study, where the countess never enters; the left door leads to the corridor, where there is a spiral ladder. This staircase leads directly to my room ." Gehrman was trembling all over, like a tiger, looking forward to the appointed time.At ten o'clock in the evening he was in front of the countess's house.The weather was bad: the wind was blowing, and the wet goose feathers were falling in heavy snow.The street lights were dim.The streets were empty.From time to time, the coachman drove the skinny horse slowly to see if there were any late passengers.Gehrman stood, wearing only a tuxedo, feeling neither the wind nor the snow.Finally, the countess' car drove up to the door.Gehrman saw how the two servants pushed the stooped old woman tightly wrapped in a fur coat into the car; her adopted daughter with a cloak and flowers in her head.The door slams shut.The car struggled over the bubble snow.The porter closes the door.The lights in the windows went out.Gehrman wandered around the silent room.He went under the street lamp and looked at his watch. It was eleven twenty.He stood just under the street lamp, staring at the pointer, waiting for the remaining minutes to pass.At half past eleven, Germain climbed the steps of the Countess's house and entered the brightly lit hall.The caretaker is absent.Gehrman went upstairs, pushed open the door to the vestibule, and saw a servant slumped in an old-fashioned dirty easy chair, dozing off by the lamplight.Gehrman walked past him with light but firm steps.It was dark in the vestibule and drawing room.The hall light filtered in faintly.Gehrman walked into the bedroom.Small golden lamps were lit in front of the shrines housing many ancient icons.A few faded damask easy chairs, a few sofas with peeling gilt, and a few soft pillows on them, all in a melancholy tone, are symmetrically placed beside the wall covered with Chinese wallpaper.On the walls hang two pictures, painted by Mme Lebrun in Paris.One was a painting of a man in his forties, with a ruddy, plump face, wearing a grass-green military uniform and wearing a star badge.The other was a painting of a great young beauty with an aquiline nose, pulled-up temples, and a fiery rose in her powdered hair.In the corner of the room is a shepherd boy carved in porcelain, a clock made by the famous Lelau, in addition, there are some boxes, caskets, gambling tools, feather fans, and Montgolfier's balloons at the end of the last century, Mismir's hypnosis Ladies' knick-knacks of all kinds invented together.Germann stepped behind the screen.There was a small iron bed.On the right there is a door leading to the study, and on the left another door leading to the corridor.Gehrman pushed open the door and saw a small spiral ladder leading to the poor adopted daughter's room...but he stepped back and went into the dark study. ① Madame Leblanc (1755-1842), a French female painter. Time passed very slowly.It was quiet all around.The clock in the living room struck twelve.The clocks in each room struck twelve, one after the other.Then everything returns to dead silence.Gehrman stood, leaning against the cool stove.He was calm, with the steady beating heart of a man who is determined to do something dangerous but at the same time imperative.The clock struck one, and then two, and finally he heard the rumble of the car, approaching from far away.His chest was involuntarily churning.The carriage stopped at the gate.He heard the sound of running boards being lowered.The house is busy.The servants ran, the voices were noisy, and the whole house was immediately lit.Three elderly maids ran straight to the bedroom, but the countess was already half dead, and when she entered the room, she sank down in the easy chair.Germann peeped through the cracks: Lizaveta Ivanovna flashed past the tip of his nose.Gehrman heard her hurried steps going upstairs.Something like a discovery of conscience seemed to arise in him, but it was quickly erased.He was already numb. The Countess stood in front of the dressing mirror taking off her makeup.The maids took off her hat studded with roses, and from her nearly bald head, with only a few white hairs left, the white powdered wig.Hair clips rained down around her.A yellow robe trimmed with silver was piled on her swollen thighs.Gehrman was lucky enough to witness this disgustingly intimate scene as she removes her make-up.At last the countess wore only her nightgown and nightcap.Her attire was more in line with her old skeleton, and she looked less ugly and creepy. Like all elderly people, the countess suffered from insomnia.After removing her make-up, she sat in the easy chair by the window and sent the maid away.The candle was taken away, leaving only one lamp in the room.The countess sat, her body was yellow, her slack lips parted and closed, her body swayed uncontrollably from side to side.Her cloudy eyes were proof that any thought had been lost within this shell.Just look at her, and you'll realize that the old woman's swaying from side to side is not her intention, but an underlying electric current at work in her body. Suddenly, this dead face changed color inexplicably.The lips no longer twitch, and the eyes breathe a little more.Because there was a strange man standing in front of the countess. "Don't be afraid! For God's sake, don't be afraid!" Gehrman whispered clearly. "I mean no harm to you. I have come to implore you to do me a favor." The old woman looked at him speechless, as if she was deaf.Germann thought she was deaf, so he leaned over and repeated what he had just said in her ear.The old woman remained silent. "You can," he went on, "make my life happy without any effort on your part. I know you can guess three trump cards in a row..." Gehrman shut up.The countess seemed to understand his request.It seemed that she was looking for words to answer. "It was a joke," she said at last, "I swear to you it was a joke." "What's so ridiculous about that?" Gehrman retorted angrily, "You should remember Chaplitsky! You helped him win back his bet." The countess was visibly flustered.Her expression reflected a strong shock in her heart, but she quickly fell back to her original state of numbness. Gehrman went on to say: "Can you tell me the three trump cards that must win?" The Countess remained silent, and Gehrman continued: "For whom are you keeping this secret? For your grandson? They have plenty of money and don't need it, and they don't know the value of money! Your three cards can't help the poor. Whoever can't keep the family inheritance, then, He's going to die in poverty after all, and it's no use if the devil comes to help him. I'm not a black sheep. I know the value of money. I won't waste your three cards. How?  …" 他停住不说了，浑身直打哆嗦，等她回答。伯爵夫人不做声。格尔曼双膝跪下。 "如果您的心，"他慷慨陈辞，"曾经体味过爱的感情，如果您还记得爱的喜悦，如果您那怕有一次倾听落地的婴儿呱的一哭而由衷一笑，如果有某种人类的感情激荡过您的心胸，那么，我就要以结发妻子、情妇和母亲的感情的名义，以人间一切至神至圣的名义恳请您千万别拒绝我的央求！——向我公开您的秘密吧！您要它有什么用？……也许，它跟滔天大罪与生俱来，也许，它跟永恒的福祉不共戴天，也许，它跟魔鬼结下了不解之缘……请想想，您老了，能活几天？——我要把您一生的罪孽通通抓将过来压在自己的灵魂上！向我公开您那个秘密吧！请想想，我这个人一生的幸福全操在您的掌心；非但我本人，还连同我的孩子、孙子、曾孙，都将对您感恩戴德，对您顶礼膜拜，把您当成人间的圣贤……" 老太婆没有回答一个字。 格尔曼站起来。 "老妖婆！"他说，咬牙切齿，"看来我得强迫你说……" 说了这话，他从兜里掏出一枝手枪。 一见手枪，伯爵夫人第二次显出感情强烈的冲动。她摇摇头，抬起手，似乎想挡住子弹……随即仰天倒下……不动弹了。 "别装蒜啦！"格尔曼说，抓住她的手。"我最后一次问您： 愿不愿意告诉我那三张牌？答应还是不答应？ " 伯爵夫人没有回答。格尔曼一看，她已经死了。 Four 18××年5月7日。 这个人，没有任何道德原则，心中没有任何圣洁的感情。 ① ①The original text is French. communication 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜坐在自己的房间里，还穿着一身舞会的衣裙，深深陷入疑虑之中。一回到家，她便慌忙支开睡眼惺松不再愿意服伺的使女，说道："脱衣服我自己来。"她战战兢兢回到自己房间，满心希望在房里看到格尔曼又但愿不要碰见他才好。进了房，她一眼就看出他没有来，心下着实感谢命运之神巧设障碍，使得他们不能幽会。她坐下，没脱衣，开动脑筋回忆在如此短促的时间内把她引诱到如此深沉地步的一切情况。自从她第一次在窗口见到那个年轻人以来，还不到三个礼拜，可她跟他已经书信往还不断了——而他竟然从她这方面取得了深夜里幽会的允诺！由于他的几封信上有签字，她才得知他的姓名；她没有跟他谈过一句话，没有听见过他说话的声音，从来没有听见别人谈论过他……这样一直到了这一天晚上。多么奇怪的事情！就在这一天夜晚的舞会上，托姆斯基跟年轻的公爵小姐波琳娜闹别扭，因为这位小姐一反常态，不跟他调情，故意冷淡以图报复他。因此，他找了丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜，没完没了地跟她跳玛祖加舞。跳舞的整个过程中，他跟她开玩笑，笑她对工程兵军官们有所偏爱。他夸口说，他知道的事情比她想象的要多得多。他的玩笑有一些恰好碰到了她的痛处，以致丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜好几次心下琢磨，她的秘密或许已经被他洞察了。 "您从谁那儿打听到的？"她笑着问。 "从您所熟知的一位朋友那里知道的。"托姆斯基回答，"他可是个了不起的人物呀！" "这位了不起的人物是谁？" "他叫格尔曼。" 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜什么也没有回答，但她的手和脚却冰凉…… "这位格尔曼，"托姆斯基接着说，"倒是个不折不扣的罗曼蒂克的人物：他的侧面像活脱是个拿破仑，而灵魂却象靡非斯特匪勒斯①。我想，至少有三桩谋杀罪压在他良心上。为什么您脸色这么白？……" ①《浮士德》中的魔鬼。 "我头疼……格尔曼对您说过什么话？您倒是怎么看他？ "格尔曼跟朋友们合不来。他说，如若他不是现在这种地位，他干起来会完全不同……我甚至设想，格尔曼对您有所打算，至少，他听了朋友对您的爱慕之辞心情很不平静。" "可他在哪里见过我呢？" "在教堂里，也许，您散步的时候……天晓得！也许，在您自己房里，当您做梦的时候，他就……" 三位女士走上前来，探问道：上场还是下场？①这一来，丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜万分关切的一场谈话就被打断了。 被托姆斯基选中伴舞的女士就是公爵小姐波琳娜本人。 ①原文为法文："上场还是下场"（舞会用语）。 她伴着他再跳了一轮，又在自己位子前飞旋了一圈，早已尽释前嫌了。托姆斯基返回自己位置上时，早已把格尔曼和丽莎丢到脑后去了。可丽莎却还一直想恢复适才中断了的谈话。 但玛祖加舞已经跳完，不久老伯爵夫人要回家了。 托姆斯基的话怎能认真看待？只不过是舞会上逢场作戏罢了，但那几句话却在沉溺于幻想的女娃的心里深深扎下了根。托姆斯基所描绘的那幅肖像跟她自己所构思的图画正好不谋而合，此外，还得多亏新近的小说，致使那个卑鄙的人物诱惑了她的心同时又令她恐惧。她坐着，一双裸露的膀子交叉搁在膝头上，插了鲜花的头低垂在袒露的胸前……突然，门打开，格尔曼走了进来。她一阵战慄…… "您刚才呆在哪里？"她惊恐地问，声音耳语般地轻。 "在老伯爵夫人的卧室里，"格尔曼回答，"我刚从她那儿来。她死了。" "天呀！您说什么？" "看起来，"格尔曼回答，"我是她致死的原因。" 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜望着他，心头立刻回响着托姆斯基的那句话：这个人的良心上至少压着三桩谋杀罪！格尔曼在她身旁的窗台上坐下，接着把一切都对她讲了。 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜听他说，感到毛骨悚然。这么说来，那一封封热情洋溢的情书，那一团团火焰般的爱欲，那一往情深、大胆而执着的追求，所有这一切却原来并不是爱情！金钱——这才是他梦寐以求之物。她本人是不能消解他的饥渴和使他得福的。可怜的养女并非别的什么东西，只不过是谋杀她的老恩人的强盗手中盲目的工具而已！……她痛哭，揪心地后悔，悔之晚矣！格尔曼默默地望着她：他心里也感到痛苦，但是，无论是可怜的姑娘的眼泪，无论是她受苦时楚楚动人的姿容都不能打动他阴暗的心灵。老太婆死了，他并不觉得良心不安。只有一点使他恐惧：他赖以大发横财的那个秘密，他得不到了，永远得不到了。 "您这只人妖！"丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜终于开口说。 "我并没起心害死她。"格尔曼回答，"我的手枪没有上子弹。" 他们不做声了。 早晨来临。丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜熄掉快要燃尽的蜡烛。鱼肚白的晨光透进她的房间。她擦干眼泪，抬起眼睛望着格尔曼：他坐在窗台上，抱着两条胳膊，狠狠皱紧眉头。他这个姿态不由得令人想起拿破仑的侧影。这神色也打动了丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜。 "您怎么从这屋子里出去呢？"丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜最后说，"我可以领你通过一条秘密的楼梯走出去，不过，得穿过卧室，我害怕。" "告诉我怎样找到那条秘密的楼梯，我一个人出去。" 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜站起身，从箱里取出一把钥匙交给他，详细地向他作了交代，格尔曼握了握她冰冷的、毫无反应的手，吻了吻她扭过一边去的头，然后走了出去。 他下了螺旋梯，再次走进伯爵夫人的卧室。死了的老太婆已经僵硬了，她脸色安祥，显出万事不关心的样子。格尔曼在她跟前站住，仔细端详，似乎想要证实一下：她是不是真的死了。后来，他走进书房，摸到了两扇门，于是走下了一条阴暗的楼梯，心里冒出一些奇奇怪怪的念头。他想，也许，六十年以前，此时此地，有个身穿绣花长袍、头发梳成王子之鸟式①的年轻的幸运儿，将一顶三角帽子按在胸口，正偷偷摸摸登上这条楼梯，向那间卧室钻进去。如今，此人早已变成了冢中枯骨，而他的那位老掉了牙的情妇的心，今晨又停止了跳动…… 下了楼，格尔曼找到了一张门，掏出钥匙打开，走进了一条直通大街的过道。 Fives 这天晚上，已故的男爵夫人封·维××来到我面前。她全身白衣白裙，对我说道："您好呀！我的智囊先生！" 希维顿贝格尔②语录 ①The original text is French. ②希维顿贝尔格（1688-1772）瑞典神秘主义哲学家。 在那命中注定的夜晚三天之后，上午九点钟，格尔曼前往××修道院，那儿要为升天的伯爵夫人举行安魂祈祷。他内心虽无悔恨之意，但又不可能完全压制良心上的嘀咕："你就是凶手！"他虽则没有真正的信仰，但迷信禁忌却挺多。他害怕过世的伯爵夫人可能对他的一生产生有害的影响。所以决定去参加她的葬礼，为的是请求她宽恕。 教堂里挤满了人。格尔曼好不容易才穿过人群。一口棺材陈放富丽堂皇的灵台上面。一顶天鹅绒的华盖悬挂上头。亡人仰卧灵柩里，两手交叉搁在胸前，头戴花边小帽，身穿锦缎寿服。四周站满她家里的人：仆人一个个手持蜡烛，身穿黑袍，肩挎有家徽的绶带；亲属身穿重孝——他们是她的儿子们，孙子们和曾孙们。谁也没哭。眼泪实在是假惺惺①。伯爵夫人太老了，她的死是意料中事，并且，她的儿孙们早就把她当成过世的人物看待了。一位年纪轻轻的神父致悼辞。他纯朴动人的语言赞颂这位有德之人悄然归去，多年善积阴功，方能成此正果——这是基督徒的善终。"死亡之天使已获此善人，"演说家慷慨陈辞，"彼将于福祉之彻悟中永生，将于天国之仰望中不朽。"祈祷在肃穆的仪式中做完。亲属首先走上前跟遗体告别，然后，数不清的宾客鱼贯而入。他们前来向这位很久很久以来就是他们醉生梦死的宴席和舞会的参与者表示哀悼。他们之后，便是全体仆人。最后，一位老态龙钟的婆婆、死者的同庚走上前去。两个年轻姑娘架着她的胳膊。她没有力气鞠躬到地，倒是流了几滴眼泪，吻了吻自己女主人冰冷的手。她之后，格尔曼坚定地走到棺材旁。他鞠躬到地，趴在撒满松枝的地上有好几分钟。后来，他站起身，一脸惨白，脸色就象那个死人，他登上了灵台，又一鞠躬……这一瞬间，他觉得，死人面带嘲笑，盯住他，眯起一只眼睛。格尔曼慌忙后退，一脚踏空，摔了一跤。别人将他扶起来。正在这时，突然晕倒的丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜被人搀扶着送出教堂大门。这个插曲扰乱了庄严的丧礼有好几分钟。在场的人群中间窃窃私议。死者的亲戚，一位瘦瘦的宫廷侍从向旁边的一个英国人耳语，说这位年轻军官是死者的私生子，英国人冷冷回答："Oh？（啊？）" ①The original text is French. 这一整天，格尔曼精神萎靡不振。他找了家僻静的饭馆吃了顿午饭，一反常态，灌了不少的酒，想把内心的骚乱镇压下去。但是，酒入愁肠，反倒更加搅乱了他的头脑。回到家，他连衣服也不脱，往床上一倒，便沉沉睡去。 他醒了，已经半夜。明月照亮了他的房间。他看看时钟：差一刻三点。他不想睡了，便坐在床沿回想老伯爵夫人的丧礼。 这时有个人从街上透过窗户看了他一眼，立刻就走开了。格尔曼根本没有在意。过了一分钟，他听到，有人推开前房的门。格尔曼想，是他的勤务兵跟往常一样喝醉了酒夜游归来。但是，他听到的却是陌生的脚步声。那人穿的是便鞋，只听得叭嗒叭嗒。门推开，一个全身白衣白裙的女人走进来。格尔曼还当她是自己的老奶妈，心下好生奇怪：这么晚了，是什么事情把她引到这里来了呢？但那一身全白的女人溜过来，站到他面前——格尔曼认出了老伯爵夫人！ "我违背我的初衷来找你，"她说，声音非常坚决，"但是，我有责任来答应你的请求。三点、七点、爱司可以连连赢牌，不过得有个条件：一昼夜之内你只能打一张牌，并且，从此以后，一生不再赌博。我可以饶恕你害死了我，不过得有个条件，你要跟我的养女丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜结婚……" 说完，她悄悄转身，走到门口便不见了，只听得便鞋叭嗒叭嗒。格尔曼听见门厅的门砰关了，又看到，有个人从窗外看了他一眼。 格尔曼许久才定了神。他走进另一间房里。勤务兵睡在地板上。格尔曼费了好大的气力才把他擂醒。勤务兵象往常一样烂醉如泥，从他嘴里是不能够打听出什么名堂的。通门厅的门已经闩了。格尔曼回房，点燃一枝蜡烛，把适才所见所闻记录下来。six "且慢①！" ①原文为赌博用语，意为"请不要下注"。 "您怎么敢对我说且慢？" "大人！我说了：且慢！" 两个凝固不动的思想不可能同时存在于同一个精神本性之中，正如同两个物体不可能同时占住物质世界的同一空间一样。三点、七点、爱司这三张牌迅即遮盖了格尔曼脑子里的死老太婆的形象。三点、七点、爱司——不离他的脑瓜，挂在他的嘴唇上。见到一位年轻的女郎，他就说："身材多苗条啊！……真是个红心三点。"有人问他："几点钟了？"他回答："差五分七点"。每一位大腹便便的汉子在他眼里便是一个爱司。三点、七点、爱司，梦里也紧紧追逐他，能幻化成无奇不有的物象：三点开成三朵火红的石榴花，七点变成哥特式的拱门，爱司却原来是一只伟大的蜘蛛。千思万虑集中到一点：赶快利用这珍贵的秘密。他已经打算退休了，已经筹划出门远游了。他已经盘算去巴黎公开的赌场上大显身手，借迷人的命运女神的无边法力捞它一大把钱财。一个偶然的机会使他避免了如许的奔波劳碌。 莫斯科成立了一个阔佬赌徒协会，由著名的切卡林斯基担任主席。此人在赌场混了一辈子，曾经挣过一百万，赢回来的是期票，输出去的却是现金。他积数十年之经验，因而赢得了同伴们的信赖，他门招天下客，厨师手艺强，为人谦和，性情爽快，这些又使得他受人尊敬。这时他来到了彼得堡。年青人蜂拥到他那儿，为了赌牌而忘了跳舞，宁可牺牲跟美人儿的调情，甘愿拜倒在法老的驾前。纳鲁莫夫把格尔曼带到了他那儿。 他们走过几间豪华的厅堂，其间有一群文质彬彬的侍者殷勤伺候。有几位将军和枢密院顾问官在玩惠斯特。许多年轻人身子瘫在花缎沙发上，在吃冰琪凌和抽烟斗。客厅里长桌旁围了二十来个赌徒，主人坐在当中做庄，正在发牌。他六十来岁，有着令人敬重的外貌，满头银发，富泰和气色很好的脸透露出他心地善良；一双眼睛很有神，总带着机灵活泼的笑意。纳鲁莫夫把格尔曼介绍给他。切卡林斯基友好地跟他握手，请他不要客气，然后继续发牌。 这一局拖延了很久。桌上摆了三十多张牌。 切卡林斯基每次发完牌都等一等，好让赌家有时间清理自己的牌，然后他记下输数，认真听取他们的意见，更加认真地抚平被别人漫不经心的手折坏了的牌角，又准备第二圈发牌。 "请给我一张牌。"格尔曼说，从一位也在赌钱的肥胖的先生背后伸出一只手。切卡林斯基笑一笑默默地点点头，意思是说：怎能不同意？纳鲁莫夫微笑着祝贺格尔曼长时期无所作为以后开了戒，祝贺他旗开得胜。 "押了！"格尔曼说，用粉笔把赌注写在牌上。 "请问多少！"庄家问，皱皱眉头。 "四万七千。"格尔曼回答。 听了这话，一瞬间一个个脑袋都转过来，一双双眼睛都盯住格尔曼。"他发疯了！"纳鲁莫夫想。 "请允许我告诉您，"切卡林斯基说，脸上依然露出微笑，"您下的注很大。这儿还没有人孤注一掷超过二百七十五卢布的哩！" "怎么？"格尔曼反问道，"您敢开还是不敢开呢？" 切卡林斯基对他一鞠躬，谦逊地表示同意。 "不过，我得向您报告，"他说，"为了赢得朋友们的信赖，我赌钱只赌现金。从我这方面说，当然，我完全相信您的一句话，但是，为了赌场规矩和计算方便起见，请您把现金押在牌上。" 格尔曼从兜里掏出一张银行支票交给切卡林斯基。他看了一眼，把支票押在格尔曼的那张牌上。 他动手开牌。右边是九点，左边三点。 "赢了！"格尔曼说，出示自己的牌。 赌客之间掀起一阵低声的喧嚣。切卡林斯基皱一皱眉头，随即微笑又回到他的脸上。 "您就要收款吗？"他问格尔曼。 "叨光。" 切卡林斯基从兜里掏出几张银行支票，当场付清。格尔曼收了钱，立即离开桌子。纳鲁莫夫还没清醒过来。格尔曼喝了一杯柠檬水就回家去了。 第二天晚上他又到了切卡林斯基那里。主人在发牌。格尔曼走到桌子旁，赌客们马上让出一个位子给他。切卡林斯基向他亲切地点点头。 格尔曼等到新的一局开始，摸了一张牌，把四万七千和昨晚赢的款子全都押上去。 切卡林斯基动手开牌。右边是贾克，左边是七点。 大家"哎呀"一声惊叹。切卡林斯基眼看心慌了。他数了九万四千卢布递交格尔曼。格尔曼收了钱，无动于衷，当即离开。 下一晚格尔曼又来到桌旁。大伙儿都在等他。将军们和枢密院顾问官们放下手中的牌不打，都来观看一场如此非凡的赌博。年青军官们从沙发上跳将起来。全体堂倌都集中到了客厅里。大伙儿围着格尔曼。其余的赌客都不摸牌了，焦急地等待着，看看这桩公案如何了结。格尔曼站在桌子旁边，面对一脸惨白、但仍然笑容可掬的切卡林斯基，准备跟他一决雌雄。他两个人每人都拆封一副新的纸牌。切卡林斯基洗牌。格尔曼摸了一张牌放下，把一沓钞票押在上面。这倒真象一场决斗。四周鸦雀无声。 切卡林斯基动手开牌，手发抖。右边是皇后，左边是爱司。 "爱司赢了！"格尔曼说，揭开自己那张牌。 "您的皇后输了。"切卡林斯基和和气气地说。 格尔曼浑身一颤。真的，他手里没有爱司，而是黑桃皇后。他不相信自己的眼睛，他真不明白，他怎么会押错一张牌。 这时他觉得，黑桃皇后眯起眼睛对他冷笑。何等相似啊！ 他吃惊了…… "这只老太婆！"他大叫一声，失魂落魄。 切卡林斯基伸手把赢的钞票抹过来。格尔曼站着不动。他离开桌子，人群中爆发出一阵喧哗。 "赌得有气魄！"赌客们说。切卡林斯基重新洗牌：赌局照常进行下去。ending 格尔曼发疯了。他住进了奥布霍夫精神病院里第十七号病房。对于任何问题他一律不予回答，口里飞快地嘟嘟囔囔： "三点、七点、爱司！三点、七点、爱司！……" 丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜出嫁了，丈夫是个非常可爱的青年人。他在某个机关做事，有一份可观的产业。他是老伯爵夫人的已故管家的儿子。丽莎维塔·伊凡诺夫娜收养了亲戚的一个可怜的小女孩。 托姆斯基晋升骑兵大尉，并且跟波琳娜公爵小姐结婚了。