The Queen of Spades

they were silent.
morning comes. Lizaveta extinguished candle: a pale light illumined her room. She wiped her tear-stained eyes and raised them towards Hermann: he was sitting on the window, back and sternly frowning. In this position, he bore a striking resemblance portrait of Napoleon. This resemblance struck Lizaveta even.
- How do you get out of the house? - finally said Lizaveta. - I thought of conducting you down the secret staircase, but one must walk past the bedroom, but I'm afraid.
- Tell me, how to find this secret staircase; I `ll exit.
Lizaveta arose, She took from her drawer a key, He handed it to Hermann and gave him detailed instructions. Hermann pressed her cold limp hand, He kissed her bowed head and went.
He descended the winding staircase and once more entered the Countess's bedroom. The dead old lady sat petrified; her face expressed profound tranquility. Hermann stopped before her, long look at her, as if wishing to ascertain the terrible truth; finally entered the room, I felt behind the tapestry door and began to descend the dark staircase, strange emotions. For this very staircase, thought he, may be, Sixty years ago, in this same bedroom, in the same hour, in an embroidered caftan, combed à l'oiseau royal #, pressing to his heart his triangular hat, I stole a young lucky, long since decayed in the grave, but the heart of his aged mistress has ceased to beat today ...
Under the staircase Hermann found a door, which he opened with the same key, and then traversed a corridor, conducted him into the street.
V
That night came to me deceased Baroness von In ***. She was all in white and said to me,: "Hello, Mr. Advisor!»
Shvyedyenborg *.

Three days after the fatal night, at nine o'clock in the morning, Hermann went to *** monastery, where they were to read the burial the body of the deceased Countess. Without feeling remorse, he could not altogether stifle the voice of conscience, tverdyvshey emu: You are the murderer of the old woman! Having little true faith, he had a lot of prejudices. He believed, that the dead Countess might have a detrimental effect on his life, - and I decided to come to her funeral, to implore her forgiveness.
The church was full. Hermann could hardly make his way through the crowd. The coffin stood on a rich catafalque beneath a velvet canopy. The deceased Countess lay within it, with her hands, folded on his chest, in a lace cap and white satin dress. We stood around her home: servants in black caftans, with armorial ribbons upon their shoulders and candles in their hands; relatives in deep mourning, - children, and grandchildren. No one wept; tears would have been - une affectation #. Countess was so old, that her death could have surprised nobody, and her relatives had long looked at it as obsolete. * The young bishop said eulogy. In simple and touching terms he described the peaceful of the righteous, which for many years it was quiet, touching preparation for a Christian death. "The angel of death found her, - he said,, - in pious meditation and waiting for the midnight bridegroom * ".
The service concluded amidst profound silence. first relatives went to say goodbye to the body. Then followed the numerous guests, who came to worship the one, who had so long been a participator in their frivolous amusements. After them all home. Finally he approached the old lady lordly, the same age as the deceased. Two young women led her by the arm. She had not strength enough to bow down to the ground, - and I shed a few tears, He kissed the cold hand of her mistress. After Hermann now resolved to approach the coffin. He bowed to the ground and a few minutes lying on the cold floor, strewn with fir. finally lifted, pale as the deceased Countess herself, ascended the steps and leaned hearse ... At that moment it seemed to him, that the dead looked at him quizzically, squinting one eye. Germann, hastily leaning back, He stumbled and fell to the ground. He was picked up. At the same time Lizaveta Ivanovna was borne fainting into the porch. This episode disturbed for some minutes the solemnity of the gloomy ceremony. Between visitors rose a dull murmur, and lean Chamberlain, a close relative of the deceased, He whispered in the ear of an Englishman standing beside him, that the young officer was a natural son, to which the Englishman coldly replied: Oh?
The whole day was extremely upset Hermann. Having lunch in a secluded inn, he, against his usual custom, I drink a lot, hoping to drown out the inner excitement. But the wine even more to excite his imagination. returning home, he rushed, without undressing, on the bed and fell fast asleep.
He woke up at night: the moon was shining into the room. He glanced at his watch: it was a quarter to three. Sleep had left him; He sat on the bed and thought of the funeral of the old Countess.
At this time, someone in the street looked in at his window, - and immediately departed. Hermann did not pay it any attention. A minute later he heard, that unlocked the door to the front room. Hermann thought, it was his orderly, drunk as usual, He is returning from a night walk. But he heard a strange gait: someone walked, quietly shuffling gait. table, when the woman in a white dress. Hermann took her for his old nurse, and wondered, which could lead it to such a time. But a white woman, slipping, I stood before him, - and Hermann recognized the Countess!
- I come to you against your will, - she said in a firm voice, - but I have been commanded to grant your request. threesome, seven, ace, will win for you in succession, - but with the, you to a day more than one card, and not put to full life after not playing. I forgive you my death, so that you marry my companion, Lizaveta Ivanovna ...
With these words she turned round very quietly, I went to the door and disappeared, shuffling gait. Hermann heard, I slam the door in the hallway, and saw, someone once looked in at his window.
A long time Hermann could not recover. He went into another room. His orderly was sleeping on the floor; Hermann difficulty ego dobudylsya. The orderly was drunk as usual: from him it was impossible to make any sense. Door was locked. Hermann returned to his room, I lit a candle, and wrote down his vision.
WE
- Adam!
- How dare you tell me Atanda?
- Your Excellency, I said Atanda-c!*

Two fixed ideas can not exist together in the moral world, same, two bodies can not in the physical world occupy the same place. threesome, seven, Ace - soon drove out of Hermann's image of the dead old woman. threesome, seven, ace - did not come out of his head and moving his lips. Seeing the young girl, he said: "How is it slim!.. This trio of Hearts ". He asked: "what time is it now", he answered: "Five minutes to seven". Every puzasty man reminded him of an ace. threesome, seven, Ace - haunted him in his sleep, taking all possible: The threes bloomed before him in the form of magnificent flowers, sevens were represented by Gothic portals, Ace huge spider. All his thoughts were merged into one, - use a secret, which cost him dearly. He began to think about retirement and the journey. He wanted to open igretskih houses in Paris to force a treasure from enchanted Fortune. Case delivered him out of trouble.
In Moscow a society of rich players, chaired celebrated Chekalinsky, spent all his life at the card and once millions nazhivshego, winning and losing a bill clean money. Long-term experience has earned him a fellow attorney, and open house, famous cook, tenderness and cheerfulness gained the respect of the public. He arrived in St. Petersburg. Youth to it surged, forgetting balls for cards, and preferring faro to the seductions of flirting. Narumov brought him Hermann.
They passed a series of magnificent rooms, filled with attentive. Several generals and privy councilors were playing whist; young people were, lounging on damask sofas, eating ices and smoking pipes. The living room is a long table, around which crowded about twenty players, I sat the host and keeping the bank. He was a man of sixty, a very dignified appearance; his head was covered with silvery white hair; full, florid countenance expressed good nature; eyes shine, a perpetual smile. Narumov introduced him to Hermann. Chekalinsky friendly shook his hand, He asked not to stand on ceremony, and continued to hurl.
Talya last long. On the table was for more than thirty maps. Chekalinsky paused after each throw, to give players time to arrange, recorded a loss, politely listened to their demands, still more civil straight the angle, Swiveling s hand. Had chanced. Chekalinsky shuffled the cards and prepared to deal again.
- Let me put the map, - said Hermann, stretching out his hand from behind a stout gentleman, was punting. Chekalinsky smiled and bowed, silently, a sign of acquiescence. Narumov, laughing, He congratulated Hermann on a long-term resolution of the post and wished him a happy beginning.
- in progress! - said Hermann, nadpysav Mel jackpot own way on the map.
- How much? - I asked, squinting, banker, - I'm sorry, with, I do not see quite clearly.
- Forty-seven thousand, - replied Germann.
At these words every head turned instantly, and all eyes were fixed on Hermann. - He is crazy! - I thought Narumov.
- Let me say to you, - said Chekalinsky with his eternal smile, - that your game is strong: no more than two hundred seventy five sempelem here I had not set.
- Well? - replied Germann, - do you accept my card or not?
Chekalinsky bowed in token of consent.
- I just wanted to report to you, - he said, - what, being awarded a fellow attorney, I can not throw another, as clean money. For my part, I am certainly sure, that your pretty words, but the order of the game and account asking you to put money on the card.
Hermann drew from his pocket a bank-note and handed it to Chekalinsky, which the, fluent seeing it, I put it on Hermann's card.
He began to deal. To the right lay nine, left threesome.
- Won! - said Hermann, showing his card.
Between players rose whispers. Chekalinsky frowned, but the smile quickly returned to his face.
- Please get? - he asked Hermann.
- Do me a favor.
Chekalinsky took from his pocket a number of banknotes and paid at once. Hermann took his money and left the table. Narumov could not recover. Hermann drank a glass of lemonade and went home.
The next evening he again repaired to Chekalinsky. The host metal. Hermann came to the table; the punters immediately made room for him. Chekalinsky gently bowed.
Hermann waited for the tali, I put the card, placed upon it his forty-seven thousand, and yesterday's win.
Chekalinsky began to deal. Knave fell right, seven left.
Hermann opened seven.
everyone gasped. Chekalinsky apparently confused. He counted out ninety-four thousand and handed to Hermann. Hermann received them with composure and immediately left.
The next evening Hermann appeared at the table again. All were waiting for him. The generals and Privy Counselors left their whist, to see a play, such extraordinary. Young officers jumped off the sofa; all the waiters gathered in the living room. All surrounded Hermann. Other players do not put their cards, I am looking forward to, how it would end. Hermann stood at the table, prepared to play alone against the pale, but still smiling Chekalinsky. Each opened a pack of cards. Chekalinsky shuffled. Hermann took off and put your card, covering it with a pile of banknotes. It was like a duel. Deep silence reigned around.
Chekalinsky began to deal, his hands were shaking. Jump queen beds, ace left.
- Ace won! - Hermann said his card.
- Queen yours murdered, - said kindly Chekalinsky.
Hermann started: Indeed, instead of the ace he was the queen of spades. He could not believe his eyes, Not understanding, How could he have made such a mistake.
At that moment it seemed to him, that the queen of spades narrowed her eyes and smiled. Remarkable resemblance struck him ...
- old woman! - he screamed in horror.
Chekalinsky pulled his winnings. Hermann stood motionless. When he left the table, rose noisy voices. - Splendidly punted! - said players. - Chekalinsky again shuffled the cards: the game went on as usual.

conclusion
Hermann went mad. He sits in the Obukhov Hospital in the 17th numbered, It does not respond to any questions and mutters unusually soon: «Troika, seven, salt! threesome, seven, lady!..»
Lizaveta Ivanovna has married a very amiable young man; he is somewhere and has a considerable fortune: He is the son of the former steward of the old Countess. Lizaveta is also supporting a poor relative.
Tomsky has been captains, and marries the Princess Pauline.

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