The Queen of Spades

Hermann trembled, like a tiger, waiting for the appointed time. At ten o'clock in the evening he was already in front of the Countess. The weather was terrible: the wind was howling, Wet snow fell in large flakes; lights shone dimly; the streets were empty. Occasionally stretched Vanya on his skinny nag, looking out for a belated rider. - Hermann stood in one sertuka, without feeling the wind, no snow. Finally hrafynynu coach gave. Hermann saw, lackeys carried by the arms hunched old woman, wrapped in a sable coat, and both followed suit after her, cold cloak, head, Remove fresh flowers, She flashed her pupil. The doors slammed shut. The carriage rolled heavily on loose snow. The porter shut the doors. windows faded. Hermann began walking around the deserted house: he went to the lantern, He looked at his watch, - it was twenty minutes past eleven. He remained under the lamp, his eyes fixed on the hour hand and waiting for the remaining minutes. At exactly half past eleven Hermann he stepped onto the porch and the Countess went into the brightly lit canopy. Porter was not. Hermann ran up the stairs, He opened the doors to the front and saw a servant, sleeping under a lamp, in ancient, stained chairs. Easy and firm step Hermann passed by him. Hall and living room were dark. Lamp feeble reflection from the front. Hermann entered the bedroom. before the ark, full of old images, golden lamp was burning. Faded stuffed chairs and sofas with soft cushions, soshedshey with gold, We stood in melancholy symmetry around the walls, hung with China silk. On the wall hung two portraits, hand-made in Paris m-me Lebrun * #. One of these represented a man of forty years, rosy and full, in a light-green uniform and with a star; the other - a beautiful young woman with an aquiline nose, with forehead curls and a rose in her powdered hair. In the corners stood porcelain shepherds and shepherdesses, Dinner hours of the glory of Leroy * #, boxes, roulette *, fans, and various ladies' toys, invented at the end of the last century, when Montgolfier balloon and Mesmer magnetism. Hermann went behind the screen. Behind them stood a small iron bed; the right was the door, Leading into the office; left, the other - in the corridor. He opened, I saw a narrow, winding staircase, which led to the room of the poor ... But he retraced his steps and entered the dark cabinet.
Time passed slowly. Everything was quiet. In the living room struck twelve; through all the rooms one after the other clock struck twelve, - and everything fell silent again. Hermann stood, leaning against the cold stove. He was calm; his heart beat regularly, like a man, resolved upon a dangerous, but necessary. The clock struck the first and second hour of the morning, - and he heard the distant clatter of the carriage. Involuntary excitement overcame him. The carriage drove up and stopped. He heard the sound of steps being let down. The house bustled. people ran, voices were heard, and the house was lit up. We entered the bedroom the three old maids, Countess, barely alive, and he entered into a Voltaire armchair opustlas. Hermann looked through the crack: Lizaveta
Ivanovna walked past him. Hermann heard her hurried steps on the steps of her staircase. In his heart was assailed by something like a pricking of conscience and again multitude kept silence,. he froze.
The Countess began to undress in front of the mirror. Chipped off her cap, decorated with roses; powdered wig was removed from off her white and closely cut hair. Pins fell in showers around her. Yellow dress, embroidered with silver, It dropped to her swollen feet. Hermann was a witness of the repugnant mysteries of her toilette; finally, Countess was in a jacket and nightcap: this outfit, more suitable to her age, she appeared less hideous and ugly.
Like all old people in general, Countess suffered from sleeplessness. undressing, She sat by the window in a Voltaire armchair and dismissed her maids. candles carried, opyat osvetylas dropped off one lamp. The Countess sat all yellow, mumbling with her flaccid lips, swaying left and right. Her dull eyes expressed complete vacancy of mind; looking at it, you might think, that the rocking of her, not of her will, but by the action of some concealed galvanic.
Suddenly this dead face changed inexplicably. The lips ceased to tremble, eyes brightened: before the Countess stood an unknown man.
- Do not be alarmed, for god's sake, do not panic! - he said in an intelligible and quiet voice. - I have no intention of harming you; I have come to beg a favor of you.
The old woman silently looked at him and, it seemed, it not heard. Hermann thought, that she was deaf, and, bending over her ear, he repeated the same. The old woman was silent still.
- You can, - continued Hermann, - make up the happiness of my life, and it will not cost you anything: I know, you can name three cards in succession ...
Hermann stopped. countess, it seemed, I understood, which was demanded of her; it seemed, she searched for words to reply.
- It was a joke, - she said at last, - I swear! it was a joke!
- This is nothing to joke, - Hermann objected angrily.. - Remember Chaplitsky, whom you helped to win.
The Countess was apparently embarrassed. Her features expressed strong emotion, but it soon resumed their former immobility.
- Can you, - continued Hermann, - assign me these three correct cards?
The Countess was silent; Hermann continued:
- For whom do you keep your secret? grandchildren? They are rich already, they do not know the value of money. Motu not help your three cards. He who can not preserve his paternal inheritance, he still die in poverty, in spite of a demon at his. I'm not a glutton; I know the value of money. Your three cards will not be lost to me. Well!..
He stopped and waited with trepidation for her answer.. The Countess was silent; Hermann knelt.
- If you ever, - he said, - your heart knew the feeling of love, if you remember its rapture, if you have ever smiled at the cry of a newborn son, if there is any human feeling has ever entered into your breast, I beg you to feelings of a wife, mistress, mother, - to all, that is most sacred in life, - do not deny me my request! - tell me your secret! - what do you want in it?.. May be, it is connected with some terrible sin, to perdition eternal bliss, with the devil ... Reflect: you old; you have not long to live, - I'm ready to take your sin on my soul. Open to me only your secret. Think, that human happiness is in your hands; that not only I, but my children, and grandchildren will bless your memory and reverence, as a saint ...
The old woman did not answer a word.
Hermann got up.
- Old witch! - he said, gritting your teeth, - so I'll make you answer ...
With that he took a pistol out of his pocket.
At the sight of the pistol, the Countess had a strong feeling for the second time.. She shook her head and raised her hand, as if to protect herself from the shot ... Then he fell backwards and remained motionless ....
- Stop being childish, - said Hermann, taking her hand. - I ask for the last time: will you tell me your three cards? - Yes or no?
The Countess did not answer. Hermann saw, that she died.
IV
7 May 18**
Man without morals and religion!#
Correspondence.

Lizaveta Ivanovna was sitting in her room, yet in her ball dress, lost in deep thought. Once home, she hastened to send the sleepy girl, reluctantly offered her service, - said, that she would undress herself, and trembling came to him, I am hoping to find Hermann there and wishing not to find him. At first glance it is satisfied in his absence and thanked fate for the obstacle, him keeping the appointment. She sat, without undressing, and I began to recall all the circumstances, in such a short time and carried her so far. It was not three weeks since the time, she first saw in the young man's window, - and she was already in correspondence with him, - and he managed to demand from her a night date! She knew his name only because, Some of his letters were signed by them; I never spoke with him, I never heard his voice, I never heard of him ... not until that evening. Strange affair! Very evening, to bale, Tomsk, duyas on moloduyu Princess Sagebrush ***, which, contrary to custom, I did not flirt with him, I wanted revenge, of indifference: he engaged Lizaveta Ivanovna and danced an endless mazurka with her. During all the time he kept teasing her about her partiality for Engineer officers, assured, he knows much more, than she could assume, and some of his jokes were so well directed, that Lizaveta thought several times, that her secret was known to him.
- Who do you know all this from?? She asked, laughing.
- From a friend of a person you know, - answered Tomsky, - a very wonderful person!
- Who is this wonderful person?
- His name is Hermann.
Lisaveta Ivanovna did not answer anything, but her hands and feet poledeneli ...
- This Hermann, - continued Tomsky, - a truly romantic face: he has the profile of Napoleon, and the soul of Mephistopheles. I think, that on his conscience at least three crimes. How do you blanch!..
- I have a headache…. What say you, Hermann, - or whatever it is?..
- Hermann is very unhappy with his friend: He says, that in his place he would act very differently ... I even think, that Hermann himself has designs upon you, at least he listens very indifferent lovers exclamations of his friend.
- But where did he see me?
- In the church, can be - for a walk!.. God only knows! may be, in your room, during your sleep: from it will be ...
Three ladies approached them with questions - oubli ou regret?*# - interrupted the conversation, which had become so tantalizingly interesting to Lizaveta.
lady, selected Tomsk, she was the princess ***. She had him express himself, running around an extra circle and once again turning in front of your chair. - Tomsk, returning to his place, I did not think any of Hermann, or Lizaveta. She longed to renew the interrupted conversation; but the mazurka was over, and shortly afterwards the old Countess left.
Tomsky's words were nothing else, how mazurochnaya chatter, but they sank deep into the soul of the young dreamer. Portrait, sketched by Tomsky, It coincided with the picture, composed by herself, and, thanks to the latest novels, this is vulgar face frightened and captivated her imagination. She was sitting, her bare arms crossed, tilting her head to the open chest, still adorned with flowers ... Suddenly the door opened, and Hermann entered. What zatrepetala ...
- Where have you been? She asked in a frightened whisper.
- In the bedroom of the old countess, - replied Germann, - I'm from her now. The Countess died.
- Oh my God!.. what are you saying?..
- And it seems, - continued Hermann, - I caused her death.
Lizaveta Ivanovna looked at him, and Tomsky's words echo in her soul: this man has at least three crimes upon his conscience! Hermann sat down by the window near her and told all.
Lisaveta Ivanovna listened to him with horror. so, those passionate letters, those ardent desires, this bold, relentless persecution, all this was not love! Money, - that's what his soul craved! She could not satisfy his desires and make him happy! The poor girl had been nothing, the blind tool of a robber, murderer of her aged benefactress!.. She wept bitter tears in the late, agonized repentance. Hermann looked at her in silence: his heart is also prey to violent emotion, but no tears poor girl, Surprisingly charm of her grief did not disturb his harsh soul. He felt no remorse at the thought of the dead old woman. One of his horrified: irretrievable loss secrets, which is expected to enrichment.
- You are a monster! - finally said Lizaveta.
- I didn't want her to die, - replied Germann, - my pistol is not loaded.

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