A hero of our time

7/17/2019 A hero of our time

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Title: A Hero of Our Time

Author: M. Y. Lermontov

Posting Date: July 21 2!!"#$%oo& '(1)*

+elease Date: May 1((,Last u-ate: /e0ruary 2!1)

Language: $nglish

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Proue 0y Juith %oss



A H$+O O/ O7+ T4M$

%y J. H. ;isom < Marr Murray

Translate /rom The +ussian OfM. Y. Lermontov

/O+$;O+D

TH43 novel &no=n as one of themaster-iees of +ussianLiterature



uner the title >A Hero of our Time> an alreay translate

into atleast nine $uro-ean languagesis no= for the ?rst time -lae0efore

the general $nglish +eaer.

The =or& is of e@e-tionalinterest to the stuent of$nglish

Literature =ritten as it =asuner the -rofoun inuene of %yron an0eing itself a stuy of the%yroni ty-e of harater.

The Translators have ta&enes-eial are to -reserve 0oththe atmos-here



of the story an the -oeti0eauty =ith =hih the PoetB

novelist im0uehis -ages.

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5HAPT$+ 4



4 =as travelling -ost from Tiis.

All the luggage 4 ha in my artonsiste of one small-ortmanteau half ?lle =ith travellingBnotes on

6eorgiaF of these the greater-art has0een lost fortunately for youF0ut the -ortmanteau itself anthe rest

of its ontents have remaineintat fortunately for me.

As 4 entere the 9oishaur Ealleythe sun =as isa--earing0ehin thesno=Bla rige of themountains. 4n orer toaom-lish the asent of



Mount 9oishaur 0y nightfall myriver an Ossete urge on the

horsesinefatiga0ly singing Gealouslythe =hile at the toof his voie.

;hat a glorious -lae thatvalley is On every han areinaessi0lemountains stee- yello= slo-essore 0y =aterBhannels an

reishro&s ra-e =ith green ivy anro=ne =ith lusters of -laneBtrees.

Yoner at an immense heightis the golen fringe of the sno=.Do=n0elo= rolls the +iver Aragva=hih after 0ursting noisily

forth from



the ar& an misty e-ths ofthe gorge =ith an unname

stream las-ein its em0rae strethes outli&e a threa of silver its =atersglistening li&e a sna&e =ith

ashing sales.

Arrive at the foot of Mount9oishaur =e sto--e at au&han. #1* A0out

a sore of 6eorgians anmountaineers =ere gatherethere in a noisyro= an lose 0y a aravanof amels ha halte for thenight. 4=as o0lige to hire o@en to ragmy art u- that aursemountain as



it =as no= autumn an theroas =ere sli--ery =ith ie.

%esies themountain is a0out t=o versts#2* in length.

There =as no hel- for it so 4hire si@ o@en an a fe=Ossetes. One of the latter shoulere my-ortmanteau an the rest

shouting almost =ithone voie -roeee to hel-the o@en.

/ollo=ing mine there ameanother art =hih 4 =assur-rise to seefour o@en -ulling =ith thegreatest ease not=ithstaning

that it



=as loae to the to-. %ehin it=al&e the o=ner smo&ing a

littlesilverBmounte 9a0arian -i-e.He =as =earing a shaggy5irassian a-

an an oIers overoat=ithout e-aulettes an heseeme to 0e a0out?fty years of age. Thes=arthiness of his om-le@ion

sho=e thathis fae ha long 0eenauainte =ith Transauasiansuns an the-remature greyness of hismoustahe =as out of &ee-ing=ith his ?rmgait an ro0ust a--earane. 4=ent u- to him an salute. He

silently



returne my greeting anemitte an immense lou of

smo&e.

>;e are fello=Btravellers ita--ears.>

Again he 0o=e silently.

>4 su--ose you are going to3tavro-olK>

>Yes sir e@atlyBB=ith6overnment things.>

>5an you tell me ho= it is thatthat heavilyBlaen art of yoursis0eing ra=n =ithout anyiIulty 0y four o@en =hilst si@

attle



are sarely a0le to move mineem-ty though it is an =ith all

thoseOssetes hel-ingK>

He smile slyly an thre= me a

meaning glane.

>You have not 0een in the5auasus long 4 shoul sayK>

>A0out a year> 4 ans=ere.

He smile a seon time.

>;ellK>

>Just so sir> he ans=ere.>Theyre terri0le 0easts theseAsiatis



You thin& that all that shoutingmeans that they are hel-ing the

o@enK;hy the evil alone an ma&eout =hat it is they o shout.

The o@en

unerstan thoughF an if you=ere to yo&e as many ast=enty they still=oulnt 0uge so long as theOssetes shoute in that =ay of

theirs....A=ful sounrels %ut =hat anyou ma&e of themK They lovee@tortingmoney from -eo-le =hoha--en to 0e travelling throughhere. The rogueshave 0een s-oile You =aitan see: they =ill get a ti- out

of you as



=ell as their hire. 4 &no= themof ol they ant get roun

me>

>You have 0een serving here along timeK>

>Yes 4 =as here uner Ale&seiPetrovih> #)* he ans=ereassuming anair of ignity. >4 =as a su0B

lieutenant =hen he ame to theLineF an4 =as -romote t=ie uringhis omman on aount ofations againstthe mountaineers.>

>An no=BBK>



>8o= 4m in the thir 0attalionof the Line. An you yourselfK>

4 tol him.

;ith this the onversation

ene an =e ontinue to=al& in silenesie 0y sie. On the summit ofthe mountain =e foun sno=.

The sun set

anBBas usually is the ase inthe southBBnight follo=e u-onthe ay=ithout any interval of t=ilight.

Than&s ho=ever to the sheenof thesno= =e =ere a0le easily toistinguish the roa =hih still=ent



u- the mountainBsie thoughnot so stee-ly as 0efore. 4

orere theOssetes to -ut my -ortmanteauinto the art an to re-lae theo@en

0y horses. Then for the lasttime 4 gaGe o=n u-on thevalleyF 0utthe thi& mist =hih hagushe in 0illo=s from the

gorges veile itom-letely an not a singlesoun no= oate u- to ourears from0elo=. The Ossetes surrouneme lamorously an emaneti-sF 0ut thestaBa-tain shoute somenaingly at them that they

is-erse in a



moment.

>;hat a -eo-le they are> hesai. >They ont even &no= the+ussian for0rea 0ut they have mastere

the -hrase OIer give us ati-4n my o-inion the very Tartarsare 0etter they are norun&ars

anyho=.>...

;e =ere no= =ithin a verst orso of the 3tation. Aroun us all=asstill so still inee that it =as-ossi0le to follo= the ight of agnat 0y the 0uGGing of its=ings. On our left loome the

gorge ee- an



0la&. %ehin it an in front ofus rose the ar&B0lue summits

of themountains all trenhe =ithfurro=s an overe =ith layersof sno=

an staning out against the-ale horiGon =hih stillretaine the lastreetions of the evening glo=.

The stars t=in&le out in the

ar& s&yan in some strange =ay itseeme to me that they =eremuh higher thanin our o=n north ountry. On0oth sies of the roa 0are0la& ro&s

utte outF here an thereshru0s -ee-e forth from uner

the sno=F 0ut



not a single =ithere leafstirre an ami that ea

slee- of natureit =as heering to hear thesnorting of the three tire -ostBhorses an

the irregular tin&ling of the+ussian 0ell. #N*

>;e =ill have glorious =eathertoBmorro=> 4 sai.

The staBa-tain ans=ere nota =or 0ut -ointe =ith his?nger to alofty mountain =hih roseiretly o--osite us.

>;hat is itK> 4 as&e.

>Mount 6ut.>



>;ell =hat thenK>

>Dont you see ho= it issmo&ingK>

True enough smo&e =as risingfrom Mount 6ut. Over its siesgentlelouBurrents =ere ree-ingan on the summit reste one

lou of suhense 0la&ness that ita--eare li&e a 0lot u-on thear& s&y.

%y this time =e =ere a0le toma&e out the Post 3tation anthe roofs of



the huts surrouning itF the=eloming lights =ere t=in&ling

0efore us=hen suenly a am- anhilly =in arose the gorgerum0le an a

riGGling rain fell. 4 ha sarelytime to thro= my felt loa&rounme =hen o=n ame the sno=.4 loo&e at the staBa-tain

=ith -rofounres-et.

>;e shall have to -ass the nighthere> he sai ve@ation in histone.>Theres no rossing themountains in suh a 0liGGar.BB4say have



there 0een any avalanhes onMount 9restovK> he inuire of

the river.

>8o sir> the Ossete ans=ereF>0ut there are a great many

threateningto fallBBa great many.>

O=ing to the la& of atravellers room in the 3tation

=e =ere assignea nights loging in a smo&yhut. 4 invite my fello=Btravellerto rin&a tum0ler of tea =ith me as 4ha 0rought my astBirontea-otBBmy onlysolae uring my travels in the5auasus.



One sie of the hut =as stu&against the li an three =et

ansli--ery ste-s le u- to theoor. 4 gro-e my =ay in anstum0le u-

against a o= =ith these-eo-le the o=Bhouse su--liesthe -lae of aservants room. 4 i not &no==hih =ay to turnBBshee- =ere

0leatingon the one han an a oggro=ling on the other./ortunately ho=ever4 -ereive on one sie a faintglimmer of light an 0y its ai 4=asa0le to ?n another o-ening 0y=ay of a oor. An here a 0y no

means



uninteresting -iture =asreveale. The =ie hut the roof

of =hihreste on t=o smo&eBgrime-illars =as full of -eo-le. 4n theentre of

the oor a small ?re =asra&ling an the smo&eriven 0a& 0y the=in from an o-ening in theroof =as s-reaing aroun in

so thi& ashrou that for a long time 4=as una0le to see a0out me.3eate 0y the?re =ere t=o ol =omen anum0er of hilren an a lan&6eorgianBBallof them in tatters. There =as nohel- for it ;e too& refuge 0y

the ?re



an lighte our -i-esF an soonthe tea-ot =as singing

invitingly.

>;rethe -eo-le these> 4 saito the staBa-tain iniating

ourirty hosts =ho =ere silentlygaGing at us in a &in of tor-or.

>An an utterly stu-i -eo-le

too> he re-lie. >;oul you0elieveit they are a0solutely ignorantan ina-a0le of the slightestivilisation ;hy even our9a0arians or 5hehenesro00ers anragamuIns though they 0eare regular areBevils for all

that.



;hereas these others have noli&ing for arms an youll never

see aeent agger on one of themOssetes all over>

>You have 0een a long time inthe 5hehenes ountryK>

>Yes 4 =as uartere there fora0out ten years along =ith my

om-any ina fortress near 9amennyi %ro.#Q* Do you &no= the -laeK>

>4 have hear the name.>

>4 an tell you my 0oy =e hauite enough of those areBevil



5hehenes. At the -resent timethan& gooness things are

uieterF 0utin the ol ays you ha only to-ut a hunre -aes 0et=eenyou an the

ram-art an =herever you =entyou =oul 0e sure to ?n ashaggy evillur&ing in =ait for you. You ha

ust to let your thoughts =aner

an atany moment a lasso =oul 0eroun your ne& or a 0ullet inthe 0a& of your hea %rave fello=sthough>...

>You use to have many anaventure 4 are sayK> 4 sai

s-urre 0y



uriosity.

>Of ourse Many a one.>...

Hereu-on he 0egan to tug athis left moustahe let his hea

sin& onto his 0reast an 0eame lostin thought. 4 ha a very greatmin toe@trat some little aneote out

of himBBa esire natural to all=hotravel an ma&e notes.

Mean=hile tea =as reay. 4too& t=o travellingBtum0lers outof my-ortmanteau an ?lling one ofthem set it 0efore the staB

a-tain.



He si--e his tea an sai as if s-ea&ing to himself >Yes many

aone> This e@lamation gave megreat ho-es. Your ol 5auasianoIer

loves 4 &no= to tal& an yarn a0itF he so rarely suees ingettinga hane to o so. 4t may 0e hisfate to 0e uartere ?ve years

or so=ith his om-any in some outBofBtheB=ay -lae an uringthe =holeof that time he =ill not hear>goo morning> from a soul0eause thesergeant says >goo health>.An inee he =oul have

goo ause



to =a@ louaiousBB=ith a =ilan interesting -eo-le all

aroun himanger to 0e fae every ayan many a marvellous inientha--ening.

4t is in irumstanes li&e thisthat =e involuntarily om-lainthat sofe= of our ountrymen ta&enotes.

>;oul you are to -ut somerum in your teaK> 4 sai to myom-anion. >4have some =hite rum =ith meBBfrom TiisF an the =eather isol no=.>

>8o than& you sirF 4 ont

rin&.>



>+eallyK>

>Just so. 4 have s=orn orin&ing. One you &no= =hen4 =as a

su0Blieutenant some of us haa ro- too muh. That verynight there=as an alarm an out =e =entto the front half seas over ;e

i athit 4 an tell you =hen Ale&seiPetrovih ame to hear a0outusHeaven save us =hat a rage he=as in He =as =ithin an ae ofhaving usourtBmartialle. Thats ustho= things ha--en You might

easily s-en



a =hole year =ithout seeing asoulF 0ut ust go an have a

ro- anyoure a lost man>

On hearing this 4 almost lost

ho-e.

>Ta&e the 5irassians no=> heontinueF >one let them rin&their

?ll of 0uGa #* at a =eing or afuneral an out =ill ome their&nives. On one oasion 4 hasome iIulty in getting a=ay=ith a=hole s&in an yet it =as atthe house of a frienly #,*-rine=here 4 =as a guest that the

aair ha--ene.>



>Ho= =as thatK> 4 as&e.

>Here 4ll tell you.>...

He ?lle his -i-e re= in the

smo&e an 0egan his story.

5HAPT$+ 44

>YO7 see sir> sai the staBa-tain >4 =as uartere atthe time=ith a om-any in a fortress0eyon the Tere&BBgetting on for?ve years



ago no=. One autumn ay atrans-ort arrive =ith

-rovisions in hargeof an oIer a young man ofa0out t=entyB?ve. He re-ortehimself to

me in full uniform anannoune that he ha 0eenorere to remain inthe fortress =ith me. He =as sovery elegant his om-le@ion so

nie an=hite his uniform so 0ranne= that 4 immeiatelyguesse that he hanot 0een long =ith our army inthe 5auasus.

>4 su--ose you have 0eentransferre from +ussiaK 4

as&e.



>$@atly a-tain he

ans=ere.

>4 too& him 0y the han ansai:

>4m elighte to see youBBelighte 4t =ill 0e a 0it ull foryou...0ut there =e =ill live together

li&e a ou-le of friens. %ut-leaseall me sim-ly >Ma&simMa&simyh>F an tell me =hatis this fulluniform forK Just =ear yourforageBa- =henever you ometo me



>Ruarters =ere assigne to himan he settle o=n in the

fortress.>

>;hat =as his nameK> 4 as&eMa&sim Ma&simyh.

>His name =as 6rigoriAle&sanrovih Pehorin. He=as a s-leni fello=4 an assure you 0ut a little

-euliar. ;hy to give you aninstaneone time he =oul stay outhunting the =hole ay in therain an olFthe others =oul all 0e froGenthrough an tire out 0ut he=oulnt



min either ol or fatigue. Then another time he =oul

0e sitting inhis o=n room an if there =asa 0reath of =in he =oulelare that

he ha aught olF if theshutters rattle against the=ino= he=oul start an turn -ale: yet 4myself have seen him atta& a

0oarsingleBhane. Often enoughyou oulnt rag a =or out ofhim forhours togetherF 0ut then on theother han sometimes =henhe startetelling stories you =oul s-lityour sies =ith laughing. Yes

sir



a very eentri manF an hemust have 0een =ealthy too.

;hat a lot of e@-ensive trin&ets he ha>...

>Di he stay there long =ith

youK> 4 =ent on to as&.

>Yes a0out a year. An for thatvery reason it =as amemora0le year

to me. He gave me a great ealof trou0leBB0ut there let0ygones 0e0ygones... You see it is trueenough there are -eo-le li&ethatfate from 0irth to have allsorts of strange thingsha--ening to them>



>3trangeK> 4 e@laime =ith anair of uriosity as 4 -oure out

sometea.

5HAPT$+ 444

>;$LL then 4ll tell you> sai

Ma&sim Ma&simyh. >A0out si@verstsfrom the fortress there live aertain frienly -rine. His sona0rat of a0out ?fteen =asaustome to rie over to visitus. 8ot a



ay -asse 0ut he =oul omeno= for one thing no= for

another. Aninee 6rigori Ale&sanrovihan 4 s-oile him. ;hat a areBevil the

0oy =as 7- to anything-i&ing u- a a- at full gallo-or 0ringingthings o=n =ith his gun Heha one 0a ualityF he =as

terri0lygreey for money. One for thefun of the thing 6rigoriAle&sanrovih-romise to give him a uat ifhe =oul steal the 0est heBgoatfrom hisfathers her for himF an =hato you thin&K The very ne@t

night he



ame lugging it in 0y the hornsAt times =e use to ta&e it into

ourheas to tease him an thenhis eyes =oul 0eome0looshot an his

han =oul y to his aggerimmeiately.

>Youll 0e losing your life if youare not areful AGamat 4

=oulsay to him. That hot hea ofyours =ill get you into trou0le.

>On one oasion the ol-rine himself ame to invite usto the=eing of his elest aughterFan as =e =ere guestBfriens

=ith him



it =as im-ossi0le to eline Tartar though he =as. ;e set

o. 4n thevillage =e =ere met 0y anum0er of ogs all 0ar&inglouly. The =omen

=hen they sa= us oming hithemselves 0ut those =hosefaes =e =erea0le to get a vie= of =ere farfrom 0eing 0eauties.

>4 ha a muh 0etter o-inion of the 5irassian =omenremar&e 6rigoriAle&sanrovih.

>;ait a 0it 4 ans=ere =ith asmileF 4 ha my o=n vie=s onthe

su0et.



>A num0er of -eo-le ha

alreay gathere at the -rineshut. 4t is theustom of the Asiatis you&no= to invite all an sunry to

a=eing. ;e =ere reeive=ith every mar& of honour anonute to theguestBham0er. All the same 4

i not forget uietly to mar&=here ourhorses =ere -ut in aseanything unforeseen shoulha--en.>

>Ho= are =eings ele0rateamongst themK> 4 as&e thestaBa-tain.



>Oh in the usual =ay. /irst ofall the Mullah reas them

somethingout of the 9oranF then gifts are0esto=e u-on the youngou-le an all

their relationsF the ne@t thing iseating an rin&ing of 0uGathen theane on horse0a&F an thereis al=ays some ragamuIn

0eau0e =ithgrease 0estriing a =rethelame ae an grimaing0uooning anma&ing the =orshi-ful om-anylaugh. /inally =hen ar&nessfalls they-roee to hol =hat =e shoulall a 0all in the guestBham0er.

A -oor



ol grey0ear strums on athreeBstringe instrumentBB4

forget =hat theyall it 0ut anyho= it issomething in the nature of our0alalai&a. #"*

The girls an young hilren setthemselves in t=o ran&s oneo--ositethe other an la- their hansan sing. Then a girl an a man

ome outinto the entre an 0egin tohant verses to eah otherBB=hatever omesinto their heasBBan the rest

oin in as a horus. Pehorinan 4sat in the -lae of honour. All atone u- ame our hosts

youngest



aughter a girl of a0outsi@teen an hante to

PehorinBBho= shall 4-ut itKBBsomething in the natureof a om-liment.>...

>;hat =as it she sangBBo youremem0erK>

>4t =ent li&e this 4 fany:Hansome they say are our

younghorsemen an the tunis they=ear are garnishe =ith silverF0uthansomer still is the young+ussian oIer an the lae onhis tuniis =rought of gol. Li&e a -o-laramongst them he stans 0ut in

garens



of ours suh trees =ill gro= notnor 0loom

>Pehorin rose 0o=e to her-ut his han to his foreheaan heart

an as&e me to ans=er her. 4&no= their language =ell an 4translatehis re-ly.

>;hen she ha left us 4=his-ere to 6rigoriAle&sanrovih:

>;ell no= =hat o you thin&of herK

>5harming he re-lie. ;hatis her nameK



>Her name is %ela 4 ans=ere.

>An a 0eautiful girl she =asineeF her ?gure =as tall anslenerher eyes 0la& as those of a

mountain hamois an theyfairly loo&einto your soul. Pehorin ee- inthought &e-t his gaGe ?@eu-on her

an she for her -art stoleglanes at him often enoughfrom uner herlashes. Pehorin ho=ever =asnot the only one =ho =asamiring the-retty -rinessF another -air ofeyes ?@e an ?ery =eregaGing at



her from the orner of theroom. 4 too& a goo loo& at their

o=ner anreognise my olauaintane 9aG0ih =ho youmust &no= =as neither

e@atly frienly nor yet theother thing. He =as an o0et of muhsus-iion although he hanever atually 0een aught at

any &navery. Heuse to 0ring rams to ourfortress an sell them hea-lyFonly he never=oul haggleF =hatever heemane at ?rst you ha togive. He=oul have his throat ut ratherthan ome o=n in -rie. He

ha the



re-utation of 0eing fon ofroaming on the far sie of the

9u0an =iththe A0re&sF an to tell thetruth he ha a regular thiefsvisage. A

little =iGene 0roaBshoulere fello= he =asBB0utsmart 4 an tellyou smart as the very evilHis tuni =as al=ays =orn out

an-athe 0ut his =ea-ons =eremounte in silver. His horse=as reno=nethroughout 9a0ariaBBaninee a 0etter one it =oul 0eim-ossi0leto imagine 8ot =ithout gooreason i all the other

horsemen envy



9aG0ih an on more than oneoasion they ha attem-te to

steal thehorse 0ut they ha neversueee. 4 seem to see theanimal 0efore

me no=BB0la& as oal =ithlegs li&e 0o=Bstrings an eyesas ?ne as%elas Ho= strong he =as tooHe =oul gallo- as muh as

?fty verstsat a streth An he =as =elltraine 0esiesBBhe =oul trot0ehin hismaster li&e a og an atually&ne= his voie 9aG0ih neveruse totether him eitherBBust the veryhorse for a ro00er...



>On that evening 9aG0ih =asmore sullen than ever an 4

notie thathe =as =earing a oat of mailuner his tuni. He hasnt gotthat oat

of mail on for nothing 4thought. He has some -lot inhis hea 4ll0e 0oun

>4t gre= o--ressively hot in thehut an 4 =ent out into the airto ool myself. 8ight ha fallenu-on the mountains an a mist=as0eginning to ree- along thegorges.



>4t ourre to me to -o- inuner the she =here our

horses =erestaning to see =hether theyha their foerF an 0esiesit is

never any harm to ta&e-reautions. My horse =as as-leni one too anmore than one 9a0arian haalreay ast fon glanes at it

re-eatingat the same time: Ya&shi t&heho& ya&shi. #(*

>4 stole along the fene.3uenly 4 hear voies one of=hih 4immeiately reognise.



>4t =as that of the young -i&leAGamat our hosts son. The

other-erson s-o&e less an in auieter tone.

>;hat are they isussingthereK 4 =onere. 3urely itant 0emy horse 4 suatte o=n0esie the fene an -roeee

to -lay theeavesro--er trying not to letsli- a single =or. At times thenoiseof songs an the 0uGG of voiesesa-ing from the hut ro=netheonversation =hih 4 =as?ning interesting.



>Thats a s-leni horse ofyours AGamat =as saying. 4f 4

=eremaster of a house of my o=nan ha a stu of threehunre mares 4

=oul give half of it for yourgallo-er 9aG0ih

>Aha 9aG0ih 4 sai to myselfan 4 alle to min the oat of

mail.

>Yes re-lie 9aG0ih after aninterval of silene. There is notsuh another to 0e foun in all9a0aria. OneBBit =as on theother sieof the Tere&BB4 ha rien =iththe A0re&s to seiGe the +ussian

hers.



;e ha no lu& so =esattere in ierent iretions.

/our 5ossa&sashe after me. 4 oulatually hear the ries of thegiaours 0ehin

me an in front of me there=as a ense forest. 4 rouheo=n in thesale ommitte myself toAllah an for the ?rst time in

my lifeinsulte my horse =ith a 0lo=of the =hi-. Li&e a 0ir he-lunge amongthe 0ranhesF the shar- thornstore my lothing the ea0oughs of theor&Belms stru& against myfae My horse lea-e over

treeBtrun&s an



0urst his =ay through 0ushes=ith his hest 4t =oul have

0een0etter for me to havea0anone him at the outs&irtsof the forest an

oneale myself in it afoot 0utit =as a -ity to -art =ith himBBanthe Pro-het re=are me. A fe=0ullets =histle over my hea. 4

oulno= hear the 5ossa&s =hoha ismounte running u-onmy tra&s.3uenly a ee- gully o-ene0efore me. My gallo-er too&thoughtBBanlea-e. His hin hoofs sli--e0a& o the o--osite 0an& an

he



remaine hanging 0y his foreBfeet. 4 ro--e the 0rile an

thre= myself into the hollo= there0y savingmy horse =hih um-e out.

The 5ossa&s

sa= the =hole sene only notone of them got o=n to searhfor methin&ing -ro0a0ly that 4 hamortally inure myselfF an 4

hear themrushing to ath my horse. Myheart 0le =ithin me. 4 re-talong thehollo= through the thi& grassBBthen 4 loo&e aroun: it =as theen of the forest. A fe= 5ossa&s =ereriing out from it on to the

learing



an there =as my 9aragyoG#1!* gallo-ing straight to=ars

them. ;ith ashout they all ashe for=ar./or a long long time they-ursue him

an one of them in -artiular=as one or t=ie almostsuessful inthro=ing a lasso over his ne&.

>4 trem0le ro--e my eyesan 0egan to -ray. After a fe=moments4 loo&e u- again an there=as my 9aragyoG ying alonghis tail=avingBBfree as the =inF anthe giaours on their aehorses =ere



trailing along far 0ehin oneafter another aross the

ste--e.;allah 4t is trueBBreally true

Till late at night 4 lay in thehollo=.

3uenlyBB=hat o you thin&AGamatK 4 hear in the ar&nessa horsetrotting along the 0an& of thehollo= snorting neighing an

0eatingthe groun =ith his hoofs. 4reognise my 9aragyoGsvoieF t=as hemy omrae>... 3ine that time=e have never 0een -arte

>An 4 oul hear him -attinghis gallo-ers slee& ne& =ith

his han



as he alle him various fonnames.

>4f 4 ha a stu of a thousanmares sai AGamat 4 =oulgive it

all for your 9aragyoG

>Yo& #11* 4 =oul not ta&e itsai 9aG0ih inierently.

>Listen 9aG0ih sai AGamattrying to ingratiate himself =ithhim.You are a &inhearte manyou are a 0rave horseman 0utmy father isafrai of the +ussians an =illnot allo= me to go on themountains.



6ive me your horse an 4 =illo anything you =ish. 4 =ill

steal myfathers 0est rie for you or hissa0reBBust as you li&eBBan hissa0re is a genuine 6uraF #12*

you have only to lay the egeagainstyour han an it =ill ut youF aoat of mail li&e yours isnothing

against it.

>9aG0ih remaine silent.

>The ?rst time 4 sa= yourhorse ontinue AGamat=hen he =as=heeling an lea-ing uneryou his nostrils istene an

the ints



ying in sho=ers from uner hishoofs something 4 oul not

unerstantoo& -lae =ithin my soulF ansine that time 4 have 0een=eary of

everything. 4 have loo&e =ithisain on my fathers 0estgallo-ersF 4have 0een ashame to 0e seenon them an yearning has

ta&en -ossessionof me. 4n my anguish 4 haves-ent =hole ays on the lisan everyminute my thoughts have &e-tturning to your 0la& gallo-er=ith hisgraeful gait an his slee&0a& straight as an arro=. ;ith

his &een



0right eyes he has loo&e intomine as if a0out to s-ea&... 4

shallie 9aG0ih if you =ill not sellhim to me sai AGamat =ithtrem0ling voie.

>4 oul hear him 0urst out=ee-ing an 4 must tell youthat AGamat =asa very stu00orn la an that

not for anything oul tears 0e=rung fromhim even =hen he =as a littleyounger.

>4n ans=er to his tears 4 oulhear something li&e a laugh.



>Listen sai AGamat in a ?rmvoie. You see 4 am ma&ing u-

mymin for anything. 4f you li&e 4=ill steal my sister for you Ho=she

anes Ho= she sings An the=ay she em0roiers =ith golBBmarvellous8ot even a Tur&ish Paishah#1)* has ha a =ife li&e her...

3hall 4K;ait for me toBmorro= nightyoner in the gorge =here thetorrento=sF 4 =ill go 0y =ith her tothe neigh0ouring villageBBanshe isyours. 3urely %ela is =orth yourgallo-er



>9aG0ih remaine silent for along long time. At length

instea of ans=ering he stru& u- in anunertone the anient song:

>Many a 0eauty among us=ells

/rom =hose eyes ar&

e-ths the starlight =ells

Tis an envie lot ans=eet to hol

Their loveF 0ut 0righter isfreeom 0ol.

/our =ives are yours if you

-ay the golF



%ut a mettlesome stee is

of -rie untolF

The =hirl=in itself on theste--e is less eetF

He &no=s no treaheryBBnoeeit.> #1N*

>4n vain AGamat entreate him

to onsent. He =e-t oa@ean s=ore tohim. /inally 9aG0ih interru-tehim im-atiently:

>%egone you raGy 0rat Ho=shoul you thin& to rie on myhorseK 4n



three ste-s you =oul 0ethro=n an your ne& 0ro&en

on the stones

>4K rie AGamat in a fury anthe 0lae of the hils agger

rangagainst the oat of mail. A-o=erful arm thrust him a=ayan he stru&the =attle fene =ith suh

violene that it ro&e.

>8o= =ell see some fun 4thought to myself.

>4 rushe into the sta0le0rile our horses an le themout into the



0a& ourtyar. 4n a ou-le ofminutes there =as a terri0le

u-roar inthe hut. ;hat ha ha--ene=as this: AGamat ha rushe in=ith his

tuni torn saying that 9aG0ih=as going to murer him. Alls-rang outseiGe their guns an the fun0egan 8oiseBBshoutsBBshots

%ut 0y thistime 9aG0ih =as in the salean =heeling among the ro=along thestreet efene himself li&e amaman 0ranishing his sa0re.

>4t is a 0a thing to interfere inother -eo-les uarrels 4 sai

to



6rigori Ale&sanrovih ta&inghim 0y the arm. ;oulnt it 0e

0etterfor us to lear o =ithout loss of timeK

>;ait though an see ho= it=ill en

>Oh as to that it =ill 0e sureenough to en 0alyF it is

al=aysso =ith these Asiatis. One letthem get run& on 0uGa antheresertain to 0e 0looshe.

>;e mounte an gallo-ehome.>



5HAPT$+ 4E

>T$LL me =hat 0eame of9aG0ihK> 4 as&e the staBa-tain

im-atiently.

>;hy =hat an ha--en to thatsort of a fello=K> he ans=ere?nishing

his tum0ler of tea. >He sli--ea=ay of ourse.>

>An =asnt he =ouneK> 4as&e.

>6ooness only &no=s Thosesounrels ta&e a lot of &illing4n ation



for instane 4ve seen many aone sir stu& all over =ith

0ayonetsli&e a sieve an still0ranishing his sa0re.>

After an interval of silene thestaBa-tain ontinue ta--ingthegroun =ith his foot:

>One thing 4ll never forgivemyself for. On our arrival at thefortressthe evil -ut it into my hea tore-eat to 6rigoriAle&sanrovihall that 4 ha hear =hen 4 =aseavesro--ing 0ehin thefene. He



laugheBBunning fello=BBanthought out a little -lan of his

o=n.>

>;hat =as thatK Tell me-lease.>

>;ell theres no hel- for it no=4 su--ose. 4ve 0egun the storyanso 4 must ontinue.

>4n a0out four ays timeAGamat roe over to thefortress. As his usualustom =as he =ent to see6rigori Ale&sanrovih =hoal=ays use togive him s=eetmeats to eat. 4=as -resent. The onversation

=as on the



su0et of horses an Pehorin0egan to soun the -raises of

9aG0ihs9aragyoG. ;hat a mettlesomehorse it =as an ho=hansome A -erfet

hamois 4n fat uging 0y hisaount there sim-ly =asntanotherli&e it in the =hole =orl

>The young Tartars 0eay eyes0egan to s-ar&le 0ut Pehorinintseem to notie the fat. 4starte to tal& a0out somethingelse 0utimmeiately mar& youPehorin ause theonversation to stri&e o on



to 9aG0ihs horse. $very timethat AGamat ame it =as the

same story.After a0out three =ee&s 40egan to o0serve that AGamat=as gro=ing

-ale an =aste ust as -eo-lein novels o from love sir. ;hat=onereither...

>;ell you see it =as not untilafter=ars that 4 learne the=holetri&BB6rigori Ale&sanrovihe@as-erate AGamat to suh ane@tent=ith his teasing that the 0oy=as reay even to ro=nhimself. One ay



Pehorin suenly 0ro&e out=ith:

>4 see AGamat that you haveta&en a es-erate fany to thathorse

of 9aG0ihs 0ut youll no moresee him than you =ill the 0a&of yourne& 5ome tell me =hat=oul you give if some0oy

mae you a -resentof himK

>Anything he =anteans=ere AGamat.

>4n that ase 4 =ill get thehorse for you only on oneonition...

3=ear that you =ill ful?l itK



>4 s=ear. You s=ear too

>Eery =ell 4 s=ear that thehorse shall 0e yours. %ut inreturn

you must eliver your sister%ela into my hans. 9aragyoGshall 0e her0riegrooms gift. 4 ho-e thetransation =ill 0e a -ro?ta0le

one foryou.

>AGamat remaine silent.

>;ont youK ;ell ust as youli&e 4 thought you =ere a man0utit seems you are still a hilF it

is early for you to 0e riing on



horse0a&

>AGamat ?re u-.

>%ut my fatherBB he sai.

>Does he never go a=aythenK

>True.

>You agreeK

>4 agree =his-ere AGamat-ale as eath. %ut =henK

>The ?rst time 9aG0ih riesover here. He has -romise torive in



half a sore of ramsF the rest ismy aair. Loo& out then

AGamat

>An so they settle the0usinessBBa 0a 0usiness to tell

the truth4 sai as muh to Pehorinafter=ars 0ut he onlyans=ere that a =il5irassian girl ought to onsier

herself fortunate in having suha harming hus0an ashimselfBB0eause aoring totheir ieas hereally =as her hus0anBBanthat 9aG0ih =as a sounrelan ought to0e -unishe. Juge for yourself=hat oul 4 say to thatK... At

the



time ho=ever 4 &ne= nothingof their ons-iray. ;ell one

ay 9aG0ihroe u- an as&e =hether =eneee any rams an honeyFan 4 orere

him to 0ring some the ne@t ay.

>AGamat sai 6rigoriAle&sanrovihF toBmorro=9aragyoG =ill 0e in

my hansF if %ela is not here toBnight you =ill never see thehorse...

>Eery =ell sai AGamat angallo-e to the village.

>4n the evening 6rigoriAle&sanrovih arme himself

an roe out of the



fortress. Ho= they settle the0usiness 4 ont &no= 0ut at

night they0oth returne an the sentrysa= that aross AGamatssale a =oman

=as lying 0oun han an footan =ith her hea =ra--e in aveil.>

>An the horseK> 4 as&e the

staBa-tain.

>One minute One minute $arlyne@t morning 9aG0ih roeover rivingin half a sore of rams for sale.

Tethering his horse 0y thefene he



ame in to see me an 4regale him =ith tea for

ro00er though he=as he =as none the less myguestBfrien.

>;e 0egan to hat a0out onething an another... 3uenly 4sa= 9aG0ihstart hange ountenane anart to the =ino=F 0ut

unfortunately the=ino= loo&e on to the 0a&ourtyar.

>;hat is the matter =ith youK 4as&e.

>My horse... My horse herie all of a trem0le.



>As a matter of fat 4 hear thelattering of hoofs.

>4t is -ro0a0ly some 5ossa&=ho has rien u-.

>8o 7rusBByaman yaman#1Q1* he roare an rushehealong a=ayli&e a =il -anther. 4n t=o0ouns he =as in the ourtyarF

at the gateof the fortress the sentry 0arrethe =ay =ith his gunF 9aG0ih

um-eover the gun an ashe o ata run along the roa... Dust =as=hirlingin the istaneBBAGamat =asgallo-ing a=ay on the

mettlesome 9aragyoG.



9aG0ih as he ran tore his gunout of its over an ?re. /or a

moment he remainemotionless until he haassure himself that he hamisse. Then he uttere a shrill

ry &no&e the gun against aro&smashe it to s-linters fell tothe groun an 0urst outso00ing li&e

a hil... The -eo-le from thefortress gathere roun him0ut he too&no notie of anyone. They stoothere tal&ing a=hile an then=ent 0a&.4 orere the money for therams to 0e -lae 0esie him.He int



touh it 0ut lay =ith his fae tothe groun li&e a ea man.

;oul you0elieve itK He remaine lyingli&e that throughout the rest ofthat ay

an the follo=ing night 4t =asonly on the ne@t morning thathe ame tothe fortress an -roeee toas& that the name of the thief

shoul0e tol him. The sentry =hoha o0serve AGamat untyingthe horse angallo-ing a=ay on him i notsee any neessity foronealment. At thename of AGamat 9aG0ihseyes ashe an he set o to

the village



=here AGamats father live.>SSS >An =hat a0out the

fatherK>

>Ah that =as =here the tri&ame in 9aG0ih oul not ?n

himFhe ha gone a=ay some=herefor ?ve or si@ aysF other=iseho= oulAGamat have sueee in

arrying o %elaK

>An =hen the father returnethere =as neither aughter norson to 0efoun. A =ily rogue AGamat Heunerstoo you see that he=oul lose



his life if he =as aught. 3ofrom that time he =as never

seen againF-ro0a0ly he oine some gangof A0re&s an lai o=n histur0ulent life

on the other sie of the Tere& orthe 9u0an. 4t =oul have servehimright>...

5HAPT$+ E

>4 5O8/$33 that for my -art 4ha trou0le enough over the0usiness.3o soon as ever 4 learne thatthe 5irassian girl =as =ith

6rigori



Ale&sanrovih 4 -ut on mye-aulettes an s=or an =ent

to see him.

>He =as lying on the 0e in theouter room =ith one han

uner his heaan the other holing a -i-e=hih ha gone out. The oorleaing to theinner room =as lo&e an

there =as no &ey in the lo&. 4o0serve allthat in a moment... 4 oughean ra--e my heels againstthe threshol0ut he -retene not to hear.

>$nsign 4 sai as sternly as 4oul. Do you not see that 4

have



ome to youK

>Ah goo morning Ma&simMa&simyh ;ont you have a-i-eK heans=ere =ithout rising.

>$@use me 4 am not Ma&simMa&simyh. 4 am the staBa-tain.

>4ts all the same ;ont youhave some teaK 4f you only&ne= ho= 4 am0eing torture =ith an@iety.

>4 &no= all 4 ans=ere goingu- to the 0e.

>3o muh the 0etter he sai. 4

am not in a narrative moo.



>$nsign you have ommitte

an oene for =hih 4 may haveto ans=eras =ell as you.

>Oh thatll o. ;hats theharmK You &no= =eve gonehalves ineverything.

>;hat sort of a o&e o youthin& you are -layingK Yours=or-lease...

>Mit&a my s=or

>Mit&a 0rought the s=or. Myuty isharge 4 sat o=n on

the 0e



faing Pehorin an sai:Listen here 6rigori

Ale&sanrovih youmust amit that this is a 0a0usiness.

>;hat isK

>;hy that you have arrie o %ela... Ah it is that 0eastAGamat...

5ome onfess 4 sai.

>%ut su--osing 4 am fon ofherK...

>;ell =hat oul 4 say tothatK... 4 =as non-lusse. Aftera short



interval of silene ho=ever 4tol him that if %elas father

=ere tolaim her he =oul have to giveher u-.

>8ot at all

>%ut he =ill get to &no= thatshe is here.

>Ho=K

>Again 4 =as non-lusse.

>Listen Ma&sim Ma&simyhsai Pehorin rising to his feet.Yourea &inBhearte man you &no=F0ut if =e give that savage 0a&

his



aughter he =ill ut her throator sell her. The ee is one

an theonly thing =e an o no= is notto go out of our =ay to s-oilmatters.

Leave %ela =ith me an &ee-my s=or

>3ho= her to me though 4sai.

>3he is 0ehin that oor. Only 4=ante myself to see her toBay an=asnt a0le to. 3he sits in theorner mue in her veil anneithers-ea&s nor loo&s u-BBtimi as a=il hamois 4 have hire the

=ife of



our u&hanB&ee-er: she &no=sthe Tartar language an =ill

loo& after%ela an austom her to theiea that she 0elongs to meBBforshe shall

0elong to no one else heae 0anging his ?st on theta0le.

>4 assente to that too... ;hat

oul 4 oK There are some-eo-le =ith=hom you a0solutely have toagree.>

>;ellK> 4 as&e Ma&simMa&simyh. >Di he reallysuee in ma&ing



her gro= austome to him ori she -ine a=ay in a-tivity

fromhomeBsi&nessK>

>6oo graious ho= oul she

-ine a=ay from homeBsi&nessK/romthe fortress she oul see thevery same hills as she oulfrom the

villageBBan these savagesreuire nothing more. %esies6rigoriAle&sanrovih use to give hera -resent of some &in everyay. At?rst she int utter a =or 0uthaughtily thrust a=ay the gifts



=hih then fell to the lot of theu&hanB&ee-ers =ife an

arouse herelouene. Ah -resents ;hat=ont a =oman o for aoloure rag...

%ut that is 0y the =ay... /or along time 6rigoriAle&sanrovih-ersevere =ith her anmean=hile he stuie the

Tartar language anshe 0egan to unerstan ours.Little 0y little she gre=austome toloo&ing at him at ?rst furtivelyas&aneF 0ut she still -ine anroone her songs in anunertone so that even 4 =oulfeel heavy



at heart =hen 4 hear her fromthe ne@t room. One sene 4

shall neverforget: 4 =as =al&ing -ast an 4loo&e in at the =ino=F %ela=as

sitting on the stoveBouh herhea sun& on her 0reast an6rigoriAle&sanrovih =as staningfaing her.

>Listen my Peri he =assaying. 3urely you &no= thatyou =ill haveto 0e mine sooner or laterBB=hythen o you 0ut torture meK 4sit thatyou are in love =ith some5heheneK 4f so 4 =ill let you go

home at



one.

>3he gave a sarely-ere-ti0le start an shoo& herhea.

>Or is it he ontinue that 4am utterly hateful to youK

>3he heave a sigh.

>Or that your faith -rohi0itsyou from giving me a little ofyourloveK

>3he turne -ale an remainesilent.



>%elieve me Allah is one anthe same for all raesF an if

he-ermits me to love you =hythen shoul he -rohi0it youfrom reuiting

me 0y returning my loveK

>3he gaGe ?@ely into his faeas though stru& 0y that ne=iea.

Distrust an a esire to 0eonvine =ere e@-resse inher eyes. ;hateyes they =ere They s-ar&le

ust li&e t=o glo=ing oals.

>Listen my ear goo %elaontinue Pehorin. You seeho= 4 love



you. 4 am reay to give u-everything to ma&e you

heerful one more.4 =ant you to 0e ha--y an ifyou are going to 0e sa again 4shall

ie. Tell me you =ill 0e moreheerfulK

>3he fell into thought her 0la&eyes still ?@e u-on him. Then

shesmile graiously an noeher hea in to&en ofauiesene.

>He too& her 0y the han antrie to inue her to &iss him.3he



efene herself fee0ly anonly re-eate: Please Please

Youmustnt you mustnt

>He =ent on to insistF she

0egan to trem0le an =ee-.

>4 am your a-tive she saiyour slaveF of ourse you anom-el

me.

>An then againBBtears.

>6rigori Ale&sanrovih stru&his forehea =ith his ?st ans-ranginto the other room. 4 =ent in tosee him an foun him =al&ing

mooily



0a&=ars an for=ars =ithfole arms.

>;ell ol manK 4 sai to him.

>3he is a evilBBnot a =oman

he ans=ere. %ut 4 give you my=or of honour that she shall 0e mine

>4 shoo& my hea.

>;ill you 0et =ith meK he sai.4n a =ee&s timeK

>Eery =ell 4 ans=ere.

>;e shoo& hans on it anse-arate.



>The ne@t ay he immeiatelyes-athe an e@-ress

messenger to 9iGlyarto -urhase some things forhim. The messenger 0rought0a& a uite

innumera0le uantity of variousPersian stus.

>;hat thin& you Ma&simMa&simyhK he sai to me

sho=ing the-resents. ;ill our Asiati0eauty hol out against suh a0attery asthisK

>You ont &no= the 5irassian=omen 4 ans=ere. They arenot at all



the same as the 6eorgian orthe Transauasian Tartar

=omenBBnot at all They have their o=n -rini-lesthey are 0rought u- ierently.

>6rigori Ale&sanrovih smilean 0egan to =histle a marhto himself.>

5HAPT$+ E4

>A3 things fell out ho=ever>ontinue Ma&sim Ma&simyh>4 =as rightyou see. The -resents -roueonly half an eet. 3he 0eame



more graious more trustfulBB0ut that =as all. Pehorin

aoringlyetermine u-on a laste@-eient. One morning heorere his horse to 0e

sale resse himself as a5irassian arme himself an=ent intoher room.

>%ela he sai. You &no= ho= 4love you. 4 eie to arry youothin&ing that =hen you gre= to&no= me you =oul give meyour love.4 =as mista&en. /are=ell+emain a0solute mistress of all4 -ossess.



+eturn to your father if youli&eBByou are free. 4 have ate

=rongfully to=ars you an 4must -unish myself. /are=ell 4am going.;hitherKBBHo= shoul 4 &no=K

Perhane 4 shall not have longto ourtthe 0ullet or the sa0reBstro&e.

Then remem0er me anforgive.

>He turne a=ay an stretheout his han to her in fare=ell.3he inot ta&e his han 0ut remainesilent. %ut 4 staning there0ehin theoor =as a0le through a hin&to o0serve her ountenane

an 4 felt



sorry for herBBsuh a eathly-allor shroue that harming

little faeHearing no ans=er Pehorintoo& a fe= ste-s to=ars theoor. He =as

trem0ling anBBshall 4 tellyouKBB4 thin& that he =as in astate to-erform in very fat =hat heha 0een saying in est He =as

ust thatsort of man Heaven &no=s

>He ha sarely touhe theoor ho=ever =hen %elas-rang to herfeet 0urst out so00ing anthre= herself on his ne&;oul you



0elieve itK 4 staning there0ehin the oor fell to =ee-ing

toothat is to say you &no= note@atly =ee-ingBB0ut ustBB=ellsomething

foolish>

The staBa-tain 0eame silent.

>Yes 4 onfess> he sai after a

=hile tugging at hismoustahe >4felt hurt that not one =omanha ever love me li&e that.>

>;as their ha--iness lastingK> 4as&e.



>Yes she amitte that fromthe ay she ha ?rst ast eyes

onPehorin she ha oftenreame of him an that noother man ha ever

-roue suh an im-ressionu-on her. Yes they =ereha--y>

>Ho= tiresome> 4 e@laime

involuntarily.

4n -oint of fat 4 ha 0eene@-eting a tragi eningBB=hen lo hemust nees isa--oint myho-es in suh an une@-etemanner...



>4s it -ossi0le though> 4ontinue >that her father i

not guessthat she =as =ith you in thefortressK>

>;ell you must &no= heseems to have ha hissus-iions. After a fe=ays =e learne that the olman ha 0een murere. This

is ho= itha--ene.>...

My attention =as arouse ane=.

>4 must tell you that 9aG0ihimagine that the horse ha0een stolen 0y



AGamat =ith his fathersonsentF at any rate that is

=hat 4 su--ose.3o one ay 9aG0ih =ent an=aite 0y the roasie a0outthree versts

0eyon the village. The ol man=as returning from one of hisfutilesearhes for his aughterF hisretainers =ere lagging 0ehin.

4t =asus&. Dee- in thought he =asriing at a =al&ing -ae =hensuenly9aG0ih arte out li&e a atfrom 0ehin a 0ush s-rang u-0ehinhim on the horse ung him tothe groun =ith a thrust of his

agger



seiGe the 0rile an =as o. Afe= of the retainers sa= the

=holeaair from the hillF they asheo in -ursuit of 9aG0ih 0utfaile

to overta&e him.>

>He reuite himself for theloss of his horse an too& hisrevenge at

the same time> 4 sai =ith avie= to evo&ing myom-anions o-inion.

>Of ourse from their -oint ofvie=> sai the staBa-tain>he =as-erfetly right.>



4 =as involuntarily stru& 0y thea-titue =hih the +ussian

is-laysfor aommoating himself tothe ustoms of the -eo-le in=hose mist

he ha--ens to 0e living. 4 &no=not =hether this mental ualityiseserving of ensure orommenation 0ut it -roves

the inrei0le-liany of his min an the-resene of that lear ommonsense =hih-arons evil =herever it seesthat evil is inevita0le orim-ossi0le of annihilation.



5HAPT$+ E44

48 the meantime =e ha?nishe our tea. The horses=hih ha 0een

-ut to long 0efore =erefreeGing in the sno=. 4n the=est the moon=as gro=ing -ale an =as uston the -oint of -lunging into

the 0la&lous =hih =ere hanging overthe istant summits li&e theshres of atorn urtain. ;e =ent out of thehut. 5ontrary to my fello=Btravellers-reition the =eather haleare u- an there =as a

-romise of



a alm morning. The aninghoirs of the stars =ere

inter=oven in=onrous -atterns on theistant horiGon an one afteranother they

i&ere out as the =anres-lenene of the eastsuuse the ar&lila vault of heaven grauallyillumining the stee- mountain

slo-esovere =ith the virgin sno=s.

To right an left loome grimanmysterious hasms anmasses of mist eying anoiling li&e sna&es=ere ree-ing thither along thefurro=s of the neigh0ouring

lis as



though sentient an fearful ofthe a--roah of ay.

All =as alm in heaven an onearth alm as =ithin the heartof a man

at the moment of morning-rayerF only at intervals a ool=in rushein from the east lifting thehorses manes =hih =ere

overe =ithhoarBfrost. ;e starte o. The?ve lean aes ragge our=agons =ithiIulty along the tortuousroa u- Mount 6ut. ;eourselves =al&e0ehin -laing stones unerthe =heels =henever the

horses =ere s-ent.



The roa seeme to lea intothe s&y for so far as the eye

oulisern it still mounte u- anu- until ?nally it =as lost in thelou =hih sine early

evening ha 0een resting onthe summit of Mount 6ut li&e a &ite a=aitingits -rey. The sno= runheuner our

feet. The atmos-here gre= sorare?e that to 0reathe =as-ainfulF everan anon the 0loo rushe tomy hea 0ut =ithal a ertainra-turoussensation =as iusethroughout my veins an 4 felt as-eies of



elight at 0eing so high u-a0ove the =orl. A hilish

feeling 4amit 0ut =hen =e retire fromthe onventions of soiety anra=

lose to nature =e involuntarily0eome as hilren: eahattri0uteauire 0y e@-eriene fallsa=ay from the soul =hih

0eomes ane= suhas it =as one an =ill surely0e again. He =hose lot it has0een asmine has 0een to =aner overthe esolate mountains longlong too0serve their fantasti sha-esgreeily to gul- o=n the lifeB

giving



air iuse through theirravinesBBhe of ourse =ill

unerstan myesire to ommuniate tonarrate to s&eth those magi-itures.

;ell at length =e reahe thesummit of Mount 6ut anhalting loo&earoun us. 7-on the mountain

a grey lou =as hanging anits ol0reath threatene the a--roahof a stormF 0ut in the easteverything=as so lear an golen that=eBBthat is the staBa-tainan4BBforgot all a0out the lou...

Yes the staBa-tain tooF in



sim-le hearts the feeling for the0eauty an graneur of nature

is ahunreBfol stronger an morevivi than in us estatiom-osers of

narratives in =ors an on-a-er.

>You have gro=n austome 4su--ose to these magni?ent

-itures> 4sai.

>Yes sir you an even gro=austome to the =histling ofa 0ulletthat is to say austome toonealing the involuntarythum-ing of

your heart.>



>4 have hear on the ontrary

that many an ol =arrioratually ?nsthat musi agreea0le.>

>Of ourse if it omes to that itis agreea0leF 0ut only ust0eausethe heart 0eats more violently.Loo&> he ae -ointing

to=ars theeast. >;hat a ountry>

An inee suh a -anorama 4an harly ho-e to seeelse=here. %eneathus lay the 9oishaur Ealleyintersete 0y the Aragva ananother stream



as if 0y t=o silver threasF a0luish mist =as gliing along

the valleyeeing into the neigh0ouringe?les from the =arm rays ofthe morning.

To right an left the mountainrests to=ering higher anhigherintersete eah other anstrethe out overe =ith

sno=s anthi&etsF in the istane =erethe same mountains =hihno= ho=everha the a--earane of t=olis one li&e to the other. Anall thesesno=s =ere 0urning in therimson glo= so merrily an so

0rightly that



it seeme as though one oullive in suh a -lae for ever.

The sun =assarely visi0le 0ehin thear&B0lue mountain =hih onlya -ratise

eye oul istinguish from athunerBlouF 0ut a0ove thesun =as a0looBre strea& to =hih myom-anion irete -artiular

attention.

>4 tol you> he e@laime >thatthere =oul 0e irty =eathertoBay;e must ma&e haste or-erha-s it =ill ath us onMount 9restov.BB6eton> he shoute to the rivers.



5hains =ere -ut uner the=heels in -lae of rags so

that they shoulnot slie the rivers too& thehorses 0y the reins an theesent

0egan. On the right =as a lion the left a -rei-ie so ee-thatan entire village of Ossetes atthe 0ottom loo&e li&e a

s=allo=s nest.4 shuere as the thoughtourre to me that often in thee-th of night on that very roa =heret=o =agons oul not -ass aourierrives some ten times a year=ithout lim0ing o=n from his

ri&ety



vehile. One of our rivers =asa +ussian -easant from

Yaroslavl theother an Ossete. The lattertoo& out the leaers in gootime an le

the shaftBhorse 0y the reinsusing every -ossi0le-reautionBB0utour heeless om-atriot i noteven lim0 o=n from his 0o@

;hen 4remar&e to him that he might-ut himself out a 0it at least intheinterests of my -ortmanteaufor =hih 4 ha not the slightestesire tolam0er o=n into the a0ysshe ans=ere:



>$h master =ith the hel- ofHeaven =e shall arrive as safe

an sounas the othersF its not our ?rsttime you &no=.>

An he =as right. ;e might ustas easily have faile to arrive atallF 0ut arrive =e i for allthat. An if -eo-le =oul onlyreason a

little more they =oul 0eonvine that life is not =orthta&ing suh aeal of trou0le a0out.

Perha-s ho=ever you =oulli&e to &no= the onlusion ofthe storyof %elaK 4n the ?rst -lae this is

not a novel 0ut a olletion of



travellingBnotes anonseuently 4 annot ma&e

the staBa-taintell the story sooner than heatually -roeee to tell it.

Therefore

you must =ait a 0it or if youli&e turn over a fe= -ages. Though 4 onot avise you to o the latter0eause the rossing of Mount

9restovor as the eruite 6am0a allsit le mont 3t. 5hristo-he #1Q*is=orthy of your uriosity.

;ell then =e eseneMount 6ut into the 5hertovEalley... Theres



a romanti esignation for youAlreay you have a vision of the

evils-irits nest ami theinaessi0le lisBB0ut you areout of your

re&oning there. The name>5hertov> is erive from the=or herta0ounaryBline an not fromhort evil 0eause at one

timethe valley mar&e the 0ounaryof 6eorgia. ;e foun it ho&e=ithsno=Brifts =hih remine usrather vivily of 3aratov

Tam0ov another harming loalities of ourfatherlan.



>Loo& there is 9restov> saithe staa-tain =hen =e ha

eseneinto the 5hertov Ealley as he-ointe out a hill overe =ith ashrou

of sno=. 7-on the summit stooout the 0la& outline of a stonerossan -ast it le an all 0utim-ere-ti0le roa =hih

travellers use only=hen the sieBroa iso0strute =ith sno=. Ourrivers elaring thatno avalanhes ha yet fallens-are the horses 0yonuting us rounthe mountain. At a turning =emet four or ?ve Ossetes =ho

oere



us their serviesF an athinghol of the =heels -roeee

=itha shout to rag an hol u-our art. An inee it is aangerous

roaF on the right =ere massesof sno= hanging a0ove us anreayit seeme at the ?rst suall of=in to 0rea& o an ro- into

theravineF the narro= roa =as-artly overe =ith sno==hih in many-laes gave =ay uner our feetan in others =as onverteinto ie0y the ation of the sun 0y ayan the frosts 0y night so that

the



horses &e-t falling an it =as=ith iIulty that =e ourselves

mae our =ay. On the leftya=ne a ee- hasm through=hih rolle atorrent no= hiing 0eneath a

rust of ie no= lea-ing anfoamingover the 0la& ro&s. 4n t=ohours =e =ere 0arely a0le toou0le Mount

9restovBBt=o versts in t=ohours Mean=hile the lousha esenehail an sno= fellF the =in0ursting into the ravinesho=le an=histle li&e 8ightingale the+o00er. #1* 3oon the stoneross =as



hien in the mist the 0illo=sof =hih in ever enser an

moreom-at masses rushe infrom the east...

5onerning that stone ross 0ythe =ay there e@ists thestrange 0ut=ies-rea traition that it ha0een set u- 0y the $m-eror

Peter the/irst =hen travelling throughthe 5auasus. 4n the ?rst -laeho=everthe $m-eror =ent no fartherthan DaghestanF an in theseon -laethere is an insri-tion in largeletters on the ross itself to the



eet that it ha 0een erete0y orer of 6eneral $rmolov

an thattoo in the year 1"2N.8evertheless the traition hasta&en suh ?rm

root in s-ite of the insri-tionthat really you o not &no==hat to0elieveF the more so as it is notthe ustom to 0elieve

insri-tions.

To reah the station 9o0i =estill ha to esen a0out ?veverstsaross ieBovere ro&s an-lashy sno=. The horses =eree@hausteF



=e =ere freeGingF thesno=storm rone =ith everB

inreasing violenee@atly li&e the storms of ouro=n northern lan only its =ilmeloies

=ere saer an moremelanholy.

>O $@ile> 4 thought >thou art=ee-ing for thy =ie free

ste--es There mayest thou unfol thyol =ings 0ut here thou artstie anon?ne li&e an eagle 0eatinghis =ings =ith a shrie& againstthegrating of his iron age>



>A 0a loo& out> sai the staBa-tain. >Loo& Theres nothing

to 0eseen all roun 0ut mist ansno=. At any moment =e maytum0le into an

a0yss or sti& fast in a leftFan a little lo=er o=n 4 aresay the%aiara has risen so high thatthere is no getting aross it. Oh

thisAsia 4 &no= it Li&e -eo-le li&erivers Theres no trusting thematall>

The rivers shouting anursing 0ela0oure the horses=hih



snorte resiste o0stinatelyan refuse to 0uge on any

aountnot=ithstaning the eloueneof the =hi-s.

>Your honour> one of therivers sai to me at length>you see =e=ill never reah 9o0i toBay.;ont you give orers to turn to

the left=hile =e anK There issomething 0la& yoner on theslo-eBB-ro0a0lyhuts. Travellers al=ays sto-there in 0a =eather sir. Theysay> heae -ointing to the Ossetes>that they =ill lea us there if

you



=ill give them a ti-.>

>4 &no= that my frien 4 &no=that =ithout your telling me>saithe staBa-tain. >Oh these

0easts They are elighte toseiGe any-rete@t for e@torting a ti->

>You must onfess ho=ever> 4

sai >that =e shoul 0e =orseo =ithout them.>

>Just so ust so> he gro=le tohimself. >4 &no= them =ellBBtheseguies They sent out 0yinstint a hane of ta&ing

avantage of



-eo-le. As if it =as im-ossi0leto ?n the =ay =ithout them>

Aoringly =e turne asie tothe left an someho= or otherafter

a goo eal of trou0le maeour =ay to the =retheshelter =hihonsiste of t=o huts 0uilt ofstone sla0s an ru00le

surroune 0y a=all of the same material. Ourragge hosts reeive us =ithalarity. 4learne after=ars that the6overnment su--lies them =ithmoney an foou-on onition that they -ut u-travellers =ho are overta&en 0y

storm.



5HAPT$+ E444

>ALL is for the 0est> 4 sai

sitting o=n lose 0y the ?re.>8o= you=ill ?nish telling me your storya0out %ela. 4 am ertain that=hat you

have alreay tol me =as notthe en of it.>

>;hy are you so ertainK>ans=ere the staBa-tain=in&ing ansmiling slyly.



>%eause things ont ha--enli&e that. A story =ith suh an

unusual0eginning must also have anunusual ening.>

>You have guesse of ourse>...

>4 am very gla to hear it.>

>4t is all very =ell for you to 0e

gla 0ut inee it ma&es mesa =hen 4 thin& of it. %ela =asa s-leni girl. 4n the en 4 gre=austome to her ust as if sheha 0een my o=n aughteran she loveme. 4 must tell you that 4 haveno family. 4 have ha no ne=s of my



father an mother for t=elveyears or so an in my earlier

ays 4never thought of -roviingmyself =ith a =ifeBBan no=you &no= it

=oulnt o. 3o 4 =as gla tohave foun someone to s-oil.3he use tosing to us or ane theLeGgin&a. #1,*.. An =hat a

aner she =as 4have seen our o=n laies in-rovinial soietyF an on oneoasionsir a0out t=enty years ago 4=as even in the 8o0les 5lu0 atMoso=BB0ut =as there a=oman to 0e om-are =ithherK 8ot one 6rigori



Ale&sanrovih resse her u-li&e a oll -ette an

-am-ere her anit =as sim-ly astonishing to seeho= -retty she gre= =hile shelive

=ith us. The sun0urnisa--eare from her fae anhans an a rosyolour ame into her hee&s...;hat a merry girl she =as

Al=ays ma&ingfun of me the little rogue...Heaven forgive her>

>An =hen you tol her of herfathers eathK>

>;e &e-t it a seret from her fora long time until she ha

gro=n



austome to her -ositionFan then =hen she =as tol

she rie for aay or t=o an forgot all a0outit.

>/or four months or soeverything =ent on as =ell as it-ossi0lyoul. 6rigori Ale&sanrovihas 4 thin& 4 have alreay

mentione =as-assionately fon of huntingF he=as al=ays raving to 0e ointo theforest after 0oars or =il goatsBB0ut no= it =oul 0e as muh ashe=oul o to go 0eyon thefortress ram-art. All at one

ho=ever 4 sa=



that he =as 0eginning again tohave ?ts of a0stration =al&ing

a0outhis room =ith his hans las-e0ehin his 0a&. One ay afterthat

=ithout telling anyone he seto shooting. During the =holemorninghe =as not to 0e seenF then thesame thing ha--ene another

time an soonBBoftener an oftener...

>This loo&s 0a 4 sai tomyself. 3omething must haveome 0et=eenthem



>One morning 4 -ai them avisitBB4 an see it all in my

mins eye asif it =as ha--ening no=. %ela=as sitting on the 0e =earinga 0la&

sil& a&et an loo&ing rather-ale an so sa that 4 =asalarme.

>;here is PehorinK 4 as&e.

>Hunting.

>;hen i he goBBtoBayK

>3he =as silent as if she founa iIulty in ans=ering.



>8o he has 0een gone sineyesteray she sai at length

=ith aheavy sigh.

>3urely nothing has ha--ene

to him

>Yesteray 4 thought anthought the =hole ay sheans=ere through

her tearsF 4 imagine all sortsof misfortunes. At one time 4faniethat he ha 0een =oune 0y a=il 0oar at another time thathe ha0een arrie o 0y a 5heheneinto the mountains... %ut no= 4have



ome to thin& that he no longerloves me.

>4n truth my ear girl yououl not have imagineanything =orse

>3he 0urst out ryingF then-rouly raising her hea she=i-e a=aythe tears an ontinue:

>4f he oes not love me then=ho -revents him sening mehomeK 4 amnot -utting any onstraint onhim. %ut if things go on li&ethis 4=ill go a=ay myselfBB4 am not aslave 4 am a -rines

aughter...



>4 trie to tal& her over.

>Listen %ela. You see it isim-ossi0le for him to sto- inhere =ith

you for ever as if he =as se=non to your -ettioat. He is ayoung manan fon of hunting. O hellgo 0ut you =ill ?n that he =ill

ome0a&F an if you are going to0e unha--y you =ill soon ma&ehim tireof you.

>True true she sai. 4 =ill 0emerry.



>An =ith a 0urst of laughtershe seiGe her tam0ourine

0egan to singane an gam0ol aroun me.%ut that i not last long eitherFshe fell

u-on the 0e again an 0urieher fae in her hans.

>;hat oul 4 o =ith herK You&no= 4 have never 0een

austome tothe soiety of =omen. 4 thoughtan thought ho= to heer heru- 0utoulnt hit on anything. /orsome time 0oth of us remainesilent... Amost un-leasant situation sir

>At length 4 sai to her:



>;oul you li&e us to go an

ta&e a =al& on the ram-artK The =eather iss-leni.

>This =as in 3e-tem0er aninee it =as a =onerful ay0right annot too hot. The mountainsoul 0e seen as learly as

though they =ere0ut a hansB0reath a=ay. ;e=ent an =al&e in silene toan froalong the ram-art of thefortress. At length she sat o=non the s=aran 4 sat 0esie her. 4n truthno= it is funny to thin& of it all

4



use to run after her ust li&e a&in of hilrens nurse

>Our fortress =as situate in alofty -osition an the vie=from the

ram-art =as su-er0. On onesie the =ie learing seame0y a fe=lefts =as 0oune 0y theforest =hih strethe out to

the very rigeof the mountains. Here anthere on the learing villages=ere to 0eseen sening forth their smo&ean there =ere roves of horsesroaminga0out. On the other sie o=ea tiny stream an lose to its

0an&s



ame the ense unergro=th=hih overe the inty heights

oining the-rini-al hain of the 5auasus.;e sat in a orner of the0astion so

that =e oul see everything on0oth sies. 3uenly 4-ereivesomeone on a grey horse riingout of the forestF nearer an

nearer hea--roahe until ?nally hesto--e on the far sie of theriver a0outa hunre fathoms from us an0egan to =heel his horse rounan rounli&e one -ossesse. 3trange 4thought.



>Loo& loo& %ela 4 saiyouve got young eyesBB=hat

sort of ahorseman is thatK ;ho is it hehas ome to amuseK...

>4t is 9aG0ih she e@laimeafter a glane.

>Ah the ro00er 5ome to laughat us has heK

>4 loo&e losely an sureenough it =as 9aG0ih =ith hiss=arthyfae an as ragge an irtyas ever.

>4t is my fathers horse sai%ela seiGing my arm.



>3he =as trem0ling li&e a leafan her eyes =ere s-ar&ling.

>Aha 4 sai to myself. There isro00ers 0loo in your veinsstill

my ear

>5ome here 4 sai to thesentry. Loo& to your gun anunhorse that

gallant for meBBan you shallhave a silver ru0le.

>Eery =ell your honour onlyhe =ont &ee- still.

>Tell him to 4 sai =ith alaugh.



>Hey frien rie the sentry=aving his han. ;ait a 0it.

;hat areyou s-inning roun li&e ahummingBto- forK

>9aG0ih halte an gave ear tothe sentryBB-ro0a0ly thin&ingthat =e=ere going to -arley =ith him.Ruite the ontrary... My

grenaier too&aim... %ang... Misse... Just asthe -o=er ashe in the -an9aG0ih

ogge his horse =hih gave a0oun to one sie. He stoo u-in hisstirru-s shoute something inhis o=n language mae a

threatening



gesture =ith his =hi-BBan =aso.

>Arent you ashame ofyourselfK 4 sai to the sentry.

>He has gone a=ay to ie yourhonour he ans=ere. Theresno&illing a man of that urserae at one stro&e.

>A uarter of an hour laterPehorin returne from hunting.%elathre= herself on his ne&=ithout a single om-laint=ithout a singlere-roah for his lengthya0sene... $ven 4 =as angry

=ith him 0y this



time

>6oo heavens 4 saiF =hy 4tell you 9aG0ih =as here onthe othersie of the river ust a moment

ago an =e shot at him. Ho=easilyyou might have run u- againsthim you &no= Thesemountaineers are a

vinitive rae Do you su--osehe oes not guess that yougave AGamatsome hel-K An 4 =ager that hereognise %ela toBay 4 &no=he =ases-erately fon of her a yearagoBBhe tol me so himselfBBan if he



ha ha any ho-e of gettingtogether a -ro-er 0riegrooms

gift he=oul ertainly have sought herin marriage.

>At this Pehorin 0eamethoughtful.

>Yes he ans=ere. ;e must0e more autiousBB%ela from

this ayforth you mustnt =al& on theram-art any more.

>4n the evening 4 ha a lengthye@-lanation =ith him. 4 =asve@e thathis feelings to=ars the -oorgirl ha hangeF to say

nothing of his



s-ening half the ay huntinghis manner to=ars her ha

0eome ol.He rarely aresse her an she=as 0eginning -ere-ti0ly to-ine a=ayF

her little fae =as 0eomingra=n her large eyes gro=ingim.

>;hat are you sighing for

%elaK 4 =oul as& her. Are yousaK

>8o

>Do you =ant anythingK

>8o



>You are -ining for your&insfol&K

>4 have none

>3ometimes for =hole ays not

a =or oul 0e ra=n from her0ut Yesan 8o.

>3o 4 straight=ay -roeee to

tal& to Pehorin a0out her.>

5HAPT$+ 4C

>L43T$8 Ma&sim Ma&simyhsai Pehorin. Mine is anunfortunate



is-ositionF =hether it is theresult of my u-0ringing or

=hether itis innateBB4 &no= not. 4 only&no= this that if 4 am the auseof

unha--iness in others 4 myselfam no less unha--y. Of oursethat is a-oor onsolation to themBBonlythe fat remains that suh is

the ase.4n my early youth from themoment 4 ease to 0e unerthe guarianshi-of my relations 4 0egan malyto enoy all the -leasures =hihmoneyoul 0uyBBan of ourse suh-leasures 0eame ir&some to

me. Then 4



launhe out into the =orl offashionBBan that too soon

-alle u-onme. 4 fell in love =ithfashiona0le 0eauties an =aslove 0y them 0ut

my imagination an egoismalone =ere arouseF my heartremaine em-ty...4 0egan to rea to stuyBB0utsienes also 0eame utterly

=earisome tome. 4 sa= that neither fame norha--iness e-ens on them intheleast 0eause the ha--iest-eo-le are the uneuate anfame is goofortune to attain =hih youhave only to 0e smart. Then 4

gre= 0ore...



3oon after=ars 4 =astransferre to the 5auasusF

an that =asthe ha--iest time of my life. 4ho-e that uner the 0ullets ofthe

5hehenes 0oreom oul note@istBBa vain ho-e 4n a month 4gre= soaustome to the 0uGGing ofthe 0ullets an to the -ro@imity

of eaththat to tell the truth 4 -aimore attention to the gnatsBBan 40eame more 0ore than ever0eause 4 ha lost =hat =asalmost my lastho-e. ;hen 4 sa= %ela in myo=n houseF =hen for the ?rst

time 4 hel



her on my &nee an &isse her0la& lo&s 4 fool that 4 =as

thoughtthat she =as an angel sent tome 0y sym-atheti fate... Again4 =as

mista&enF the love of a savageis little 0etter than that of yourlayof uality the 0ar0ariignorane an sim-liity of the

one =eary youas muh as the ouetry of theother. 4 am not saying that 4 onot loveher stillF 4 am grateful to her fora fe= fairly s=eet momentsF 4=oulgive my life for herBBonly 4 am0ore =ith her... ;hether 4 am

a fool or



a villain 4 &no= notF 0ut this isertain 4 am also most

eserving of -ityBB-erha-s more than she.My soul has 0een s-oile 0y the=orl

my imagination is unuiet myheart insatiate. To meeverything is of little moment. 4 0eome aseasily austome to grief as to

oy an mylife gro=s em-tier ay 0y ay.One e@-eient only is left tomeBBtravel.

>As soon as 4 an 4 shall setoBB0ut not to $uro-e. Heavenforfen4 shall go to Ameria to Ara0ia

to 4niaBB-erhane 4 shall ie



some=here on the =ay. At anyrate 4 am onvine that

than&s to stormsan 0a roas that lastonsolation =ill not ui&ly 0ee@hauste

>/or a long time he =ent ons-ea&ing thus an his =orshave remainestam-e u-on my memory

0eause it =as the ?rst timethat 4 ha hearsuh things from a man of ?veBanBt=entyBBan Heaven grantit may0e the last. 4snt it astonishingK

Tell me -lease> ontinue thestaBa-tain a--ealing to me.>You use to live in the 5a-ital

4



thin& an that not so very longago. 4s it -ossi0le that the

young menthere are all li&e thatK>

4 re-lie that there =ere a goo

many -eo-le =ho use thesame sortof language that -ro0a0lythere might even 0e some =hos-o&e in all

sinerityF that isillusionmentmoreover li&e all other vogueshavingha its 0eginning in the higherstrata of soiety haesene to thelo=er =here it =as 0eing =ornthrea0are an that no=those =ho =ere



really an truly 0ore strove tooneal their misfortune as if it

=erea vie. The staBa-tain i notunerstan these su0tletiesshoo& his

hea an smile slyly.

>Anyho= 4 su--ose it =as the/renh =ho introue thefashionK>

>8o the $nglish.>

>Aha there you are> heans=ere. >They al=ays have0een arrantrun&ars you &no=>



4nvoluntarily 4 realle to mina ertain lay living in Moso=

=house to maintain that %yron=as nothing more nor less thana run&ar.

Ho=ever the staBa-tainso0servation =as moree@usa0leF in orer toa0stain from strong rin& henaturally eneavoure to

onvine himself that all the misfortunes in the=orl are the result ofrun&enness.

5HAPT$+ C



M$A8;H4L$ the staBa-tainontinue his story.

>9aG0ih never -ut in ana--earane againF 0utsomeho=BB4 ont &no=

=hyBB4 oul not get the ieaout of my hea that he ha haa reasonfor oming an that somemishievous sheme =as in his

min.

>;ell one ay Pehorin trie to-ersuae me to go 0oarBhunting=ithhim. /or a long time 4 refuse.;hat novelty =as a =il 0oar tomeK



>Ho=ever o he ragge meall the same. ;e too& four or

?ve soliersan set out early in themorning. 7- till ten olo& =esurrie a0out

the rees an the forestBBthere=asnt a =il 0east to 0e foun

>4 say oughtnt =e to 0e going0a&K 4 sai. ;hats the use of

sti&ing at itK 4t is evientenough that =e have ha--eneon an unlu&yay

>%ut in s-ite of heat anfatigue Pehorin int li&e toreturn



em-tyBhane... That is ust the&in of man he =asF =hatever

he sethis heart on he ha to haveBBeviently in his hilhoo heha 0een

s-oile 0y an inulgent mother.At last at miay =eisovere oneof those urse =il 0oarsBB%ang %angBB8o gooBBO it

=ent into therees. That =as an unlu&y ayto 0e sure... 3o after a shortrest=e set o home=ar...

>;e roe in silene sie 0ysie giving the horses theirhea. ;e ha



almost reahe the fortressan only the 0rush=oo

oneale it fromvie=. 3uenly a shot rangout... ;e glane at eah other0oth stru&

=ith the selfsame sus-iion...;e gallo-e healong in theiretion of the shot loo&e an sa= thesoliers lustere together on

the ram-artan -ointing to=ars a ?elalong =hih a rier =as yingat fulls-ee holing something =hiteaross his sale. 6rigoriAle&sanrovihyelle li&e any 5hehene=hi--e his gun from its over

an gave



haseBB4 after him.

>Lu&ily than&s to ourunsuessful hunt our horses=ere not aeFthey straine uner the sale

an =ith every moment =ere= nearer annearer... At length 4 reognise9aG0ih only 4 oul not ma&eout =hat

it =as that he =as holing infront of him.

>Then 4 re= level =ith Pehorinan shoute to him:

>4t is 9aG0ih

>He loo&e at me noe an

stru& his horse =ith his =hi-.



>At last =e =ere =ithin gunshot

of 9aG0ih. ;hether it =as thathishorse =as ae or not so gooas ours 4 ont &no= 0ut in

s-ite of all his eorts it i not getalong very fast. 4 fany at thatmomenthe remem0ere his 9aragyoG

>4 loo&e at Pehorin. He =asta&ing aim as he gallo-e...

>Dont shoot 4 rie. 3ave theshot ;e =ill ath u- =ith himas itis.



>Oh these young men Al=aysta&ing ?re at the =rong

moment The shotrang out an the 0ullet 0ro&eone of the horses hin legs. 4tgave a

fe= ?ery lea-s for=arstum0le an fell to its &nees.9aG0ih s-rango an then =e -ereive thatit =as a =oman he =as holing

in hisarmsBBa =oman =ra--e in aveil. 4t =as %elaBB-oor %ela Heshoutesomething to us in his o=nlanguage an raise his aggerover her...Delay =as uselessF 4 ?re in myturn at ha-haGar. Pro0a0ly

the 0ullet



stru& him in the shouler0eause he ro--e his han

suenly. ;henthe smo&e leare o =e oulsee the =oune horse lying onthe

groun an %ela 0esie itF 0ut9aG0ih his gun ung a=ay=aslam0ering li&e a at u- theli through the 0rush=oo. 4

shoul haveli&e to have 0rought him o=nfrom thereBB0ut 4 hant aharge reay.;e um-e o our horses anrushe to %ela. Poor girl 3he=as lyingmotionless an the 0loo =as-ouring in streams from her

=oun. The



villain 4f he ha stru& her tothe heartBB=ell an goo

everything=oul at least have 0een?nishe there an thenF 0ut tosta0 her in

the 0a& li&e thatBBthesounrel 3he =asunonsious. ;e tore theveil into stri-s an 0oun u-the =oun as tightly as =e

oul. 4n vainPehorin &isse her ol li-sBBit=as im-ossi0le to 0ring her to.

>Pehorin mounteF 4 lifte %elafrom the groun an someho=manage to-lae her 0efore him on hissaleF he -ut his arm roun

her an =e roe



0a&.

>Loo& here Ma&simMa&simyh sai 6rigoriAle&sanrovih after a fe=moments of silene. ;e =ill

never 0ring her in alive li&ethis.

>True 4 sai an =e -ut ourhorses to a full gallo-.>

5HAPT$+ C4

>A 5+O;D =as a=aiting us atthe fortress gate. 5arefully =earrie the



=oune girl to Pehorinsuarters an then =e sent for

the otor. The latter =as run& 0ut heame e@amine the =ounan announe

that she oul not live morethan a ay. He =as mista&enthough.>

>3he reovereK> 4 as&e the

staBa-tain seiGing him 0y thearm aninvoluntarily reoiing.

>8o> he re-lie >0ut the otor=as so far mista&en that shelive t=oays longer.>



>$@-lain though ho= 9aG0ihmae o =ith her>

>4t =as li&e this: in s-ite ofPehorins -rohi0ition she =entout of

the fortress an o=n to theriver. 4t =as a very hot ay you&no= anshe sat on a ro& an i--eher feet in the =ater. 7- re-t

9aG0ih-oune u-on her silene heran ragge her into the0ushes. Thenhe s-rang on his horse anmae o. 4n the meantime shesueee inrying out the sentries too& thealarm ?re 0ut =ie of the

mar&F



an thereu-on =e arrive onthe sene.>

>%ut =hat i 9aG0ih =ant toarry her o forK>

>6oo graious ;hy everyone&no=s these 5irassians are arae of thievesF they ant &ee- theirhans o anything that is left

lyinga0out They may not =ant athing 0ut they =ill steal it forall that.3till you mustnt 0e too har onthem. An 0esies he ha0een inlove =ith her for a long time.>

>An %ela ieK>



>Yes she ie 0ut she suere

for a long time an =e =erefairly&no&e u- =ith her 4 an tellyou. A0out ten olo& in the

eveningshe ame to herself. ;e =eresitting 0y her 0e. As soon asever sheo-ene her eyes she 0egan to

all Pehorin.

>4 am here 0esie you my aneh&a that is my arlingheans=ere ta&ing her 0y thehan.

>4 shall ie she sai.



>;e 0egan to omfort hertelling her that the otor ha

-romiseinfalli0ly to ure her. 3he shoo&her little hea an turne to the=allBBshe i not =ant to ie...

>At night she 0eame eliriousher hea 0urne at times afeverish-aro@ysm onvulse her =hole

0oy. 3he tal&e inoherentlya0out herfather her 0rotherF she yearnefor the mountains for herhome... Thenshe s-o&e of Pehorin alsoalle him various fon namesor re-roahehim for having ease to love

his aneh&a.



>He listene to her in silene

his hea sun& in his hansF 0utyeturing the =hole time 4 i notnotie a single tearBro- on his

lashes. 4 o not &no= =hetherhe =as atually una0le to =ee-or =asmastering himselfF 0ut for my-art 4 have never seen anything

more-itiful.

>To=ars morning the elirium-asse o. /or an hour or soshe laymotionless -ale an so =ea&that it =as harly -ossi0le too0serve



that she =as 0reathing. Afterthat she gre= 0etter an 0egan

to tal&:only a0out =hat thin& youK3uh thoughts ome only to theying... 3he

lamente that she =as not a5hristian that in the other=orl hersoul =oul never meet the soulof 6rigori Ale&sanrovih an

that inParaise another =oman =oul0e his om-anion. The thoughtourre tome to 0a-tiGe her 0efore hereath. 4 tol her my ieaF sheloo&e at meuneiely an for a longtime =as una0le to utter a

=or. /inally she



ans=ere that she =oul ie inthe faith in =hih she ha 0een

0orn.A =hole ay -asse thus. ;hata hange that ay mae in herHer -ale

hee&s fell in her eyes gre=ever so large her li-s 0urne.3he felta onsuming heat =ithin her asthough a reBhot 0lae =as

-iering her0reast.

>The seon night ame on. ;ei not lose our eyes or leavethe0esie. 3he suere terri0lyan groaneF an iretly the-ain 0egan



to a0ate she eneavoure toassure 6rigori Ale&sanrovih

that she felt0etter trie to -ersuae him togo to 0e &isse his han an=oul

not let it out of hers. %efore themorning she 0egan to feel theeathagony an to toss a0out. 3he&no&e the 0anage o an

the 0looo=e afresh. ;hen the =oun=as 0oun u- again she gre=uiet for amoment an 0egge Pehorinto &iss her. He fell on his &nees0esiethe 0e raise her hea fromthe -illo= an -resse his li-s

to



hersBB=hih =ere gro=ing ol.3he thre= her trem0ling arms

loselyroun his ne& as if =ith that&iss she =ishe to yiel u- hersoul

to him.BB8o she i =ell to ie;hy =hat =oul have 0eomeof her if 6rigori Ale&sanrovih haa0anone herK An that is

=hat =oul haveha--ene sooner or later.

>During half the follo=ing ayshe =as alm silent an oileho=evermuh the otor torture her=ith his fomentations anmi@tures.



>6oo heavens 4 sai to himyou &no= you sai yourself

that she =asertain to ie so =hat is thegoo of all these -re-arationsof yoursK

>$ven so it is 0etter to o allthis he re-lie so that 4 mayhavean easy onsiene.

>A -retty onsiene forsooth

>After miay %ela 0egan tosuer from thirst. ;e o-enethe =ino=s0ut it =as hotter outsie than inthe roomF =e -lae ie rounthe



0eBBall to no -ur-ose. 4 &ne=that that intolera0le thirst =as

a signof the a--roahing en an 4tol Pehorin so.

>;ater =ater she sai in ahoarse voie raising herself u-from the0e.

>Pehorin turne -ale as asheet seiGe a glass ?lle itan gaveit to her. 4 overe my eyes =ithmy hans an 0egan to say a-rayerBB4ant remem0er =hat... Yes myfrien many a time have 4 seen-eo-le



ie in hos-itals or on the ?el of 0attle 0ut this =as something

altogether ierent 3till thisone thing grieves me 4 mustonfess:she ie =ithout even one

alling me to min. Yet 4 loveher 4 shoulthin& li&e a father... ;ell 6oforgive her... An to tell thetruth =hat am 4 that she shoul

have remem0ere me =henshe =asyingK...

>As soon as she ha run& the=ater she gre= easierBB0ut ina0out threeminutes she 0reathe her last;e -ut a loo&ingBglass to her

li-sBBit



=as unimme

>4 le Pehorin from the rooman =e =ent on to the fortressram-art./or a long time =e =al&e sie

0y sie to an fro s-ea&ingnot a =oran =ith our hans las-e0ehin our 0a&s. His faee@-resse nothing

out of the ommonBBan thatve@e me. Ha 4 0een in his-lae 4 shoulhave ie of grief. At length hesat o=n on the groun in theshae an0egan to ra= something in thesan =ith his sti&. More forforms sa&e



than anything you &no= 4 trieto onsole him an 0egan to

tal&. Heraise his hea an 0urst into alaugh At that laugh a olshuer ran

through me... 4 =ent a=ay toorer a oIn.

>4 onfess it =as -artly toistrat my thoughts that 4

0usie myself inthat =ay. 4 -ossesse a little-iee of 5irassian stu an 4overethe oIn =ith it an e&e it=ith some 5irassian silver lae=hih6rigori Ale&sanrovih ha0ought for %ela herself.



>$arly ne@t morning =e 0urieher 0ehin the fortress 0y the

river0esie the s-ot =here she hasat for the last time. Aroun herlittle

grave =hite aaia shru0s anelerBtrees have no= gro=n u-.4shoul have li&e to eret aross 0ut that =oul not have

one you&no=BBafter all she =as not a5hristian.>

>An =hat of PehorinK> 4as&e.

>Pehorin =as ill for a long timean gre= thin -oor fello=F 0ut



=e never s-o&e of %ela fromthat time forth. 4 sa= that it

=oul 0eisagreea0le to him so =hat=oul have 0een the useKA0out three months

later he =as a--ointe to the$BBBB+egiment an e-arte for6eorgia.;e have never met sine. Yet=hen 4 ome to thin& of it

some0oy tolme not long ago that he hareturne to +ussiaBB0ut it =asnot in thegeneral orers for the or-s.%esies to the li&e of us ne=sis late inoming.>



Hereu-onBB-ro0a0ly to ro=nsa memoriesBBhe launhe

forth into alengthy issertation on theun-leasantness of learningne=s a year late.

4 i not interru-t him nor i 4listen.

4n an hours time a hane of

-roeeing on our ourney-resenteitself. The sno=storm su0siethe s&y 0eame lear an =eset o. Onthe =ay 4 involuntarily let theonversation turn on %ela anPehorin.



>You have not hear =hat0eame of 9aG0ihK> 4 as&e.

>9aG0ihK 4n truth 4 ont &no=.4 have hear that =ith the3ha-sugs

on our right an& there is aertain 9aG0ih a areBevilfello= =hories a0out at a =al&ing -aein a re tuni uner our 0ullets

an0o=s -olitely =henever onehums near himBB0ut it ansarely 0e thesame -erson>...

4n 9o0i Ma&sim Ma&simyh an4 -arte om-any. 4 -oste onan he



on aount of his heavyluggage =as una0le to follo=

me. ;e ha noe@-etation of ever meetingagain 0ut meet =e i an ifyou li&e

4 =ill tell you ho=BBit is uite ahistory... You musta&no=legethough that Ma&simMa&simyh is a man =orthy of

all res-et... 4f you amit that 4 shall 0e fullyre=are for my -erha-s toolengthystory.



%OO9 44 MA934M MA934MY5H

A/T$+ -arting =ith Ma&simMa&simyh 4 gallo-e 0ris&lythrough thegorges of the Tere& an Darial

0rea&faste in 9aG0e& ran&tea inLars an arrive at Elai&av&aGin time for su--er. 4 s-are you aesri-tion of the mountains as

=ell as e@lamations =hihonvey nomeaning an =orB-aintings=hih onvey no imageBBes-eially tothose =ho have never 0een inthe 5auasus. 4 also omitstatistialo0servations =hih 4 am uite

sure no0oy =oul rea.



4 -ut u- at the inn =hih is

freuente 0y all =ho travel inthose-arts an =here 0y the =aythere is no one you an orer to

roastyour -heasant an oo& youra00ageBsou- 0eause thethree veterans=ho have harge of the inn are

either so stu-i or so run&that it isim-ossi0le to &no& any senseat all out of them.

4 =as informe that 4 shoulhave to stay there three ayslonger



0eause the >Aventure> hanot yet arrive from

$&aterinogra anonseuently oul not start onthe return ourney. ;hat amisaventure

#1"*... %ut a 0a -un is noonsolation to a +ussian anfor the sa&eof something to ou-y mythoughts 4 too& it into my hea

to =rite o=nthe story a0out %ela =hih 4ha hear from Ma&simMa&simyhBBneverimagining that it =oul 0e the?rst lin& in a long hain ofnovels: yousee ho= an insigni?ant eventhas sometimes ire results...

Perha-s



ho=ever you o not &no= =hatthe >Aventure> isK 4t is a

onvoyBBom-ose of half aom-any of infantry =ith aannonBB=hihesorts 0aggageBtrains through

9a0aria from Elai&av&aG to$&aterinogra.

The ?rst ay 4 foun the timehang on my hans reafully.

$arly ne@tmorning a vehile rove intothe ourtyar... Aha Ma&simMa&simyh...;e met li&e a ou-le of olfriens. 4 oere to share myo=n room =ithhim an he ae-te myhos-itality =ithout staning

u-on eremonyF he



even la--e me on theshouler an -u&ere u- his

mouth 0y =ay of asmileBBa ueer fello= that...

Ma&sim Ma&simyh =as

-rofounly verse in theulinary art. He roastethe -heasant astonishingly =ellan 0aste it suessfully =ithuum0er

saue. 4 =as o0lige toa&no=lege that 0ut for him 4shoul have hato remain on a ryBfoo iet. A0ottle of 9a&hetian =ine hel-eus toforget the moest num0er ofishesBBof =hih there =as oneall tol.



Then =e lit our -i-es too& ourhairs an sat o=nBB4 0y the

=ino=an he 0y the stove in =hih a?re ha 0een lighte 0eausethe ay

=as aman ol. ;eremaine silent. ;hat ha =eto tal& a0outK He haalreay tol me all that =as ofinterest a0out himself an 4 ha

nothingto relate. 4 loo&e out of the=ino=. Here an there 0ehinthe trees4 aught glim-ses of a num0erof -oor lo= houses stragglingalong the0an& of the Tere& =hih o=esea=ar in an everB=iening

streamF



farther o rose the ar&B0lue agge =all of the mountains

0ehin=hih Mount 9aG0e& gaGeforth in his high-riests hat of=hite. 4 too&

a mental fare=ell of themF 4 feltsorry to leave them...

Thus =e sat for a onsiera0letime. The sun =as sin&ing

0ehin the olsummits an a =hitish mist =as0eginning to s-rea over thevalleys=hen the silene =as 0ro&en 0ythe ingling of the 0ell of atravellingBarriage an theshouting of rivers in the street.A fe=



vehiles aom-anie 0y irtyArmenians rove into the

ourtyar of the inn an 0ehin them amean em-ty travellingBarriage. 4tslight

movement omforta0learrangement an eleganta--earane gave it a &inof foreign stam-. %ehin it=al&e a man =ith large

moustahes. He =as=earing a Hungarian a&et an=as rather =ell resse for amanservant./rom the 0ol manner in =hihhe shoo& the ashes out of his-i-e anshoute at the oahman it =asim-ossi0le to mista&e his

alling. He =as



o0viously the s-oile servant of an inolent masterBBsomething

in thenature of a +ussian /igaro.

>Tell me my goo man> 4

alle to him out of the =ino=.>;hat isitKBBHas the Aventure arriveehK>

He gave me a rather insolentglane straightene his ravatan turnea=ay. An Armenian =ho =as=al&ing near him smile anans=ere forhim that the >Aventure> hain fat arrive an =oul starton the



return ourney the follo=ingmorning.

>Than& heavens> sai Ma&simMa&simyh =ho ha ome u-to the =ino= at

that moment. >;hat a=onerful arriage> he aeF>-ro0a0ly it 0elongsto some oIial =ho is going to

Tiis for a uiial inuiry. You

ansee that he is unauainte=ith our little mountains 8omy frienyoure not serious They are notfor the li&e of youF =hy they=oulsha&e even an $nglish arriageto 0itsBB%ut =ho oul it 0eK

Let us go



an ?n out.>

;e =ent out into the orriorat the en of =hih there =asan o-enoor leaing into a sie room.

The manservant an a river=ere ragging-ortmanteau@ into the room.

>4 say my man> the staB

a-tain as&e him: >;hose isthat marvellousarriageKBB$hKBBA 0eautifularriage>

;ithout turning roun themanservant gro=le somethingto himself as heuni a -ortmanteau. Ma&sim

Ma&simyh gre= angry.



>4 am s-ea&ing to you my

frien> he sai touhing theunivil fello=on the shouler.

>;hose arriageKBBMymasters.>

>An =ho is your masterK>

>PehorinBB>

>;hat i you sayK ;hatKPehorinKBB6reat Heavens...Di he not servein the 5auasusK> e@laimeMa&sim Ma&simyh -lu&ingme 0y the sleeve.His eyes =ere s-ar&ling =ith

oy.



>Yes he serve there 4 thin&BB

0ut 4 have not 0een =ith himlong.>

>;ell Just so... Just so...

6rigori Ale&sanrovihK... thatis hisname of ourseK Your masteran 4 =ere friens> he aegiving the

manservant a frienly la- onthe shouler =ith suh fore asto ausehim to stagger.

>$@use me sir you arehinering me> sai the latterfro=ning.



>;hat a fello= you are myfrien ;hy ont you &no=

your master an4 =ere 0osom friens an livetogetherK... %ut =here has he-ut u-K>

The servant intimate thatPehorin ha staye to ta&esu--er an -assthe night at 5olonel 8BBBBs.

>%ut =ont he 0e loo&ing in herein the eveningK> sai Ma&simMa&simyh.>Or you my man =ont you 0egoing over to him forsomethingK... 4f you o tell him that Ma&simMa&simyh is hereF ust say

thatBBhell



&no=BB4ll give you half a ru0lefor a ti->

The manservant mae asornful fae on hearing suh amoest -romise

0ut he assure Ma&simMa&simyh that he =oule@eute his ommission.

>Hell 0e sure to ome running

u- iretly> sai Ma&simMa&simyh =ithan air of trium-h. >4 =ill gooutsie the gate an =ait forhim Ahits a -ity 4 am not auainte=ith 5olonel 8BBBB>



Ma&sim Ma&simyh sat o=n ona little 0enh outsie the gate

an 4=ent to my room. 4 onfess that4 also =as a=aiting thisPehorins

a--earane =ith a ertainamount of im-atieneBBalthough from thestaBa-tains story 4 haforme a 0y no means

favoura0le iea of him. 3till ertain traits in hisharater stru& me asremar&a0le. 4nan hours time one of the olsoliers 0rought a steamingsamovar an atea-ot.



>;ont you have some teaMa&sim Ma&simyhK> 4 alle

out of the =ino=.

>Than& you. 4 am not thirstysomeho=.>

>Oh o have some 4t is lateyou &no= an ol>

>8o than& you>...

>;ell ust as you li&e>

4 0egan my tea alone. A0out tenminutes after=ars my ola-tain amein.



>You are right you &no=F it=oul 0e 0etter to have a ro-

of teaBB0ut4 =as =aiting for Pehorin. Hisman has 0een gone a long timeno= 0ut

eviently something hasetaine him.>

The staBa-tain hurrielysi--e a u- of tea refuse a

seonan =ent o again outsie thegateBBnot =ithout a ertainamount of isuietue. 4t =as o0vious thatthe ol man =as morti?e 0yPehorinsneglet the more so 0eause ashort time -reviously he ha

0een telling



me of their frienshi- an u-to an hour ago ha 0een

onvine thatPehorin =oul ome runningu- immeiately on hearing hisname.

4t =as alreay late an ar&=hen 4 o-ene the =ino=again an 0egan toall Ma&sim Ma&simyh saying

that it =as time to go to 0e.He mutteresomething through his teeth. 4re-eate my invitationBBhemae noans=er.

4 left a anle on the stoveBseatan =ra--ing myself u- in my

loa&



4 lay o=n on the ouh ansoon fell into slum0erF an 4

=oul havesle-t on uietly ha not Ma&simMa&simyh a=a&ene me as heame into

the room. 4t =as then very late.He thre= his -i-e on the ta0le0eganto =al& u- an o=n the rooman to rattle a0out at the stove.

At lasthe lay o=n 0ut for a long timehe &e-t oughing s-itting antossinga0out.

>The 0ugs are 0iting you arethey notK> 4 as&e.



>Yes that is it> he ans=ere=ith a heavy sigh.

4 =o&e early the ne@t morning0ut Ma&sim Ma&simyh haantii-ate me.

4 foun him sitting on the little0enh at the gate.

>4 have to go to the5ommanant> he sai >so if

Pehorin omes-lease sen for me.>...

4 gave my -romise. He ran oas if his lim0s ha regainetheiryouthful strength ansu--leness.



The morning =as fresh anlovely. 6olen lous ha

masse themselves onthe mountainto-s li&e a ne=range of aerial mountains.%efore the gate

a =ie suare s-rea outF0ehin it the 0aGaar =asseething =ith -eo-lethe ay 0eing 3unay.%arefoote Ossete 0oys

arrying =allets of honeyom0 on their shoulers=ere hovering aroun me. 4urse themF4 ha other things to thin& ofBB4=as 0eginning to share the=orthystaBa-tains uneasiness.



%efore ten minutes ha -assethe man =e =ere a=aiting

a--eare at theen of the suare. He =as=al&ing =ith 5olonel 8. =hoaom-anie him

as far as the inn sai gooB0yeto him an then turne 0a& tothefortress. 4 immeiatelyes-athe one of the ol

soliers for Ma&simMa&simyh.

Pehorins manservant =ent outto meet him an informe himthat they=ere going to -ut to at oneF hehane him a 0o@ of igarsreeive



a fe= orers an =ent oa0out his 0usiness. His master

lit a igarya=ne one or t=ie an sato=n on the 0enh on the othersie of the

gate. 4 must no= ra= his-ortrait for you.

He =as of meium height. Hissha-ely slim ?gure an 0roa

shoulersgave eviene of a strongonstitution a-a0le ofenuring all theharshi-s of a noma life anhanges of limates an ofresisting =ithsuess 0oth the emoralisingeets of life in the 5a-ital an

the



tem-ests of the soul. His velvetoveroat =hih =as overe

=ith ust=as fastene 0y the t=o lo=er0uttons only an e@-ose tovie= linen of

aGGling =hiteness =hih-rove that he ha the ha0itsof a gentleman.His gloves soile 0y travelseeme as though mae

e@-ressly forhis small aristorati han an=hen he too& one glove o 4=asastonishe at the thinness ofhis -ale ?ngers. His gait =asarelessan inolent 0ut 4 notie thathe i not s=ing his armsBBa

sure sign



of a ertain seretiveness ofharater. These remar&s

ho=ever are theresult of my o=n o0servationsan 4 have not the least esireto ma&e

you 0linly 0elieve in them.;hen he =as in the at ofseating himself on the 0enh his u-right ?gure0ent as if there =as not a single

0onein his 0a&. The attitue of his=hole 0oy =as e@-ressive of aertain nervous =ea&nessF heloo&e as he sat li&e one of%alGasthirtyByearBol ouettes restingin her o=ny armBhair after a



fatiguing 0all. /rom my ?rstglane at his fae 4 shoul not

havesu--ose his age to 0e morethan t=entyBthree thoughafter=ars 4 shoul

have -ut it o=n as thirty. Hissmile ha something of a hilBli&euality. His s&in -ossesse a&in of feminine eliay. His

fair hairnaturally urly most-ituresuely outline his -alean no0le 0ro= on=hih it =as only after lengthyo0servation that traes oul0e notieof =rin&les interseting eahother: -ro0a0ly they sho=e u-

more



istintly in moments of angeror mental istur0ane.

8ot=ithstaningthe light olour of his hair hismoustahes an eye0ro=s =ere0la&BBa

sign of 0reeing in a man ustas a 0la& mane an a 0la& tailin a=hite horse. To om-lete the-ortrait 4 =ill a that he ha a

slightlyturneBu- nose teeth ofaGGling =hiteness an 0ro=neyesBB4 must saya fe= =ors more a0out hiseyes.

4n the ?rst -lae they neverlaughe =hen he laughe. Have

you not



ha--ene yourself to notiethe same -euliarity in ertain

-eo-leK...4t is a sign either of an evilis-osition or of ee- anonstant

grief. /rom 0ehin his halfBlo=ere eyelashes they shone=ith a &inof -hos-horesent gleamBBif 4may so e@-ress myselfBB=hih

=as not thereetion of a fervi soul or of a-layful fany 0ut a glitter li&etothat of smooth steel 0lining0ut ol. His glaneBB0rief 0ut-ieringan heavyBBleft the un-leasantim-ression of an inisreet

uestion an



might have seeme insolentha it not 0een so

unonernely tranuil.

4t may 0e that all these remar&same into my min only after 4

ha&no=n some etails of his lifean it may 0e too that hisa--earane=oul have -roue an

entirely ierent im-ressionu-on anotherF 0utas you =ill not hear of him fromanyone e@e-t myself you =illhaveto rest ontent nolens volens=ith the esri-tion 4 havegiven.



4n onlusion 4 =ill say thats-ea&ing generally he =as a

verygooBloo&ing man an ha oneof those original ty-es ofountenane

=hih are -artiularly -leasingto =omen.

The horses =ere alreay -ut toFno= an then the 0ell ingle on

theshaftB0o=F #1(* an themanservant ha t=ie gone u-to Pehorin =iththe announement thateverything =as reay 0ut stillthere =as no signof Ma&sim Ma&simyh./ortunately Pehorin =as sun&

in thought as he



gaGe at the agge 0lue -ea&sof the 5auasus an =as

a--arently 0yno means in a hurry for theroa.

4 =ent u- to him.

>4f you are to =ait a littlelonger> 4 sai >you =ill havethe

-leasure of meeting an olfrien.>

>Oh e@atly> he ans=ereui&ly. >They tol me soyesteray. ;here ishe thoughK>



4 loo&e in the iretion of thesuare an there 4 esrie

Ma&simMa&simyh running as har ashe oul. 4n a fe= moments he=as 0esie

us. He =as sarely a0le to0reatheF -ers-iration =asrolling in largero-s from his faeF =et tufts of grey hair esa-ing from uner

hisa- =ere glue to his foreheaFhis &nees =ere sha&ing... He=as a0outto thro= himself on Pehorinsne& 0ut the latter ratherollythough =ith a smile of=elome strethe out his

han to him. /or



a moment the staa-tain =as-etri?e 0ut then eagerly

seiGePehorins han in 0oth hiso=n. He =as still una0le tos-ea&.

>Ho= gla 4 am to see you myear Ma&sim Ma&simyh ;ellho= are youK>sai Pehorin.

>An... thou... youK> #2!*murmure the ol man =ithtears in hiseyes. >;hat an age it is sine 4have seen you... %ut =here areyou o toK>...



>4 am going to PersiaBBanfarther.>...

>%ut surely not immeiatelyK...;ait a little my ear fello=...3urely

=e are not going to -art atoneK... ;hat a long time it issine =ehave seen eah other>...

>4t is time for me to go Ma&simMa&simyh> =as the re-ly.

>6oo heavens goo heavens%ut =here are you going to insuh a hurryK

There =as so muh 4 shoulhave li&e to tell you 3o muhto uestion



you a0out... ;ell =hat ofyourselfK Have you retireK...

;hatK... Ho=have you 0een getting alongK>

>6etting 0ore> ans=ere

Pehorin smiling.

>You remem0er the life =e lein the fortressK A s-leniountry for

hunting You =ere a=fully fonof shooting you &no=... An%elaK>...

Pehorin turne ust theslightest 0it -ale an avertehis hea.



>Yes 4 remem0er> he saialmost immeiately foring a

ya=n.

Ma&sim Ma&simyh 0egan to0eg him to stay =ith him for a

ou-le of hoursor so longer.

>;e =ill have a s-leniinner> he sai. >4 have t=o

-heasantsF anthe 9a&hetian =ine is e@ellenthere... not =hat it is in 6eorgiaof ourse 0ut still of the 0estsort... ;e =ill have a tal&... You=illtell me a0out your life inPeters0urg... $hK>...



>4n truth theres nothing for meto tell ear Ma&sim

Ma&simyh...Ho=ever gooB0ye it is timefor me to 0e o... 4 am in ahurry...

4 than& you for not havingforgotten me> he ae ta&inghim 0y thehan.

The ol man &nit his 0ro=s. He=as grieve an angryalthough he trieto hie his feelings.

>/orget> he gro=le. >4 havenot forgotten anything... ;ell6o 0e=ith you... 4t is not li&e this

that 4 thought =e shoul meet.>



>5ome That =ill o that =ill

o> sai Pehorin giving him afrienlyem0rae. >4s it -ossi0le that 4am not the same as 4 use to

0eK... ;hatan =e oK $veryone must gohis o=n =ay... Are =e evergoing to meetagainKBB6o only &no=s>

;hile saying this he ha ta&enhis seat in the arriage an theoahman =as alreaygathering u- the reins.

>;ait =ait> rie Ma&simMa&simyh suenly holingon to the



arriage oor. >4 =as nearlyforgetting altogether. Your

-a-ers =ereleft =ith me 6rigoriAle&sanrovih... 4 rag thema0out every=here 4

go... 4 thought 4 shoul ?n youin 6eorgia 0ut this is =here ithas-lease Heaven that =e shoulmeet. ;hats to 0e one =ith

themK>...

>;hatever you li&e> ans=erePehorin. >6ooB0ye.>...

>3o you are o to PersiaK... %ut=hen =ill you returnK> Ma&simMa&simyh rie after him.



%y this time the arriage =as along =ay o 0ut Pehorin mae

a sign=ith his han =hih might 0einter-rete as meaning:

>4t is ou0tful =hether 4 shallreturn an there is no reasoneither=hy 4 shoul>

The ingle of the 0ell an thelatter of the =heels along theintyroa ha long ease to 0eaui0le 0ut the -oor ol manstill remainestaning in the same -laeee- in thought.



>Yes> he sai at lengtheneavouring to assume an air

of inierenealthough from time to time atear of ve@ation glistene on hiseyelashes. >Of ourse =e =ere

friensBB=ell 0ut =hat arefriensno=aaysK... ;hat oul 4 0e tohimK 4m not rihF 4ve no ran&Fan

moreover 4m not at all hismath in yearsBB3ee =hat aany hehas 0eome sine he has 0eenstaying in Peters0urg again...;hata arriage... ;hat a uantity of luggage... An suh a haughtymanservant too>...



These =ors =ere -ronoune=ith an ironial smile.

>Tell me> he ontinue turningto me >=hat o you thin& of itK5ome =hat the evil is he o

to Persia for no=K... 6oo Lorit isriiulousBBriiulous... %ut 4al=ays &ne= that he =as a?&le man

an one you oul never relyon... %ut inee it is a -itythat heshoul ome to a 0a en... yetit ant 0e other=ise... 4 al=aysisay that there is no goo to 0egot out of a man =ho forgetshis ol

friens>...



Hereu-on he turne a=ay in

orer to hie his agitation an-roeee to=al& a0out the ourtyararoun his art -retening to

0e e@aminingthe =heels =hilst his eyes &e-t?lling =ith tears every moment.

>Ma&sim Ma&simyh> 4 sai

going u- to him >=hat -a-ersare these thatPehorin left youK>

>6ooness &no=s 8otes ofsome sort>...

>;hat =ill you o =ith themK>



>;hatK 4ll have artrigesmae of them.>

>Han them over to meinstea.>

He loo&e at me in sur-risegro=le something through histeeth an0egan to rummage in his-ortmanteau. Out he re= a

=ritingB0oo& anthre= it ontem-tuously on thegrounF then a seonBBa thirBBa tenthshare the same fate. There=as something hilish in hisve@ation anit stru& me as riiulous an-itia0le...



>Here they are> he sai. >4ongratulate you on your

?n>...

>An 4 may o anything 4 li&e=ith themK>

>Yes -rint them in thene=s-a-ers if you li&e. ;hat isit to meK Am4 a frien or relation of hisK 4t is

true that for a long time =eliveuner one roof... 0ut arentthere -lenty of -eo-le =ith=hom 4 haveliveK>...

4 seiGe the -a-ers an lost notime in arrying them a=ay

fearing that



the staBa-tain might re-enthis ation. 3oon some0oy

ame to tellus that the >Aventure> =oulset o in an hours time. 4orere the

horses to 0e -ut to.

4 ha alreay -ut my a- on=hen the staa-tain enterethe room.

A--arently he ha not gotreay for e-arture. His manner=as some=hatol an onstraine.

>You are not going thenMa&sim Ma&simyhK>

>8o sir>



>%ut =hy notK>

>;ell 4 have not seen the5ommanant yet an 4 have toeliver some6overnment things.>

>%ut you i go you &no=.>

>4 i of ourse> hestammere >0ut he =as not at

home... an 4 inot =ait.>

4 unerstoo. /or the ?rst timein his life -ro0a0ly the -oorol manha to s-ea& 0y the 0oo&thro=n asie oIial 0usinessfor the sa&e



of his -ersonal reuirements...an ho= he ha 0een

re=are

>4 am very sorry Ma&simMa&simyh very sorry inee>

4 sai >that =emust -art sooner thanneessary.>

>;hat shoul =e rough ol men

0e thin&ing of to run after youK You youngmen are fashiona0le an -rou:uner the 5irassian 0ullets youarefrienly enough =ith us... 0ut=hen you meet us after=arsyou areashame even to give us your

han>



>4 have not eserve these

re-roahes Ma&simMa&simyh.>

>;ell 0ut you &no= 4m uite

right. Ho=ever 4 =ish you allgoo lu&an a -leasant ourney.>

;e too& a rather ol fare=ell

of eah other. The &inBhearteMa&simMa&simyh ha 0eome theo0stinate antan&erous staBa-tain An =hyK%eause Pehorin througha0sentBmineness or fromsome other ause



ha e@tene his han to him=hen Ma&sim Ma&simyh =as

going to thro=himself on his ne& 3a it is tosee =hen a young man loseshis 0est

ho-es an reams =hen from0efore his eyes is =ithra=nthe roseBhueveil through =hih he hasloo&e u-on the ees an

feelings of man&inFalthough there is the ho-e thatthe ol illusions =ill 0e re-lae0yne= ones none the lessevanesent 0ut on the otherhan none theless s=eet. %ut =here=ith anthey 0e re-lae =hen one is at

the age



of Ma&sim Ma&simyhK Do =hatyou =ill the heart harens an

the soulshrin&s in u-on itself.

4 e-arteBBalone.

/O+$;O+D TO %OO93 444 4E

A8D E

5O85$+8486 P$5HO+483D4A+Y

4 L$A+8$D not long ago thatPehorin ha ie on his =ay0a& from



Persia. The ne=s aore megreat elightF it gave me the

right to-rint these notesF an 4 haveta&en avantage of theo--ortunity of

-utting my name at the hea of another -ersons -routions.Heavengrant that my reaers may not-unish me for suh an innoent

ee-tion

4 must no= give somee@-lanation of the reasons=hih have inue me to0etray to the -u0li the inmostserets of a man =hom 4 never&ne=. 4f 4



ha even 0een his frien =ellan goo: the artful inisretion

of thetrue frien is intelligi0le toevery0oyF 0ut 4 only sa=Pehorin

one in my lifeBBon the highBroaBBan onseuently 4annot herishto=ars him that ine@-lia0lehatre =hih hiing its fae

uner themas& of frienshi- a=aits 0utthe eath or misfortune of the0eloveo0et to 0urst over its hea ina storm of re-roahesamonitionssos an regrets.



On reaing over these notes 4have 0eome onvine of the

sinerityof the man =ho has souns-aringly e@-ose to vie= hiso=n =ea&nesses an

vies. The history of a manssoul even the -ettiest soul isharlyless interesting an useful thanthe history of a =hole -eo-leF

es-eially =hen the former isthe result of the o0servations of a maturemin u-on itself an has 0een=ritten =ithout any egoistialesire of arousing sym-athy orastonishment. +ousseaus5onfessions has -reisely



this efetBBhe rea it to hisfriens.

An so it is nothing 0ut theesire to 0e useful that hasonstraine

me to -rint fragments of thisiary =hih fell into my hans0y hane.Although 4 have altere all the-ro-er names those =ho are

mentionein it =ill -ro0a0ly reognisethemselves an it may 0e =ill?n some

usti?ation for ations for=hih they have hitherto0lame a man =hohas ease heneforth to haveanything in ommon =ith this

=orl. ;e



almost al=ays e@use that=hih =e unerstan.

4 have inserte in this 0oo& onlythose -ortions of the iary=hih

refer to Pehorins soourn inthe 5auasus. There stillremains inmy hans a thi& =ritingB0oo&in =hih he tells the story of his

=holelife. 3ome time or other thattoo =ill -resent itself 0eforethetri0unal of the =orl 0ut formany an =eighty reasons 4 onotventure to ta&e suh ares-onsi0ility u-on myself no=.



Possi0ly some reaers =oulli&e to &no= my o=n o-inion of

Pehorinsharater. My ans=er is: thetitle of this 0oo&. >%ut that ismaliious

irony> they =ill say... 4 &no=not.

%OO9 444 TH$ /4+3T $CT+A5T/+OM P$5HO+483 D4A+Y

TAMA8



TAMA8 is the nastiest little holeof all the sea-orts of +ussia. 4

=asall 0ut starve there to saynothing of having a narro=esa-e of 0eing

ro=ne.

4 arrive late at night 0y the-ostBar. The river sto--e thetire

troi&a #21* at the gate of theonly stoneB0uilt house thatstoo at theentrane to the to=n. Thesentry a 5ossa& from the%la& 3ea hearingthe ingle of the 0ell rie outslee-ily in his 0ar0arous voie



>;ho goes thereK> An unerBoIer of 5ossa&s an a

hea0orough #22*ame out. 4 e@-laine that 4 =asan oIer 0oun for the ativeBservie

etahment on 6overnment0usiness an 4 -roeee toeman oIialuarters. The hea0oroughonute us roun the to=n.

;hatever hut =erove u- to =e foun to 0eou-ie. The =eather =asolF 4 ha notsle-t for three nightsF 4 =astire out an 4 0egan to losemy tem-er.



>Ta&e me some=here or otheryou sounrel> 4 rieF >to the

evilhimself so long as theres a-lae to -ut u- at>

>There is one other loging>ans=ere the hea0oroughsrathing hishea. >Only you =ont li&e it sir.4t is unanny>

/ailing to gras- the e@atsigni?ation of the last -hrase 4orerehim to go on an after alengthy -eregrination throughmuy 0y=aysat the sies of =hih 4 oul seenothing 0ut ol fenes =e

rove u- to



a small a0in right on theshore of the sea.

The full moon =as shining onthe little reeBthathe roof anthe =hite

=alls of my ne= =elling. 4n theourtyar =hih =assurroune 0y a=all of ru00leBstone therestoo another misera0le hovel

smaller anoler than the ?rst an allas&e=. The shore esene-rei-itouslyto the sea almost from its very=alls an o=n 0elo= =ithinessantmurmur -lashe the ar&B0lue=aves. The moon gaGe softly

u-on the



=atery element restless 0uto0eient to it an 4 =as a0le 0y

its lightto istinguish t=o shi-s lying atsome istane from the shoretheir

0la& rigging motionless anstaning out li&e o0=e0sagainst the-ale line of the horiGon.

>There are vessels in thehar0our> 4 sai to myself. >ToBmorro= 4 =illset out for 6eleni&.>

4 ha =ith me in the a-aity of solierBservant a 5ossa& ofthe



frontier army. Orering him tota&e o=n the -ortmanteau an

ismissthe river 4 0egan to all themaster of the house. 8oans=er 4

&no&eBBall =as silent =ithin...;hat oul it meanK At length a0oyof a0out fourteen re-t outfrom the hall.

>;here is the masterK>

>There isnt one.>

>;hat 8o masterK>

>8one>

>An the mistressK>



>3he has gone o to the

village.>

>;ho =ill o-en the oor for methenK> 4 sai giving it a &i&.

The oor o-ene of its o=naor an a 0reath ofmoistureBlaen air=as =afte from the hut. 4

stru& a luifer math an helit to the0oys fae. 4t lit u- t=o =hiteeyes. He =as totally 0lino0viously sofrom 0irth. He stoo sto&Bstill0efore me an 4 0egan toe@amine hisfeatures.



4 onfess that 4 have a violent-reuie against all 0lin oneB

eyeeaf um0 legless armlesshunh0a&e an suhBli&e-eo-le. 4 have

o0serve that there is al=ays aertain strange onnetion0et=een amans e@terior an his soulF asif =hen the 0oy loses a lim0

the soulalso loses some -o=er offeeling.

An so 4 0egan to e@amine the0lin 0oys fae. %ut =hat oul0e reau-on a fae from =hih theeyes are missingK... /or a long

time 4 gaGe



at him =ith involuntaryom-assion =hen suenly a

sarely -ere-ti0lesmile itte over his thin li-s-rouing 4 &no= not =hy amost

un-leasant im-ression u-onme. 4 0egan to feel a sus-iionthat the0lin 0oy =as not so 0lin as hea--eare to 0e. 4n vain 4

eneavoureto onvine myself that it =asim-ossi0le to ounterfeitataratsF an0esies =hat reason oulthere 0e for oing suh a thingK%ut 4 oulnot hel- my sus-iions. 4 ameasily s=aye 0y -reuie...



>You are the masters sonK> 4as&e at length.

>8o.>

>;ho are you thenK>

>An or-hanBBa -oor 0oy.>

>Has the mistress anyhilrenK>

>8o her aughter ran a=ay anrosse the sea =ith a Tartar.>

>;hat sort of a TartarK>

>The evil only &no=s A5rimean Tartar a 0oatman from9erh.>



4 entere the hut. 4ts =holefurniture onsiste of t=o

0enhes an ata0le together =ith anenormous hest 0esie thestove. There =as not

a single i&on to 0e seen on the=allBBa 0a sign The seaB=in0urstin through the 0ro&en =ino=B-ane. 4 re= a =a@ anleBen

from my-ortmanteau lit it an 0eganto -ut my things out. My sa0rean gun4 -lae in a orner my -istols 4lai on the ta0le. 4 s-rea myfeltloa& out on one 0enh an the5ossa& his on the other. 4n ten

minutes



the latter =as snoring 0ut 4oul not go to slee-BBthe

image of the0oy =ith the =hite eyes &e-thovering 0efore me in the ar&.

A0out an hour -asse thus. Themoon shone in at the =ino=an its rays-laye along the earthen oorof the hut. 3uenly a shao=

itteaross the 0right stri- ofmoonshine =hih intersetethe oor. 4raise myself u- a little anglane out of the =ino=.Again some0oyran 0y it an isa--eareBBgooness &no=s =here 4t

seeme im-ossi0le



for anyone to esen thestee- li overhanging the

shore 0ut that=as the only thing that oulhave ha--ene. 4 rose thre=on my tuni

gire on a agger an =iththe utmost uietness =ent outof the hut.

The 0lin 0oy =as omingto=ars me. 4 hi 0y the fene

an he -asse0y me =ith a sure 0ut autiousste-. He =as arrying a -arelunerhis arm. He turne to=ars thehar0our an 0egan to esena stee- annarro= -ath.



>On that ay the um0 =ill ryout an the 0lin =ill see> 4

sai tomyself follo=ing him ust loseenough to &ee- him in sight.

Mean=hile the moon =as0eoming overast 0y lousan a mist ha risenu-on the sea. The lantern alightin the stern of a shi- lose at

han=as sarely visi0le through themist an 0y the shore thereglimmerethe foam of the =aves =hihevery moment threatene tosu0merge it.Desening =ith iIulty 4stole along the stee- elivity

an all



at one 4 sa= the 0lin 0oyome to a stanstill an then

turn o=n tothe right. He =al&e so lose tothe =aters ege that it seemeas if

the =aves =oul straight=ayseiGe him an arry him o.%ut uging 0ythe on?ene =ith =hih heste--e from ro& to ro& an

avoie the=aterBhannels this =aseviently not the ?rst time thathe ha maethat ourney. /inally he sto--eas though listening forsomethingsuatte o=n u-on thegroun an lai the -arel

0esie him.



5onealing myself 0ehin a-roeting ro& on the shore 4

&e-t =athon his movements. After a fe=minutes a =hite ?gure mae itsa--earane

from the o--osite iretion. 4tame u- to the 0lin 0oy ansat o=n0esie him. At times the =in=afte their onversation to

me.

>;ellK> sai a =omans voie.>The storm is violentF Yan&o =illnot 0ehere.>

>Yan&o is not afrai of thestorm> the other re-lie.



>The mist is thi&ening>reoine the =omans voie

saness in itstone.

>4n the mist it is all the easier to

sli- -ast the guarshi-s> =astheans=er.

>An if he is ro=neK>

>;ell =hat thenK On 3unayyou =ont have a ne= ri00on togo to hurhin.>

An interval of silene follo=e.One thing ho=ever stru&meBBin



tal&ing to me the 0lin 0oys-o&e in the Little +ussian

ialet 0ut no=he =as e@-ressing himself in-ure +ussian.

>You see 4 am right> the 0lin0oy =ent on la--ing hishans. >Yan&ois not afrai of sea nor =insnor mist nor oastguars Just

listen That is not the =ater -lashingyou ant eeive meBBit is hislongoars.>

The =oman s-rang u- an0egan an@iously to gaGe intothe istane.



>You are raving> she sai. >4annot see anything.>

4 onfess that muh as 4 trieto ma&e out in the istanesomething

resem0ling a 0oat my eorts=ere unsuessful. A0out tenminutes-asse thus =hen a 0la&s-e& a--eare 0et=een the

mountains of the=aves At one time it gre=larger at another smaller.3lo=ly risingu-on the rests of the =avesan s=iftly esening fromthem the 0oatre= near to the shore.



>He must 0e a 0rave sailor> 4thought >to have etermine

to rossthe t=enty versts of strait on anight li&e this an he musthave ha a

=eighty reason for oing so.>

+eeting thus 4 gaGe =ith aninvoluntary 0eating of the heartat

the -oor 0oat. 4t ive li&e au& an then =ith ra-ilys=ingingoarsBBli&e =ingsBBit s-rang forthfrom the a0yss ami thes-lashes of the foam. >Ah> 4 thought >it=ill 0e ashe against theshore =ith all



its fore an 0ro&en to -iees>%ut it turne asie aroitly an

lea-eunharme into a little ree&.Out of it ste--e a man ofmeium height

=earing a Tartar shee-s&in a-.He =ave his han an allthree set to=or& to rag something out ofthe 0oat. The argo =as so

large that tothis ay 4 annot unerstanho= it =as that the 0oat i notsin&.

$ah of them shoulere a0unle an they set o alongthe shore an



4 soon lost sight of them. 4 hato return homeF 0ut 4 onfess 4

=asrenere uneasy 0y all thesestrange ha--enings an 4foun it har to

a=ait the morning.

My 5ossa& =as very muhastonishe =hen on =a&ing u-he sa= me fully

resse. 4 i not ho=ever tellhim the reason. /or some time 4stooat the =ino= gaGingamiringly at the 0lue s&y allstue =ith =is-sof lou an at the istantshore of the 5rimea strethingout in a



lilaBoloure strea& an eningin a li on the summit of

=hih the=hite to=er of the lighthouse=as gleaming. Then 4 0etoo&myself to the

fortress Phanagoriya in orerto asertain from the5ommanant at =hathour 4 shoul e-art for6eleni&.

%ut the 5ommanant alasoul not give me any e?niteinformation.

The vessels lying in the har0our=ere all either guarBshi-s ormerhantBvessels =hih ha notyet even 0egun to ta&e inlaing.



>May0e in a0out three or fourays time a mailB0oat =ill

ome in> saithe 5ommanant >an then =eshall see.>

4 returne home sul&y an=rathful. My 5ossa& met me atthe oor =ith afrightene ountenane.

>Things are loo&ing 0a sir> hesai.

>Yes my frienF gooness only&no=s =hen =e shall geta=ay>

Hereu-on he 0eame still moreuneasy an 0ening to=ars

me he sai



in a =his-er:

>4t is unanny here 4 met anunerBoIer from the %la&3eatoBayBBhes an auaintane of

mineBBhe =as in myetahment last year.;hen 4 tol him =here =e =erestaying he sai That -lae isunanny

ol fello=F theyre =i&e-eo-le there... An inee=hat sort of a 0lin 0oy is thatK He goesevery=here alone to feth=ater an to 0uy0rea at the 0aGaar. 4t isevient they have 0eomeaustome to that

sort of thing here.>



>;ell =hat thenK Tell me

though has the mistress of the-lae -ut inan a--earaneK>

>During your a0sene toBayan ol =oman an her aughterarrive.>

>;hat aughterK 3he has no

aughter>

>6ooness &no=s =ho it an 0eif it isnt her aughterF 0ut theol=oman is sitting over there inthe hut no=.>



4 entere the hovel. A 0laGing?re =as 0urning in the stove

an they=ere oo&ing a inner =hihstru& me as 0eing a ratherlu@urious one

for -oor -eo-le. To all myuestions the ol =omanre-lie that she =aseaf an oul not hear me.

There =as nothing to 0e got out

of her. 4turne to the 0lin 0oy =ho =assitting in front of the stove-uttingt=igs into the ?re.

>8o= then you little 0linevil> 4 sai ta&ing him 0y theear.



>Tell me =here =ere youroaming =ith the 0unle last

night ehK>

The 0lin 0oy suenly 0urstout =ee-ing shrie&ing an

=ailing.

>;here i 4 goK 4 i not goany=here... ;ith the 0unleK...;hat

0unleK>

This time the ol =oman hearan she 0egan to mutter:

>Har& at them -lotting anagainst a -oor 0oy too ;hatare youtouhing him forK ;hat has he

one to youK>



4 ha enough of it an =ent

out ?rmly resolve to ?n the&ey to therile.

4 =ra--e myself u- in my feltloa& an sitting o=n on aro& 0y thefene gaGe into the istane.%efore me strethe the sea

agitate0y the storm of the -reviousnight an its monotonous roarli&e themurmur of a to=n over =hihslum0er is 0eginning to ree-realle0ygone years to my min antrans-orte my thoughts

north=ar to our



ol 5a-ital. Agitate 0y myreolletions 4 0eame

o0livious of mysurrounings.

A0out an hour -asse thus

-erha-s even longer. 3uenlysomethingresem0ling a song stru& u-onmy ear. 4t =as a song an thevoie =as a

=omans young an freshBB0ut=here =as it oming fromK... 4listeneFit =as a harmonious meloyBBno= longBra=nout an-laintive no= s=iftan lively. 4 loo&e aroun meBBthere =as no0oy to 0e seen. 4listene



againBBthe souns seeme to 0efalling from the s&y. 4 raise my

eyes.On the roof of my a0in =asstaning a young girl in astri-e ress

an =ith her hair hanginglooseBBa regular =aterBnym-h.3haing her eyesfrom the suns rays =ith the-alm of her han she =as

gaGing intentlyinto the istane. At one timeshe =oul laugh an tal& toherself atanother she =oul stri&e u-her song ane=.

4 have retaine that song in mymemory =or for =or:



At their o=n free =ill

They seem to =aner

Oer the green sea yoner

Those shi-s as still

They are on=ar going

;ith =hite sails o=ing.

An among those shi-s

My eye an mar&

My o=n ear 0arue:

%y t=o oars guie



All un-rovie

;ith sails it sli-s.

The stormB=in raves:

An the ol shi-sBBsee

;ith =ings s-rea free

Over the =aves

They satter an ee

The sea 4 =ill hail

;ith o0eisane ee-:



>Thou 0ase one har&

Thou must not fail

My little 0arue

/rom harm to &ee->

/or lo tis 0earing

Most -reious gear

An 0rave an aring

The arms that steer

;ithin the ar&

My little 0arue.



4nvoluntarily the thought

ourre to me that 4 ha hearthe same voiethe night 0efore. 4 reete fora moment an =hen 4 loo&e

u- at theroof again there =as no girl to0e seen. 3uenly she arte-ast me=ith another song on her li-s

an sna--ing her ?ngers sheran u-to the ol =oman. Thereu-on auarrel arose 0et=een them.

The ol=oman gre= angry an the girllaughe louly. An then 4 sa=my 7nine



running an gam0olling again.3he ame u- to =here 4 =as

sto--e angaGe ?@ely into my fae as ifsur-rise at my -resene. Thenshe

turne arelessly a=ay an=ent uietly to=ars thehar0our. %ut this=as not all. The =hole ay she&e-t hovering aroun my

loging singingan gam0olling =ithout amoments interru-tion. 3trangereature There=as not the slightest sign ofinsanity in her faeF on theontrary hereyes =hih =ere ontinuallyresting u-on me =ere 0right

an -iering.



Moreover they seeme to 0eeno=e =ith a ertain

magneti -o=er aneah time they loo&e at methey a--eare to 0e e@-etinga uestion.

%ut 4 ha only to o-en my li-sto s-ea& an a=ay she =oulrun =ith asly smile.

5ertainly never 0efore ha 4seen a =oman li&e her. 3he =as0y no means0eautifulF 0ut as in othermatters 4 have my o=n-re-ossessions on thesu0et of 0eauty. There =as agoo eal of 0reeing in her...%reeing



in =omen as in horses is agreat thing: a isovery the

reit of =hih 0elongs to young /rane.4tBBthat is to say 0reeing notyoung

/raneBBis hiey to 0e etetein the gait in the hans anfeetFthe nose in -artiular is of thegreatest signi?ane. 4n +ussia

astraight nose is rarer than asmall foot.

My songstress a--eare to 0enot more than eighteen yearsof age. Theunusual su--leness of her?gure the harateristi an

original =ay



she ha of inlining her heaher long lightB0ro=n hair the

golensheen of her slightly sun0urntne& an shoulers anes-eially her

straight noseBBall these hel mefasinate. Although in hersielongglanes 4 oul rea a ertain=ilness an isain although

inher smile there =as a ertainvagueness yetBBsuh is thefore of -reiletionsBBthat straight noseof hers rove me raGy. 4faniethat 4 ha foun 6oethesMignonBBthat ueer reature of

his 6erman



imagination. An inee there=as a goo eal of similarity

0et=eenthemF the same ra-itransitions from the utmostrestlessness to

om-lete immo0ility the sameenigmatial s-eehes thesame gam0olsthe same strange songs.

To=ars evening 4 sto--e herat the oor an entere into thefollo=ingonversation =ith her.

>Tell me my 0eauty> 4 as&e>=hat =ere you oing on theroof toBayK>



>4 =as loo&ing to see from =hatiretion the =in =as

0lo=ing.>

>;hat i you =ant to &no=forK>

>;hene the =in 0lo=s omesha--iness.>

>;ellK ;ere you invo&ing

ha--iness =ith your songK>

>;here there is singing there isalso ha--iness.>

>%ut =hat if your song =ere to0ring you sorro=K>



>;ell =hat thenK ;here things=ont 0e 0etter they =ill 0e

=orseF anfrom 0a to goo again is notfar.>

>An =ho taught you thatsongK>

>8o0oy taught meF it omesinto my hea an 4 singF

=hoever is tohear it he =ill hear it an=hoever ought not to hear ithe =ill notunerstan it.>

>;hat is your name mysongstressK>

>He =ho 0a-tiGe me &no=s.>



>An =ho 0a-tiGe youK>

>Ho= shoul 4 &no=K>

>;hat a seretive girl you are

%ut loo& here 4 have learnesomethinga0out you>BBshe neitherhange ountenane normove her li-s as

though my isovery =as of noonern to herBB>4 have learnethat you=ent to the shore last night.>

An thereu-on 4 very gravelyretaile to her all that 4 haseen



thin&ing that 4 shoulem0arrass her. 8ot a 0it of it

3he 0urst outlaughing heartily.

>You have seen muh 0ut &no=

littleF an =hat you o &no=see that you&ee- it uner lo& an &ey.>

>%ut su--osing no= 4 =as to

ta&e it into my hea to informthe5ommanantK> an here 4assume a very serious not tosay sternemeanour.

3he gave a suen s-ring0egan to sing an hi herself

li&e a 0ir



frightene out of a thi&et. Mylast =ors =ere altogether out

of -lae.4 ha no sus-iion then ho=momentous they =ere 0utafter=ars 4 ha

oasion to rue them.

As soon as the us& of eveningfell 4 orere the 5ossa& toheat the

tea-ot am-aign fashion. 4lighte a anle an sat o=n0y the ta0lesmo&ing my travellingB-i-e. 4=as ust a0out to ?nish myseon tum0lerof tea =hen suenly the oorrea&e an 4 hear 0ehin methe soun of



footste-s an the light rustle ofa ress. 4 starte an turne

roun.

4t =as sheBBmy 7nine. 3oftlyan =ithout saying a =or she

sat o=no--osite to me an ?@e hereyes u-on me. Her glaneseeme =onrouslytener 4 &no= not =hyF it

remine me of one of thoseglanes =hihin years gone 0y soes-otially -laye =ith my life.3he seeme to 0e=aiting for a uestion 0ut 4&e-t silene ?lle =ith anine@-lia0le



sense of em0arrassment.Mental agitation =as evine

0y the ull-allor =hih overs-rea herountenaneF her han =hih 4notie =as

trem0ling slightly moveaimlessly a0out the ta0le. Atone time her0reast heave an at anothershe seeme to 0e holing her

0reath. Thislittle omey =as 0eginning to-all u-on me an 4 =as a0outto 0rea&the silene in a most -rosaimanner that is 0y oering hera glassof teaF =hen suenlys-ringing u- she thre= her

arms aroun my ne&



an 4 felt her moist ?ery li-s-resse u-on mine. Dar&ness

ame 0eforemy eyes my hea 0egan tos=im. 4 em0rae her =ith the=hole strength

of youthful -assion. %ut li&e asna&e she glie from 0et=eenmy arms=his-ering in my ear as she iso:

>ToBnight =hen everyone isaslee- go out to the shore.>

Li&e an arro= she s-rang fromthe room.

4n the hall she u-set the tea-otan a anle =hih =as

staning on the



oor.

>Little evil> rie the 5ossa&=ho ha ta&en u- his -ositionon thestra= an ha ontem-late

=arming himself =ith theremains of the tea.

4t =as only then that 4reovere my senses.

4n a0out t=o hours time =henall ha gro=n silent in thehar0our 4a=a&ene my 5ossa&.

>4f 4 ?re a -istol> 4 sai >run tothe shore.>



He stare o-enBeye anans=ere mehanially:

>Eery =ell sir.>

4 stue a -istol in my 0elt an

=ent out. 3he =as =aiting formeat the ege of the li. Herattire =as more than light ana small

&erhief gire her su--le=aist.

>/ollo= me> she sai ta&ingme 0y the han an =e 0eganto esen.

4 annot unerstan ho= it =asthat 4 i not 0rea& my ne&.

Do=n 0elo=



=e turne to the right an-roeee to ta&e the -ath

along =hih 4 hafollo=e the 0lin 0oy theevening 0efore. The moon hanot yet risen

an only t=o little stars li&et=o guarian lighthouses =eret=in&lingin the ar&B0lue vault ofheaven. The heavy =aves =ith

measure aneven motion rolle one afterthe other sarely lifting thesolitary0oat =hih =as moore to theshore.

>Let us get into the 0oat> saimy om-anion.



4 hesitate. 4 am no lover ofsentimental tri-s on the seaF

0ut this =asnot the time to ra= 0a&. 3helea-e into the 0oat an 4 afterherF

an 4 ha not time to reovermy =its 0efore 4 o0serve that=e =erearift.

>;hat is the meaning of thisK> 4sai angrily.

>4t means> she ans=ereseating me on the 0enh anthro=ing her armsaroun my =aist >it means that4 love you>...



Her hee& =as -resse lose tomine an 4 felt her 0urning

0reath u-onmy fae. 3uenly somethingfell noisily into the =ater. 4luthe at

my 0eltBBmy -istol =as goneAh no= a terri0le sus-iionre-t intomy soul an the 0loo rusheto my hea 4 loo&e roun. ;e

=ere a0out?fty fathoms from the shorean 4 oul not s=im a stro&e 4trieto thrust her a=ay from me 0utshe lung li&e a at to mylothesan suenly a violent =renhall 0ut thre= me into the sea.

The 0oat



ro&e 0ut 4 righte myselfan a es-erate struggle

0egan.

/ury lent me strength 0ut 4soon foun that 4 =as no math

for myo--onent in -oint of agility...

>;hat o you =antK> 4 rie?rmly sueeGing her little

hans.

Her ?ngers runhe 0ut herser-entBli&e nature 0ore u-against thetorture an she i not utter ary.

>You sa= us> she ans=ere.

>You =ill tell on us.>



An =ith a su-ernatural eort

she ung me on to the sie ofthe0oatF =e 0oth hung halfover0oarF her hair touhe the

=ater. Theeisive moment ha ome. 4-lante my &nee against the0ottom of the0oat aught her 0y the tresses

=ith one han an 0y the throat=ith theotherF she let go my lothesan in an instant 4 ha thro=nher intothe =aves.

4t =as no= rather ar&F one ort=ie her hea a--eare for an

instant



amist the sea foam an 4 sa=no more of her.

4 foun the half of an ol oar atthe 0ottom of the 0oat ansomeho= or

other after lengthy eorts 4mae fast to the har0our.Ma&ing my =ayalong the shore to=ars myhut 4 involuntarily gaGe in the

iretionof the s-ot =here on the-revious night the 0lin 0oyha a=aite thenoturnal mariner. The moon=as alreay rolling through thes&y an itseeme to me that some0oyin =hite =as sitting on the

shore. 3-urre 0y



uriosity 4 re-t u- anrouhe o=n in the grass on

the toof theli. %y thrusting my hea out alittle =ay 4 =as a0le to get agoo

vie= of everything that =asha--ening o=n 0elo= an 4=as not verymuh astonishe 0ut almostreoie =hen 4 reognise my

=aterBnym-h.3he =as =ringing the seafoamfrom her long hair. Her =etgarmentoutline her su--le ?gure anher high 0osom.

3oon a 0oat a--eare in theistaneF it re= near ra-ilyF

an as on



the night 0efore a man in a Tartar a- ste--e out of it 0ut

he no=ha his hair ro--e roun inthe 5ossa& fashion an alarge &nife =as

sti&ing out 0ehin his leather0elt.

>Yan&o> the girl sai >all islost>

Then their onversationontinue 0ut so softly that 4oul not atha =or of it.

>%ut =here is the 0lin 0oyK>sai Yan&o at last raising hisvoie.



>4 have tol him to ome> =asthe re-ly.

After a fe= minutes the 0lin0oy a--eare ragging on his0a& a sa&

=hih they -lae in the 0oat.

>Listen> sai Yan&o to the 0lin0oy. >6uar that -lae You&no= =here

4 meanK There are valua0legoos there. Tell>BB4 oul notath thenameBB>that 4 am no longer hisservant. Things have gone0aly. He =illsee me no more. 4t is angerousno=. 4 =ill go see& =or& inanother



-lae an he =ill never 0e a0leto ?n another areBevil li&e

me. Tell him also that if he ha -aime a little 0etter for myla0ours 4

=oul not have forsa&en him./or me there is a =ayany=here if only the=in 0lo=s an the sea roars.>

After a short silene Yan&oontinue.

>3he is oming =ith me. 4t isim-ossi0le for her to remainhere. Tellthe ol =oman that it is time forher to ieF she has 0een here along



time an the line must 0era=n some=here. As for us

she =ill neversee us any more.>

>An 4K> sai the 0lin 0oy in a

-laintive voie.

>;hat use have 4 for youK> =asthe ans=er.

4n the meantime my 7nineha s-rung into the 0oat. 3he0e&one to herom-anion =ith her han. He-lae something in the 0lin0oys han anae:

>There 0uy yourself some

ginger0reas.>



>4s this allK> sai the 0lin 0oy.

>;ell here is some more.>

The money fell an ingle as it

stru& the ro&.

The 0lin 0oy i not -i& it u-. Yan&o too& his seat in the 0oatFthe

=in =as 0lo=ing from theshoreF they hoiste the little sailan s-era-ily a=ay. /or a long timethe =hite sail gleame in themoonlightami the ar& =aves. 3till the0lin 0oy remaine seateu-on the shore



an then 4 hear something=hih soune li&e so00ing.

The 0lin 0oy=as in fat =ee-ing an for along long time his tearso=e... 4

gre= heavyBhearte. /or =hatreason shoul fate have thro=nme into the-eaeful irle of honoura0lesmugglersK Li&e a stone ast

into a smooth=ell 4 ha istur0e theiruietue an 4 0arely esa-egoing to the0ottom li&e a stone.

4 returne home. 4n the hall the0urntBout anle =ass-luttering on



a =ooen -latter an my5ossa& ontrary to orers

=as fast aslee-=ith his gun hel in 0oth hans.4 left him at rest too& theanle

an entere the hut. Alas myash0o@ my sa0re =ith thesilver hasingmy Daghestan aggerBBthe giftof a frienBBall ha vanishe 4t

=asthen that 4 guesse =hatartiles the urse 0lin 0oyha 0een raggingalong. +oughly sha&ing the5ossa& 4 =o&e him u- ratehim an lostmy tem-er. %ut =hat =as thegoo of thatK An =oul it not

have 0een



riiulous to om-lain to theauthorities that 4 ha 0een

ro00e 0y a0lin 0oy an all 0ut ro=ne0y an eighteenByearBol girlK

Than& heaven an o--ortunity of getting a=ay -resente itself inthemorning an 4 left Taman.

;hat 0eame of the ol =omanan the -oor 0lin 0oy 4 &no=not.An 0esies =hat are the oysan sorro=s of man&in to meBBme atravelling oIer an onemoreover =ith an orer for-ostBhorses on

6overnment 0usinessK



%OO9 4E TH$ 3$5O8D $CT+A5T

/+OM P$5HO+483 D4A+Y

TH$ /ATAL43T

4 O85$ ha--ene to s-en a

ou-le of =ee&s in a 5ossa&village on ourleft an&. A 0attalion of infantry=as statione thereF an it =astheustom of the oIers to meetat eah others uarters in turnan -layars in the evening.



On one oasionBBit =as atMaor 3BBBBsBB?ning our game

of %oston notsuIiently a0sor0ing =e thre=the ars uner the ta0le ansat

on for a long time tal&ing. Theonversation for one in a =ay=asinteresting. The su0et =as theMussulman traition that a

mans fateis =ritten in heaven an =eisusse the fat that it =asgaining manyvotaries even amongst our o=nountrymen. $ah of us relatevariouse@traorinary ourrenes -roor ontra.



>;hat you have 0een sayinggentlemen -roves nothing>

sai the olmaor. >4 -resume there is notone of you =ho has atually0een a

=itness of the strange events=hih you are iting in su--ortof youro-inionsK>

>8ot one of ourse> sai manyof the guests. >%ut =e havehear of them from trust=orthy-eo-le.>...

>4t is all nonsense> someonesai. >;here are thetrust=orthy -eo-le



=ho have seen the +egister in=hih the a--ointe hour of our

eath isreoreK... An if-reestination really e@ists=hy are free =ill

an reason grante usK ;hyare =e o0lige to rener anaount of ourationsK>

At that moment an oIer =ho=as sitting in a orner of theroom stoou- an oming slo=ly to theta0le surveye us all =ith auiet ansolemn glane. He =as a nativeof 3ervia as =as evient fromhis name.



The out=ar a--earane ofLieutenant Eulih =as uite in

&ee-ing =ithhis harater. His heights=arthy om-le@ion 0la& hair-iering

0la& eyes large 0ut straightnoseBBan attri0ute of hisnationBBan theol an melanholy smile=hih ever hovere aroun his

li-s all seemeto onur in lening him thea--earane of a man a-artina-a0le of rei-roating the thoughts an-assions of those =hom fategave him forom-anions.



He =as 0raveF tal&e little 0utshar-lyF on?e his thoughts

anfamily serets to no oneF ran&harly a roof =ineF annever angle

after the young 5ossa& girls=hose harm it is iIult torealise=ithout having seen them. 4t=as sai ho=ever that the

olonels=ife =as not inierent to thosee@-ressive eyes of hisF 0ut he=asseriously angry if any hint onthe su0et =as mae.

There =as only one -assion=hih he i not onealBBthe

-assion for



gam0ling. At the green ta0le he=oul 0eome o0livious of

everything. Heusually lost 0ut his onstant illsuess only arouse hiso0stinay.

4t =as relate that on oneoasion uring a noturnale@-eitionhe =as &ee-ing the 0an& on a-illo= an ha a terri? run of

lu&.3uenly shots rang out. Thealarm =as souneF all 0utEulih um-e u-an rushe to arms.

>3ta&e va 0anue> he rie toone of the most arentgam0lers.



>3even> the latter ans=ere ashe hurrie o.

8ot=ithstaning the generalonfusion Eulih almly?nishe the

ealBBseven =as the ar. %ythe time he reahe the orona violentfusillae =as in -rogress. Eulihi not trou0le himself a0out

the0ullets or the sa0res of the5hehenes 0ut sought for thelu&ygam0ler.

>3even it =as> he rie out asat length he -ereive him inthe



oron of s&irmishers =ho =ere0eginning to isloge the

enemy from the=ooF an going u- to him here= out his -urse an -o&etB0oo& an

hane them to the =innernot=ithstaning the latterso0etions onthe sore of the inonvenieneof the -ayment. That

un-leasant utyisharge Eulih ashefor=ar arrie the soliersalong after himan to the very en of theaair fought the 5hehenes=ith the utmostoolness.



;hen Lieutenant Eulih ameu- to the ta0le =e all 0eame

silente@-eting to hear as usualsomething original.

>6entlemen> he saiBBan hisvoie =as uiet though lo=er intone thanusualBB>gentlemen =hat is thegoo of futile isussionsK You

=ish for-roofsK 4 -ro-ose that =e trythe e@-eriment on ourselves:=hether a manan of his o=n aor is-oseof his life or =hether the fatefulmomentis a--ointe 0eforehan foreah of us. ;ho is agreea0leK>



>8ot 4. 8ot 4> ame from allsies.

>Theres a ueer fello= for youHe oes get strange ieas intohis

hea>

>4 -ro-ose a =ager> 4 sai in est.

>;hat sort of =agerK>

>4 maintain that there is no suhthing as -reestination> 4 saisattering on the ta0le a soreor so of uatsBBall 4 ha in my-o&et.



>Done> ans=ere Eulih in ahollo= voie. >Maor you =ill 0e

uge.Here are ?fteen uats theremaining ?ve you o=e me&inly a them

to the others.>

>Eery =ell> sai the maorF>though inee 4 o notunerstan =hat

is the uestion at issue an ho=you =ill eie it>

;ithout a =or Eulih =ent intothe maors 0eroom an =efollo=ehim. He =ent u- to the =all on=hih the maors =ea-ons=ere hanging



an too& o=n at ranom oneof the -istolsBBof =hih there

=ere severalof ierent ali0res. ;e =erestill in the ar& as to =hat hemeant

to o. %ut =hen he o&e the-istol an s-rin&le -o=er inthe -anseveral of the oIers ryingout in s-ite of themselves

seiGe him0y the arms.

>;hat are you going to oK>they e@laime. >This ismaness>

>6entlemen> he sai slo=lyisengaging his arm. >;ho

=oul li&e to -ay



t=enty uats for meK>

They =ere silent an re=a=ay.

Eulih =ent into the other room

an sat 0y the ta0leF =e allfollo=ehim. ;ith a sign he invite usto sit roun him. ;e o0eye insileneBBat that moment he ha

auire a ertain mysteriousauthorityover us. 4 stare ?@ely into hisfaeF 0ut he met mysrutinisinggaGe =ith a uiet an steayglane an his -alli li-ssmile. %ut



not=ithstaning his om-osureit seeme to me that 4 oul

rea thestam- of eath u-on his -aleountenane. 4 have notieBBan many ol

soliers have orro0orate myo0servationBBthat a man =ho isto ie ina fe= hours freuently 0ears onhis fae a ertain strange

stam- of inevita0le fate so that it isiIult for -ratise eyes to 0emista&en.

>You =ill ie toBay> 4 sai toEulih.



He turne to=ars me ra-ily0ut ans=ere slo=ly an

uietly:

>May 0e so may 0e not.>...

Then aressing himself to themaor he as&e:

>4s the -istol loaeK>

The maor in the onfusionoul not uite remem0er.

>There that =ill o Eulih>e@laime some0oy. >Ofourse it must 0eloae if it =as one of thosehanging on the =all there overour heas.

;hat a man you are for o&ing>



>A silly o&e too> stru& in

another.

>4 =ager ?fty ru0les to ?ve thatthe -istol is not loae> rie a

thir.

A ne= 0et =as mae.

4 =as 0eginning to get tire of it

all.

>Listen> 4 sai >either shootyourself or hang u- the -istolin its-lae an let us go to 0e.>

>Yes of ourse> manye@laime. >Let us go to 0e.>



>6entlemen 4 0eg of you not tomove> sai Eulih -utting the

muGGleof the -istol to his forehea.

;e =ere all -etri?e.

>Mr. Pehorin> he ae >ta&ea ar an thro= it u- in theair.>

4 too& as 4 remem0er no= anae of hearts o the ta0le anthre=it into the air. All hel their0reath. ;ith eyes full of terrorana ertain vague uriosity theyglane ra-ily from the -istolto the



fateful ae =hih slo=lyesene uivering in the air.

At the momentit touhe the ta0le Eulih-ulle the trigger... a ash inthe -an

>Than& 6o> many e@laime.>4t =asnt loae>

>Let us see though> sai

Eulih.

He o&e the -istol again antoo& aim at a forageBa- =hih=ashanging a0ove the =ino=. Ashot rang out. 3mo&e ?lle theroomF =hen



it leare a=ay the forageBa-=as ta&en o=n. 4t ha 0een

shot rightthrough the entre an the0ullet =as ee-ly em0ee inthe =all.

/or t=o or three minutes no one=as a0le to utter a =or. EeryuietlyEulih -oure my uats from

the maors -urse into his o=n.

Disussions arose as to =hy the-istol ha not gone o the ?rsttime. 3ome maintaine that-ro0a0ly the -an ha 0eeno0struteF others=his-ere that the -o=er ha0een am- the ?rst time an

that



after=ars Eulih ha s-rin&lesome fresh -o=er on itF 0ut 4

maintaine that the lastsu--osition =as =rong0eause 4 ha not oneta&en my eyes o the -istol.

>You are lu&y at -lay> 4 sai toEulih...

>/or the ?rst time in my life>

he ans=ere =ith aom-laent smile.>4t is 0etter than 0an& anshtoss.> #2)*

>%ut on the other han slightlymore angerous>

>;ellK Have you 0egun to

0elieve in -reestinationK



>4 o 0elieve in itF only 4 annot

unerstan no= =hy ita--eare to methat you must inevita0ly ie toBay>

An this same man =ho suha short time 0efore ha =iththe greatestalmness aime a -istol at his

o=n forehea no= suenly?re u- an0eame em0arrasse.

>That =ill o though> he sairising to his feet. >Our =ager is?nishe an no= youro0servations it seems to meare out of -lae.>



He too& u- his a- ane-arte. The =hole aair

stru& me as 0eingstrangeBBan not =ithoutreason. 3hortly after that allthe oIers

0ro&e u- an =ent homeisussing Eulihs frea&s fromierent -ointsof vie= an ou0tless =ithone voie alling me an egoist

for havingta&en u- a =ager against a man=ho =ante to shoot himselfas if heoul not have foun aonvenient o--ortunity =ithoutmy intervention.



4 returne home 0y theeserte 0y=ays of the village.

The moon fullan re li&e the glo= of aonagration =as 0eginning toma&e its

a--earane from 0ehin the agge horiGon of the houseBto-sF the stars=ere shining tranuilly in theee- 0lue vault of the s&yF an

4 =asstru& 0y the a0surity of theiea =hen 4 realle to minthat oneu-on a time there =ere somee@eeingly =ise -eo-le =hothought that thestars of heaven -artii-ate inour insigni?ant sua00les for a

slie



of groun or some otherimaginary rights. An =hat

thenK These lam-slighte so they fanie only toilluminate their 0attles antrium-hs

are 0urning =ith all their former0rilliane =hilst the =isearesthemselves together =ith theirho-es an -assions have long0een

e@tinguishe li&e a little ?re&inle at the ege of a forest0y aareless =ayfarer %ut on theother han =hat strength of=ill=as lent them 0y the onvitionthat the entire heavens =ith



their innumera0le ha0itants=ere loo&ing at them =ith a

sym-athyunaltera0le though mute...An =e their misera0leesenants

roaming over the earth =ithoutfaith =ithout -rie =ithoutenoymentan =ithout terrorBBe@e-t thatinvoluntary a=e =hih ma&es

the heartshrin& at the thought of theinevita0le enBB=e are nolonger a-a0leof great sari?es either for thegoo of man&in or even forour o=nha--iness 0eause =e &no=the im-ossi0ility of suh

ha--inessF an



ust as our anestors use toing themselves from one

elusion toanother =e -ass inierentlyfrom ou0t to ou0t =ithout-ossessing

as they i either ho-e or eventhat vague though at the sametime&een enoyment =hih the soulenounters at every struggle

=ith man&inor =ith estiny.

These an many other similarthoughts -asse through mymin 0ut 4i not follo= them u- 0eause4 o not li&e to =ell u-ona0strat



ieasBBfor =hat o they lea toK4n my early youth 4 =as a

reamerF 4love to hug to my 0osom theimagesBBno= gloomy no=rain0o=hueBB=hih

my restless an eagerimagination re= for me. An=hat is there left tome of all theseK Only suh=eariness as might 0e felt after

a 0attle 0ynight =ith a -hantomBBonly aonfuse memory full ofregrets. 4n thatvain ontest 4 have e@haustethe =armth of soul an?rmness of =illinis-ensa0le to an ative life. 4have entere u-on that life

after



having alreay live through itin thought an it has 0eome

=earisomean nauseous to me as thereaing of a 0a imitation of a0oo& is to

one =ho has long 0een familiar=ith the original.

The events of that evening-roue a some=hat ee-

im-ression u-on mean e@ite my nerves. 4 o not&no= for ertain =hether 4 no=0elievein -reestination or not 0ut onthat evening 4 0elieve in it?rmly.

The -roof =as startling an 4not=ithstaning that 4 ha

laughe at



our forefathers an theiro0liging astrology fell

involuntarily intotheir =ay of thin&ing. Ho=ever4 sto--e myself in time fromfollo=ing

that angerous roa an as 4have mae it a rule not toreetanything eisively an not totrust anything 0linly 4 ast

meta-hysis asie an 0eganto loo& at =hat =as 0eneath myfeet. The-reaution =as =ellBtime. 4only ust esa-e stum0lingover somethingthi& an soft 0ut to alla--earane inanimate. 4 0ento=n to see



=hat it =as an 0y the light ofthe moon =hih no= shone

right u-onthe roa 4 -ereive that it =asa -ig =hih ha 0een ut in t=o=ith

a sa0re... 4 ha harly time toe@amine it 0efore 4 hear thesoun of ste-s an t=o 5ossa&s amerunning out of a 0y=ay. One of

them ame u-to me an enuire =hether 4ha seen a run&en 5ossa&hasing a -ig.4 informe him that 4 ha notmet the 5ossa& an -ointe tothe unha--yvitim of his ra0i 0ravery.



>The sounrel> sai theseon 5ossa&. >8o sooner

oes he rin& his?ll of hi&hir #2N* than o hegoes an uts u- anything thatomes in

his =ay. Let us 0e after him$remeih =e must tie him u-or else>...

They too& themselves o an 4

ontinue my =ay =ith greaterautionan at length arrive at mylogings =ithout misha-.

4 =as living =ith a ertain ol5ossa& uneroIer =hom 4love



not only on aount of his&inly is-osition 0ut also an

morees-eially on aount of his-retty aughter 8astya.

;ra--e u- in a shee-s&in oatshe =as =aiting for me asusual 0y the=i&et gate. The moonillumine her harming little

li-s no= turne0lue 0y the ol of the night.+eogniGing me she smileF 0ut4 =as inno moo to linger =ith her.

>6oo night 8astya> 4 saian -asse on.



3he =as a0out to ma&e someans=er 0ut only sighe.

4 fastene the oor of my roomafter me lighte a anle anthre=

myself on the 0eF 0ut on thatoasion slum0er ause its-reseneto 0e a=aite longer thanusual. %y the time 4 fell aslee-

the east =as0eginning to gro= -ale 0ut 4=as eviently -reestine notto havemy slee- out. At four olo& inthe morning t=o ?sts &no&eat my=ino=. 4 s-rang u-.

>;hat is the matterK>



>6et u-BBress yourself>

4 resse hurriely an =entout.

>Do you &no= =hat hasha--eneK> sai three oIers=ho ha ome forme s-ea&ing all in one voie.

They =ere ealy -ale.

>8o =hat is itK>

>Eulih has 0een murere>

4 =as -etri?e.



>Yes murere> theyontinue. >Let us lose no time

an go>

>%ut =here toK>

>You =ill learn as =e go.>

;e set o. They tol me all thatha ha--ene su--lementingtheir

story =ith a variety ofo0servations on the su0et ofthe strange-reestination =hih ha saveEulih from imminent eath half an hour0efore he atually met his en.



Eulih ha 0een =al&ing alonealong a ar& street an the

run&en5ossa& =ho ha ut u- the -igha s-rung out u-on him an-erha-s

=oul have -asse him 0y=ithout notiing him ha notEulih sto--esuenly an sai:

>;hom are you loo&ing for mymanK>

>You> ans=ere the 5ossa&stri&ing him =ith his sa0reF anhe lefthim from the shouler almost tothe heart...



The t=o 5ossa&s =ho ha metme an follo=e the murerer

ha arrive onthe sene an raise the=oune man from the groun.%ut he =as alreay

as his last gas- an sai thesethree =ors onlyBB>he =asright>

4 alone unerstoo the ar&

signi?ane of those =ors:they referreto me. 4 ha involuntarilyforetol his fate to -oor Eulih.My instintha not eeive meF 4 hainee rea on his hangeountenane thesigns of a--roahing eath.



The murerer ha lo&ehimself u- in an em-ty hut at

the en of thevillageF an thither =e =ent. Anum0er of =omen all of them=ee-ing

=ere running in the sameiretionF at times a 0elate5ossa& hastily0u&ling on his agger s-rangout into the street an overtoo&

us at arun. The tumult =as reaful.

At length =e arrive on thesene an foun a ro=staning aroun thehut the oor an shutters of=hih =ere lo&e on theinsie. 6rou-s of



oIers an 5ossa&s =ereengage in heate isussionsF

the =omen =ereshrie&ing =ailing an tal&ing allin one 0reath. One of the ol=omen stru& my attention 0y

her meaning loo&s an thefranti es-aire@-resse u-on her fae. 3he=as sitting on a thi& -lan&leaning her

el0o=s on her &nees ansu--orting her hea =ith herhans. 4t =as themother of the murerer. Attimes her li-s move... ;as it a-rayer they=ere =his-ering or a urseK



Mean=hile it =as neessary toeie u-on some ourse of

ation an toseiGe the riminal. 8o0oyho=ever mae 0ol to 0e the?rst to rush

for=ar.

4 =ent u- to the =ino= anloo&e in through a hin& in theshutter.

The riminal -ale of fae =aslying on the oor holing a-istol inhis right han. The 0looBstaine sa0re =as 0esie him.His e@-ressiveeyes =ere rolling in terrorF attimes he shuere anluthe at his



hea as if inistintly reallingthe events of yesteray. 4 oul

notrea any sign of greatetermination in that uneasyglane of his an

4 tol the maor that it =oul 0e0etter at one to give orers tothe5ossa&s to 0urst o-en theoor an rush in than to =ait

until themurerer ha uite reoverehis senses.

At that moment the ol a-tainof the 5ossa&s =ent u- to theoor analle the murerer 0y name.

The latter ans=ere 0a&.



>You have ommitte a sin0rother $-himyh> sai the

a-tain >so allyou an o no= is to su0mit.>

>4 =ill not su0mit> ans=ere

the 5ossa&.

>Have you no fear of 6o Yousee you are not one of thoseurse

5hehenes 0ut an honest5hristian 5ome if you haveone it in anunguare moment there is nohel- for it You annot esa-eyour fate>

>4 =ill not su0mit> e@laimethe 5ossa& menaingly an

=e oul hear



the sna- of the o&e trigger.

>Hey my goo =oman> saithe 5ossa& a-tain to the ol=oman. >3ay a=or to your sonBB-erha-s he

=ill len an ear to you... Yousee to goon li&e this is only to ma&e 6oangry. An loo& the gentlemenhere

have alreay 0een =aiting t=ohours.>

The ol =oman gaGe ?@ely athim an shoo& her hea.

>Easili Petrovih> sai thea-tain going u- to the maorF>he =ill



not surrener. 4 &no= him 4f itomes to smashing in the oor

he =illstri&e o=n several of our men.;oul it not 0e 0etter if youorere

him to 0e shotK There is a =iehin& in the shutter.>

At that moment a strange ieaashe through my heaBBli&e

Eulih 4-ro-ose to -ut fate to the test.

>;ait> 4 sai to the maor >4=ill ta&e him alive.>

%iing the a-tain enter into aonversation =ith the murereran



setting three 5ossa&s at theoor reay to fore it o-en an

rush to myai at a given signal 4 =al&eroun the hut an a--roahethe fatal

=ino=. My heart =as 0eatingviolently.

>Aha you urse =reth> riethe a-tain. >Are you laughing

at usehK Or o you thin& that =e=ont 0e a0le to get the 0etterof youK>

He 0egan to &no& at the oor=ith all his might. Putting myeye to the



hin& 4 follo=e themovements of the 5ossa&

=ho =as not e@-eting anatta& from that iretion. 4-ulle the shutter a=aysuenly an thre=

myself in at the =ino= heaforemost. A shot rang out rightover myear an the 0ullet tore o oneof my e-aulettes. %ut the

smo&e =hih?lle the room -revente myaversary from ?ning thesa0re =hih =aslying 0esie him. 4 seiGe him0y the armsF the 5ossa&s 0urstinF anthree minutes ha not ela-se0efore they ha the riminal

0oun an le



o uner esort.

The -eo-le is-erse theoIers ongratulate meBBaninee there=as ause for ongratulation.

After all that it =oul harlyseem -ossi0le to avoi0eoming afatalistK %ut =ho &no=s for

ertain =hether he is onvineof anythingor notK An ho= often is aee-tion of the senses or anerror of thereason ae-te as aonvition... 4 -refer to ou0teverything. 3uh a



is-osition is no 0ar to eisionof haraterF on the ontrary

so faras 4 am onerne 4 al=aysavane more 0olly =hen 4 onot &no= =hat

is a=aiting me. You see nothingan ha--en =orse than eathBBan fromeath there is no esa-e.

On my return to the fortress 4relate to Ma&sim Ma&simyhall that4 ha seen an e@-erieneFan 4 sought to learn his o-inionon thesu0et of -reestination.



At ?rst he i not unerstanthe =or. 4 e@-laine it to him

as =ellas 4 oul an then he sai=ith a signi?ant sha&e of thehea:

>Yes sir of ourse 4t =as avery ingenious tri& Ho=evertheseAsiati -istols often miss ?re if

they are 0aly oile or if youont-ress har enough on thetrigger. 4 onfess 4 ont li&e the5irassianar0ines either. 3omeho= orother they ont suit the li&e ofus: the



0utt en is so small an anyminute you may get your nose

0urnt On theother han their sa0res no=BB=ell all 4 nee say is my 0estres-ets

to them>

After=ars he sai onreeting a little:

>Yes it is a -ity a0out the -oorfello= The evil must have -utitinto his hea to start aonversation =ith a run&enman at nightHo=ever it is evient that fateha =ritten it so at his 0irth>



4 oul not get anything moreout of Ma&sim Ma&simyhF

generallys-ea&ing he ha no li&ing formeta-hysial is-utations.

%OO9 E TH$ TH4+D $CT+A5T

/+OM P$5HO+483 D4A+Y

P+485$33 MA+Y

5HAPT$+ 4. 11th May.



Y$3T$+DAY 4 arrive atPyatigors&. 4 have engage

logings at thee@treme en of the to=n thehighest -art at the foot ofMount Mashu&:

uring a storm the lous =illesen on to the roof of my=elling.

This morning at ?ve olo&

=hen 4 o-ene my =ino= theroom =as?lle =ith the fragrane of theo=ers gro=ing in the moestlittlefrontBgaren. %ranhes of0loomBlaen 0irBherry trees-ee- in at my



=ino= an no= an again the0reeGe 0estre=s my =ritingB

ta0le =iththeir =hite -etals. The vie==hih meets my gaGe on threesies is

=onerful: =est=ar to=ers?veB-ea&e %eshtau 0lue as>the last louof a is-erse storm> #2Q* annorth=ar rises Mashu& li&e a

shaggyPersian a- shutting in the=hole of that uarter of thehoriGon.$ast=ar the outloo& is moreheery: o=n 0elo= areis-laye thevarie hues of the 0ranBne=s-otlessly lean little to=n

=ith its



murmuring healthBgivings-rings an its 0a00ling manyB

tongue throng. Yoner further a=ay themountains to=er u- in anam-hitheatre ever

0luer an mistierF an at theege of the horiGon strethesthesilver hain of sno=Blasummits 0eginning =ith

9aG0e& an ening =itht=oB-ea&e $l0ruG... %lithe islife in suh a lan A feelinga&in tora-ture is iuse through allmy veins. The air is -ure anfreshli&e the &iss of a hilF the sunis 0right the s&y is 0lueBB=hat

more



oul one -ossi0ly =ish forK;hat nee in suh a -lae as

this of -assions esires regretsK

Ho=ever it is time to 0e

stirring. 4 =ill go to the $liGavetas-ringBB4am tol that the =hole soietyof the =ateringB-laeassem0les there in

the morning.

Desening into the mile ofthe to=n 4 =al&e along the0oulevaron =hih 4 met a fe=melanholy grou-s slo=ly

asening the mountain.



These for the most -art =erethe families of laneBgentry

from theste--esBBas oul 0e guesseat one from the threa0areolBfashione

fro&Boats of the hus0ans anthe e@uisite attire of the =ivesan aughters. $viently theyalreay ha all the young menof the

=ateringB-lae at their ?ngersens 0eause they loo&e atme =itha tener uriosity. ThePeters0urg ut of my oatmisle themF 0utthey soon reognise themilitary e-aulettes an turnea=ay =ith

inignation.



The =ives of the loal

authoritiesBBthe hostesses so tos-ea& of the=atersBB=ere more graiouslyinline. They arry lorgnettes

an they-ay less attention to a uniformBBthey have gro=n austome inthe5auasus to meeting a fervi

heart 0eneath a num0ere0utton an aulture intellet 0eneath a=hite forageBa-. These laiesare veryharming an long ontinue to0e harming. $ah year theiraorers



are e@hange for ne= onesan in that very fat it may 0e

lies theseret of their un=earyingamia0ility.

Asening 0y the narro= -athto the $liGaveta s-ring 4overtoo& a ro=of oIials an military men=ho as 4 su0seuently learne

om-ose alass a-art amongst those =ho-lae their ho-es in themeiinal =aters.

They rin&BB0ut not =aterBBta&e0ut fe= =al&s inulge in onlymilirtations gam0le anom-lain of 0oreom.



They are anies. 4n lettingtheir =i&erBsheathe tum0lers

o=n intothe =ell of sul-hurous =aterthey assume aaemial -oses.

The oIials

=ear 0right 0lue ravatsF themilitary men have rus sti&ingout a0ovetheir ollars. They aet a-rofoun ontem-t for

-rovinial laiesan sigh for the aristoratira=ingBrooms of the a-italsBBto =hihthey are not amitte.

Here is the =ell at last... 7-onthe small suare aoining it alittle



house =ith a re roof over the0ath is erete an some=hat

further onthere is a gallery in =hih the-eo-le =al& =hen it rains.3ome =oune

oIers =ere sittingBB-ale anmelanholyBBon a 0enh =iththeirruthes ra=n u-. A fe=laies their tum0ler of =ater

?nishe =ere=al&ing =ith ra-i ste-s to anfro a0out the suare. There=ere t=o orthree -retty faes amongstthem. %eneath the avenues ofthe vines =ith=hih the slo-e of Mashu& isovere oasional glim-ses

oul 0e



aught of the gayBoloure hatof a lover of solitue for t=oBB

for0esie that hat 4 al=ays notieeither a military forageBa- orthe

ugly roun hat of a ivilian.7-on the stee- li =here the-avilionalle >The Aeolian Har-> iserete ?gure the lovers of

seneryireting their teleso-es u-on$l0ruG. Amongst them =ere aou-le of tutors =ith their -u-ils =hoha ome to 0e ure ofsrofula.



Out of 0reath 4 ame to astanstill at the ege of the

mountain anleaning against the orner of alittle house 4 0egan to e@aminethe

-ituresue surrounings =hensuenly 4 hear 0ehin me afamiliarvoie.

>Pehorin Have you 0een herelongK>

4 turne roun. 6rushnits&i ;eem0rae. 4 ha mae hisauaintanein the ative servieetahment. He ha 0een=oune in the foot 0y a



0ullet an ha ome to the=aters a =ee& or so 0efore me.

6rushnits&i is a aetF he hasonly 0een a year in the servie./rom

a &in of fo--ery -euliar tohimself he =ears the thi&loa& of aommon solier. He has alsothe soliers ross of 3t.

6eorge. He is=ell 0uilt s=arthy an 0la&Bhaire. To loo& at him youmight say he=as a man of t=entyB?vealthough he is sarely t=entyBone. He tosseshis hea =hen he s-ea&s an&ee-s ontinually t=irling his

moustahe



=ith his left han his righthan 0eing ou-ie =ith the

ruth on=hih he leans. He s-ea&sra-ily an aetelyF he is oneof those

-eo-le =ho have a highBsouning -hrase reay forevery oasion inlife =ho remain untouhe 0ysim-le 0eauty an =ho ra-e

themselvesmaestially in e@traorinarysentiments e@alte -assionsane@e-tional suerings. To-roue an eet is theirelightF they havean almost insensate fonnessfor romanti -rovinial laies.

;hen



ol age a--roahes they0eome either -eaeful laneB

gentry orrun&arsBBsometimes 0oth./reuently they have manygoo ualities

0ut they have not a grain of-oetry in their om-osition.6rushnits&is-assion =as elamation. He=oul eluge you =ith =ors so

soon as theonversation =ent 0eyon thes-here of orinary ieas. 4 havenever 0eena0le to is-ute =ith him. Heneither ans=ers your uestionsnor listensto you. 3o soon as you sto- he0egins a lengthy tirae =hih

has



the a--earane of 0eing insome sort onnete =ith =hat

you have 0eensaying 0ut =hih is in fatonly a ontinuation of his o=nharangue.

He is =itty enoughF hise-igrams are freuentlyamusing 0ut nevermaliious nor to the -oint. He

slays no0oy =ith a single=orF he hasno &no=lege of men an oftheir foi0les 0eause all his lifehe has0een intereste in no0oy 0uthimself. His aim is to ma&ehimself the



hero of a novel. He has so ofteneneavoure to onvine others

that heis a 0eing reate not for this=orl an oome to ertainmysterious

suerings that he has almostonvine himself that suh heis inreality. Hene the -rie =ith=hih he =ears his thi&

soliers loa&.4 have seen through him anhe isli&es me for that reasonalthoughto out=ar a--earane =e areon the frienliest of terms.6rushnits&iis loo&e u-on as a man ofistinguishe ourage. 4 have

seen him in



ation. He =aves his sa0reshouts an hurls himself

for=ar =ith hiseyes shut. That is not =hat 4shoul all +ussian ourage...

4 rei-roate 6rushnits&isisli&e. 4 feel that some time orother =eshall ome into ollision u-on anarro= roa an that one of us

=illfare 0aly.

His arrival in the 5auasus isalso the result of his romantifanatiism. 4 am onvine thaton the eve of his e-arturefrom his



-aternal village he sai =ith anair of gloom to some -retty

neigh0ourthat he =as going a=ay not somuh for the sim-le -ur-ose ofserving

in the army as of see&ingeath 0eause... anhereu-on 4 am surehe overe his eyes =ith hishan an ontinue thus >8o

youBBorthouBBmust not &no= Your -uresoul =oul shuer An =hat=oul 0e thegooK ;hat am 4 to youK 5oulyou unerstan meK>... an soon.



He has himself tol me that themotive =hih inue him to

enter the9BBBBregiment must remain aneverlasting seret 0et=een himan Heaven.

Ho=ever in moments =hen heasts asie the tragi mantle6rushnits&iis harming an entertaining

enough. 4 am al=ays interesteto see him=ith =omenBBit is then that he-uts forth his ?nest eorts 4thin&

;e met li&e a ou-le of olfriens. 4 0egan to uestion hima0out



the -ersonages of note an asto the sort of life =hih =as le

at the=aters.

>4t is a rather -rosai life> he

sai =ith a sigh. >Those =horin&the =aters in the morning areinertBBli&e all invalis an those=ho

rin& the =ines in the eveningare unenura0leBBli&e allhealthy -eo-le

There are laies =ho entertain0ut there is no greatamusement to 0eo0taine from them. They -lay=hist they ress 0aly ans-ea& /renh



reafully The only Moso=-eo-le here this year are

Priness Ligovs&ian her aughterBB0ut 4 am notauainte =ith them. Mysoliers loa&

is li&e a seal of renuniation. The sym-athy =hih it arousesis as-ainful as harity.>

At that moment t=o laies=al&e -ast us in the iretionof the =ellFone elerly the other youthfulan slener. 4 oul not o0tain agoovie= of their faes on aountof their hats 0ut they =ereresse in



aorane =ith the strit rulesof the 0est tasteBBnothing

su-eruous. The seon lay =as =earing ahighBne&e ress of -earlBgreyan a

light sil& &erhief =as =ounroun her su--le ne&. PueBoloure 0ootslas-e her slim little an&le soharmingly that even those

uninitiateinto the mysteries of 0eauty=oul infalli0ly have sighe ifonly from=oner. There =as somethingmaienly in her easy 0utaristorati gaitsomething eluing e?nitionyet intelligi0le to the glane. As

she



=al&e -ast us an ine?na0le-erfume li&e that =hih

sometimes0reathes from the note of aharming =oman =as =aftefrom her.

>Loo&> sai 6rushnits&i >thereis Priness Ligovs&i =ith heraughterMary as she alls her after the

$nglish manner. They have0een hereonly three ays.>

>You alreay &no= her namethoughK>

>Yes 4 hear it 0y hane> heans=ere =ith a 0lush. >4

onfess 4 o



not esire to ma&e theirauaintane. These haughty

aristorats loo&u-on us army men ust as they=oul u-on savages. ;hat arethey if

there is an intellet 0eneath anum0ere forageBa- an aheart 0eneatha thi& loa&K>

>Poor loa&> 4 sai =ith alaugh. >%ut =ho is thegentleman =ho is

ust going u- to them anhaning them a tum0ler sooIiouslyK>

>Oh that is +aevih theMoso= any. He is a gam0lerF

you an see



as muh at one from thatimmense gol hain oiling

aross hiss&y0lue =aistoat. An =hat athi& ane he has Just li&e+o0inson

5rusoesBBan so is his 0eartoo an his hair is one li&e a-easants.>

>You are em0ittere against the

=hole human raeK>

>An 4 have ause to 0e>...

>Oh reallyK>

At that moment the laies leftthe =ell an ame u- to =here=e =ere.



6rushnits&i sueee inassuming a ramati -ose =ith

the ai of hisruth an in a lou tone ofvoie ans=ere me in /renh:

>Mon her e hais les hommes-our ne -as les me-riser arautrement lavie serait une fare tro-egoutante.>

The -retty Priness Mary turneroun an favoure the orator=ith along an urious glane. Here@-ression =as uite ine?nite0ut it =asnot ontem-tuous a fat on=hih 4 in=arly ongratulate

6rushnits&i



from my heart.

>3he is an e@tremely -rettygirl> 4 sai. >3he has suhvelveteyesBByes velvet is the =or. 4

shoul avise you toa--ro-riate thee@-ression =hen s-ea&ing ofher eyes. The lo=er an u--erlashes are

so long that the sun0eams arenot reete in her -u-ils. 4love thoseeyes =ithout a glitter they areso soft that they a--ear toaress you.Ho=ever her eyes seem to 0eher only goo feature... Tell meare her



teeth =hiteK That is mostim-ortant 4t is a -ity that she

i not smileat that highBsouning -hrase ofyours.>

>You are s-ea&ing of a -retty=oman ust as you might of an$nglishhorse> sai 6rushnits&iinignantly.

>Mon her> 4 ans=ere tryingto mimi his tone >e me-riselesfemmes -our ne -as les aimerar autrement la vie serait unmelorametro- riiule.>



4 turne an left him. /or halfan hour or so 4 =al&e a0out

the avenuesof the vines the limestone lisan the 0ushes hanging0et=een them.

The ay gre= hot an 4 hurriehome=ars. Passing thesul-hur s-ring4 sto--e at the overe galleryin orer to regain my 0reath

uner itsshae an 0y so oing 4 =asaore the o--ortunity of=itnessing arather interesting sene. This isthe -osition in =hih theramatis-ersonae =ere is-ose:Priness Ligovs&i an the

Moso= any =ere



sitting on a 0enh in theovere galleryBBa--arently

engage in seriousonversation. Priness Mary=ho ha ou0tless 0y this time?nishe her

last tum0ler =as =al&ing-ensively to an fro 0y the =ell.6rushnits&i=as staning 0y the =ell itselfFthere =as no0oy else on the

suare.

4 =ent u- loser an onealemyself 0ehin a orner of thegallery.At that moment 6rushnits&i lethis tum0ler fall on the san anmae



strenuous eorts to stoo- inorer to -i& it u-F 0ut his

inure foot-revente him. Poor fello=Ho= he trie all &ins ofarti?es as he

leane on his ruth an all invain His e@-ressiveountenane =asin fat a -iture of suering.

Priness Mary sa= the =holesene 0etter than 4.

Lighter than a 0ir she s-rangto=ars him stoo-e -i&eu- thetum0ler an hane it to him=ith a gesture full of inea0leharm.



Then she 0lushe furiouslyglane roun at the gallery

an havingassure herself that her mothera--arently ha not seenanything

immeiately regaine herom-osure. %y the time6rushnits&i ha o-enehis mouth to than& her she =asa long =ay o. A moment after

she ameout of the gallery =ith hermother an the any 0ut in-assing 0y6rushnits&i she assume amost eorous an serious air.3he i noteven turn roun she i noteven o0serve the -assionate

gaGe =hih he



&e-t ?@e u-on her for a longtime until she ha esene

the mountainan =as hien 0ehin the limetrees of the 0oulevar...Presently 4

aught glim-ses of her hat asshe =al&e along the street.3he hurriethrough the gate of one of the0est houses in Pyatigors&F her

mother=al&e 0ehin her an 0o=eaieu to +aevih at the gate.

4t =as only then that the -oor-assionate aet notie my-resene.



>Di you seeK> he sai -ressingmy han vigorously. >3he is an

angelsim-ly an angel>

>;hyK> 4 inuire =ith an air of

the -urest sim-liity.

>Di you not see thenK>

>8o. 4 sa= her -i&ing u- your

tum0ler. 4f there ha 0een anattenantthere he =oul have one thesame thingBBan ui&er too inthe ho-eof reeiving a ti-. 4t is uiteeasy ho=ever to unerstanthat she



-itie youF you mae suh aterri0le grimae =hen you

=al&e on the=oune foot.>

>An an it 0e that seeing her

as you i at that moment=hen her soul=as shining in her eyes you=ere not in the least aeteK>

>8o.>

4 =as lying 0ut 4 =ante toe@as-erate him. 4 have aninnate -assionfor ontraitionBBmy =hole lifehas 0een nothing 0ut a series of melanholy an vainontraitions of heart or

reason. The -resene of



an enthusiast hills me =ith at=elfthBnight ol an 4 0elieve

that onstant assoiation =ith a-erson of a ai an-hlegmatitem-erament =oul have

turne me into an im-assionevisionary. 4onfess too that an un-leasant0ut familiar sensation =asoursing

lightly through my heart at thatmoment. 4t =asBBenvy. 4 say>envy>0olly 0eause 4 amaustome to a&no=legeeverything to myself.4t =oul 0e har to ?n a youngman =ho if his ile fany ha0een



attrate 0y a -retty =omanan he ha suenly foun her

o-enlysingling out 0efore his eyesanother man eually un&no=nto herBBit

=oul 0e har 4 say to ?nsuh a young man living ofourse inthe great =orl anaustome to inulge his selfB

love =ho =oul nothave 0een un-leasantly ta&ena0a& in suh a ase.

4n silene 6rushnits&i an 4esene the mountain an=al&e alongthe 0oulevar -ast the=ino=s of the house =here

our 0eauty ha hien



herself. 3he =as sitting 0y the=ino=. 6rushnits&i -lu&ing

me 0y thearm ast u-on her one of thosegloomily tener glanes =hihhave so

little eet u-on =omen. 4irete my lorgnette at heran o0servethat she smile at his glanean that my insolent lorgnette

maeher o=nright angry. An ho=inee shoul a 5auasianmilitary man-resume to iret his eyeglassat a -riness from Moso=K...



5HAPT$+ 44. 1)th May.

TH43 morning the otor ameto see me. His name is ;erner0ut he isa +ussian. ;hat is there

sur-rising in thatK 4 have &no=na man name4vanov =ho =as a 6erman.

;erner is a remar&a0le man

an that for many reasons. Li&ealmost allmeial men he is a se-ti ana materialist 0ut at the sametime heis a genuine -oetBBa -oetal=ays in ees an often in=ors although



he has never =ritten t=o versesin his life. He has mastere all

theliving hors of the humanheart ust as one learns theveins of a

or-se 0ut he has never &no=nho= to avail himself of his&no=lege. 4nli&e manner it sometimesha--ens that an e@ellent

anatomist oes not&no= ho= to ure a fever.;erner usually mae fun of his-atients in-rivateF 0ut one 4 sa= him=ee-ing over a ying solier...He =as -ooran reame of millions 0ut he=oul not ta&e a single ste- out

of his



=ay for the sa&e of money. Heone tol me that he =oul

rather o afavour to an enemy than to afrien 0eause in the latterase

it =oul mean selling his0ene?ene =hilst hatre onlyinreases-ro-ortionately to themagnanimity of the aversary.

He ha a maliioustongueF an more than onegoo sim-le soul has auirethe re-utationof a vulgar fool through 0eingla0elle =ith one of hise-igrams. Hisrivals envious meial men ofthe =ateringB-lae s-rea the

re-ort



that he =as in the ha0it ofra=ing ariatures of his

-atients. The-atients =ere inense analmost all of them isarehim. His

friens that is to say all thegenuinely =ellB0re -eo-le =ho=ereserving in the 5auasus vainlyeneavoure to restore his

fallenreit.

His out=ar a--earane =as ofthe ty-e =hih at the ?rstglanereates an un-leasantim-ression 0ut =hih you getto li&e in ourse of



time =hen the eye learns torea in the irregular features

the stam- of a trie an lofty soul. 4nstaneshave 0een &no=n of =omenfalling maly

in love =ith men of that sortan having no esire toe@hange theirugliness for the 0eauty of thefreshest an rosiest of

$nymions.;e must give =omen their ue:they -ossess an instint fors-iritual0eauty for =hih reason-ossi0ly men suh as ;ernerlove =omen so-assionately.



;erner =as small an lean anas =ea& as a 0a0y. One of his

legs =asshorter than the other as =asthe ase =ith %yron. 4nom-arison =ith

his 0oy his hea seemeenormous. His hair =as ro--elose anthe unevennesses of hisranium thus lai 0are =oul

have stru& a-hrenologist 0y reason of thestrange interte@ture ofontraitory-ro-ensities. His little everrestless 0la& eyes seeme asif they=ere eneavouring to fathomyour thoughts. Taste an

neatness =ere to 0e



o0serve in his ress. His smalllean sine=y hans aunte

themselvesin 0rightByello= gloves. Hisfro&Boat ravat an =aistoat=ere

invaria0ly of 0la&. The youngmen u00e himMe-histo-helesF he-retene to 0e angry at theni&name 0ut in reality it

attere hisvanity. ;erner an 4 soonunerstoo eah other an0eame friens0eause 4 for my -art amillaa-te for frienshi-. Of t=ofriensone is al=ays the slave of theother although freuently

neither



a&no=leges the fat tohimself. 8o= the slave 4 oul

not 0eF an to0e the master =oul 0e a=earisome trou0le 0eause atthe same time

ee-tion =oul 0e reuire.%esies 4 have servants anmoney

Our frienshi- originate in the

follo=ing irumstanes. 4 met;ernerat 3BBBB in the mist of anumerous an noisy irle ofyoung-eo-le. To=ars the en of theevening the onversation too& a-hiloso-hioBmeta-hysial turn.;e isusse the su0et of

onvitions



an eah of us ha someierent onvition to elare.

>3o far as 4 am onerne> saithe otor >4 am onvine ofone

thing only>...

>An that isBBK> 4 as&eesirous of learning the o-inionof a man =ho

ha 0een silent till then.

>Of the fat> he ans=ere>that sooner or later one ?nemorning 4shall ie.>

>4 am 0etter o than you> 4sai. >4n aition to that 4 have

a



further onvition namelythat one very nasty evening 4

ha themisfortune to 0e 0orn.>

All the others onsiere that

=e =ere tal&ing nonsense 0utinee notone of them sai anything moresensi0le. /rom that moment =esingle

eah other out amongst thero=. ;e use freuently tomeet an isussa0strat su0ets in a veryserious manner until eaho0serve that theother =as thro=ing ust in hiseyes. Then loo&ing signi?antlyat eah



otherBBas aoring to 5ierothe +oman augurs use to oBB

=e=oul 0urst out laughingheartily an having ha ourlaugh =e =oul

se-arate =ell ontent =ith ourevening.

4 =as lying on a ouh my eyes?@e u-on the eiling an my

hanslas-e 0ehin my hea =hen;erner entere my room. Hesat o=n in aneasy hair -lae his ane in aorner ya=ne an announethat it=as getting hot out of oors. 4re-lie that the ies =ere

0othering



meBBan =e 0oth fell silent.

>O0serve my ear otor> 4sai >that 0ut for fools the=orl =oul0e a very ull -lae. Loo& Here

are you an 4 0oth sensi0lemen;e &no= 0eforehan that it is-ossi0le to is-ute a in?nituma0out

everythingBBan so =e o notis-ute. $ah of us &no=salmost all theothers seret thoughts: to us asingle =or is a =hole historyF=e seethe grain of every one of ourfeelings through a threefolhus&. ;hat



is sa =e laugh atF =hat islaugha0le =e grieve atF 0ut to

tell thetruth =e are fairly inierentgenerally s-ea&ing toeverything

e@e-t ourselves.5onseuently there an 0e nointerhange of feelingsan thoughts 0et=een usF eahof us &no=s all he ares to

&no= a0outthe other an that &no=legeis all he =ants. One e@-eientremainsBBtotell the ne=s. 3o tell me somene=s.>

/atigue 0y this lengthys-eeh 4 lose my eyes an

ya=ne. The otor



ans=ere after thin&ing a=hile:

>There is an iea all the samein that nonsense of yours.>

>T=o> 4 re-lie.

>Tell me one an 4 =ill tell youthe other.>

>Eery =ell 0egin> 4 sai

ontinuing to e@amine theeiling ansmiling in=arly.

>You are an@ious for informationa0out some of the ne=Bomershere an4 an guess =ho it is 0eausethey for their -art have

alreay 0een



inuiring a0out you.>

>Dotor Deiely it isim-ossi0le for us to hol aonversation ;erea into eah others soul.>

>8o= the other ieaK>...

>Here it is: 4 =ante to ma&eyou relate something for the

follo=ingreasons: ?rstly listening is lessfatiguing than tal&ingF seonlythe listener annot ommithimselfF thirly he an learnanothersseretF fourthly sensi0le-eo-le suh as you -referlisteners to



s-ea&ers. 8o= to 0usinessF=hat i Priness Ligovs&i tell

you a0outmeK>

>You are uite sure that it =as

Priness Ligovs&i... an notPrinessMaryK>...

>Ruite sure.>

>;hyK>

>%eause Priness Maryinuire a0out 6rushnits&i.>

>You are gifte =ith a ?neimagination Priness Mary saithat she =as



onvine that the young manin the soliers loa& ha 0een

reue tothe ran&s on aount of auel>...

>4 ho-e you left her herishingthat -leasant elusion>...

>Of ourse>...

>A -lot> 4 e@laime in ra-ture.>;e =ill ma&e it our 0usiness toseeto the enouement of this littleomey. 4t is o0vious that fateista&ing are that 4 shall not 0e0ore>



>4 have a -resentiment> saithe otor >that -oor

6rushnits&i =ill 0eyour vitim.>

>Proee otor.>

>Priness Ligovs&i sai thatyour fae =as familiar to her. 4o0servethat she ha -ro0a0ly met you

in Peters0urgBBsome=here insoiety...4 tol her your name. 3he &ne=it =ell. 4t a--ears that yourhistoryreate a great stir there... 3he0egan to tell us of youraventures



most li&ely su--lementing thegossi- of soiety =ith

o0servations of hero=n... Her aughter listene=ith uriosity. 4n herimagination you

have 0eome the hero of anovel in a ne= style... 4 i notontraitPriness Ligovs&i although 4&ne= that she =as tal&ing

nonsense.>

>;orthy frien> 4 saie@tening my han to him.

The otor -resse it feelinglyan ontinue:

>4f you li&e 4 =ill -resent you>...



>6oo heavens> 4 saila--ing my hans. >Are heroes

ever -resenteK4n no other =ay o they ma&ethe auaintane of their0elove than 0y

saving her from ertaineath>...

>An you really =ish to ourtPriness MaryK>

>8ot at all far from it... Dotor4 trium-h at last You o notunerstan me... 4t ve@es meho=ever> 4 ontinue after amomentssilene. >4 never reveal myserets myself 0ut 4 ame@eeingly fon of



their 0eing guesse 0eause inthat =ay 4 an al=ays isavo=

them u-onoasion. Ho=ever you mustesri0e 0oth mother anaughter to me.

;hat sort of -eo-le are theyK>

>4n the ?rst -lae PrinessLigovs&i is a =oman of fortyB?ve>

ans=ere ;erner. >3he has as-leni igestion 0ut her0loo is out of orerBBthere are re s-ots onher hee&s. 3he has s-ent thelatter half of her life in Moso= an hasgro=n stout from leaing aninative



life there. 3he loves s-iystories an sometimes says

im-ro-er thingsherself =hen her aughter isout of the room. 3he haselare to me

that her aughter is as innoentas a ove. ;hat oes thatmatter tomeK... 4 =as going to ans=erthat she might 0e at her ease

0eause 4=oul never tell anyone.Priness Ligovs&i is ta&ing theure for herrheumatism an the aughterfor gooness &no=s =hat. 4have orereeah of them to rin& t=otum0lers a ay of sul-hurous

=ater an to



0athe t=ie a =ee& in theilute 0ath. Priness Ligovs&i

isa--arently unaustome togiving orers. 3he herishesres-et for

the intelligene anattainments of her aughter=ho has rea %yron in$nglish an &no=s alge0ra: inMoso= eviently the laies

have entereu-on the -aths of eruitionBBan a goo thing too The menhere aregenerally so unamia0le thatfor a lever =oman it must 0eintolera0leto irt =ith them. PrinessLigovs&i is very fon of young

-eo-leF



Priness Mary loo&s on them=ith a ertain ontem-tBBa

Moso= ha0it 4nMoso= they herish only =itsof not less than forty.>

>You have 0een in Moso=otorK>

>Yes 4 ha a -ratie there.>

>5ontinue.>

>%ut 4 thin& 4 have toleverything... 8o there issomething else:Priness Mary it seems lovesto isuss emotions -assionsetetera.



3he =as in Peters0urg for one=inter an isli&e itBB

es-eially thesoiety: no ou0t she =asolly reeive.>

>You have not seen anyone =iththem toayK>

>On the ontrary there =as anaieBeBam- a sti

guarsman an alayBBone of the latest arrivalsa relation of Priness Ligovs&ion thehus0ans sieBBvery -retty 0uta--arently very ill... Have younot mether at the =ellK 3he is ofmeium height fair =ith

regular featuresF



she has the om-le@ion of aonsum-tive an there is a

little 0la&mole on her right hee&. 4 =asstru& 0y the e@-ressiveness ofher

fae.>

>A mole> 4 muttere throughmy teeth. >4s it -ossi0leK>

The otor loo&e at me anlaying his han on my heartsaitrium-hantly:

>You &no= her>

My heart =as in fat 0eatingmore violently than usual.



>4t is your turn no= totrium-h> 4 sai. >%ut 4 rely on

you: you=ill not 0etray me. 4 have notseen her yet 0ut 4 amonvine that 4

reognise from your -ortrait a=oman =hom 4 love in the olays... Donot s-ea& a =or to her a0outmeF if she as&s any uestions

give a 0are-ort of me.>

>%e it so> sai ;ernershrugging his shoulers.

;hen he ha e-arte myheart =as om-resse =ithterri0le grief.



Has estiny 0rought ustogether again in the 5auasus

or has she omehither on -ur-ose &no=ing thatshe =oul meet meK... An ho=shall =e

meetK... An then is it sheK...My -resentiments have nevereeiveme. There is not a man in the=orl over =hom the -ast has

auire suha -o=er as over me. $veryreolletion of 0ygone grief or

oy stri&esmy soul =ith mor0i eet anra=s forth ever the samesouns... 4 amstu-ily onstitute: 4 forgetnothingBBnothing



After inner a0out si@ olo& 4=ent on to the 0oulevar. 4t

=asro=e. The t=o -rinesses=ere sitting on a 0enhsurroune 0y young

men =ho =ere vying =ith eahother in -aying them attention.4 too&u- my -osition on another0enh at a little istane o

sto--e t=oDragoon oIers =hom 4 &ne=an -roeee to tell themsomething.$viently it =as amusing0eause they 0egan to laughlouly li&e aou-le of mamen. 3ome ofthose =ho =ere surrouning

Priness Mary =ere



attrate to my sie 0yuriosity an graually all of

them left heran oine my irle. 4 i notsto- tal&ingF my aneotes=ere lever

to the -oint of a0surity my ests at the e@-ense of theueer -eo-le-assing 0y maliious to the-oint of frenGy. 4 ontinue to

entertainthe -u0li till sunset. PrinessMary -asse 0y me a fe=timesarmBinarm =ith her mother anaom-anie 0y a ertain lameol man.A fe= times her glane as it fellu-on me e@-resse ve@ation

=hile



eneavouring to e@-ressinierene...

>;hat has he 0een telling youK>she inuire of one of theyoung men

=ho ha gone 0a& to her outof -oliteness. >8o ou0t a mostinterestingstoryBBhis o=n e@-loits in0attleK>...

This =as sai rather louly an-ro0a0ly =ith the intention ofstingingme.

>Aha> 4 thought to myself. >Youare o=nright angry my earPriness.



;ait a=hile there is more tofollo=.>

6rushnits&i &e-t follo=ing herli&e a 0east of -rey an =oulnot let

her out of his sight. 4 =ager thattoBmorro= he =ill as&some0oy to-resent him to PrinessLigovs&i. 3he =ill 0e gla

0eause she is0ore.

5HAPT$+ 444. 1th May.



48 the ourse of t=o ays myaairs have gaine groun

tremenously.Priness Mary -ositively hatesme. Alreay 4 have hare-eate to me t=o

or three e-igrams on thesu0et of myselfBBratherausti 0ut at thesame time very attering. 3he?ns it e@eeingly strange

that 4 =hoam austome to goosoiety an am so intimate=ith her Peters0urgousins an aunts o not try toma&e her auaintane. $veryay =emeet at the =ell an on the0oulevar. 4 e@ert all my -o=ers

to entie



a=ay her aorers glitteringaiesBeBam- -aleBfae

visitors fromMoso= an othersBBan 4almost al=ays suee. 4 haveal=ays hate

entertaining guests: no= myhouse is full every ayF theyine su-gam0le an alas myham-agne trium-hs over the

might of PrinessMarys magneti eyes

4 met her yesteray in5hela&hovs sho-. 3he =as0argaining for amarvellous Persian rug anim-lore her mother not to 0eniggarly: the



rug =oul 0e suh an ornamentto her 0ouoir... 4 out0i her 0y

fortyru0les an 0ought it over herhea. 4 =as re=are =ith aglane in

=hih the most elightful furys-ar&le. A0out innertime 4orere my5irassian horse overe =iththat very rug -ur-osely to 0e

le -asther =ino=s. ;erner =as =iththe -rinesses at the time antol methat the eet of the sene =asmost ramati. Priness Mary=ishes to-reah a rusae against mean 4 have even notie that

alreay



t=o of the aiesBeBam- saluteme very olly =hen they are

in her-reseneBBthey ine =ith meevery ay ho=ever.

6rushnits&i has assume an airof mysteryF he =al&s =ith hisarms fole0ehin his 0a& an oes notreognise anyone. His foot has

got =ellall at one an there is harlya sign of a lim-. He has founano--ortunity of entering intoonversation =ith PrinessLigovs&i an of -aying Priness Mary some &inof a om-liment. The latter is

eviently



not very fastiious for eversine she ans=ers his 0o= =ith

a mostharming smile.

>Are you sure you o not =ish

to ma&e the Ligovs&isauaintaneK> hesai to me yesteray.

>Positive.>

>6oo graious The-leasantest house at the=aters All the 0estsoiety of Pyatigors& is to 0efoun there>...

>My frien 4 am terri0ly tire ofeven other soiety than that of



Pyatigors&. 3o you visit theLigovs&isK>

>8ot yet. 4 have s-o&en toPriness Mary one or t=ie0ut that is

all. You &no= it is rathera=&=ar to go an visit them=ithout 0einginvite although that is theustom here... 4t =oul 0e a

ierentmatter if 4 =as =earinge-aulettes>...

>6oo heavens ;hy you aremuh more interesting as it is

You sim-lyo not &no= ho= to availyourself of your avantageous

-osition... ;hy



that soliers loa& ma&es ahero an a martyr of you in the

eyes of anylay of sentiment>

6rushnits&i smile

om-laently.

>;hat nonsense> he sai.

>4 am onvine> 4 ontinue

>that Priness Mary is in love=ith youalreay.>

He 0lushe u- to the ears anloo&e 0ig.

Oh vanity Thou art the lever=ith =hih Arhimees =as to

lift the



earthly s-here...

>You are al=ays esting> hesai -retening to 0e angry. >4nthe ?rst-lae she &no=s so little of me

as yet>...

>;omen love only those =homthey o not &no=>

>%ut 4 have no -retensions=hatsoever to -leasing her. 4sim-ly =ishto ma&e the auaintane of anagreea0le householF an it=oul 0ee@tremely riiulous if 4 =ere toherish the slightest ho-e...;ith



you no= for instane it is aierent matter You Peters0urg

onuerors You have 0ut toloo&BBan =omen melt... %ut oyou &no=Pehorin =hat Priness Mary

sai of youK>...

>;hatK 3he has s-o&en to youalreay a0out meK>...

>Do not reoie too soonthough. The other ay 0yhane 4 entereinto onversation =ith her atthe =ellF her thir =or =as;ho isthat gentleman =ith suh anun-leasant heavy glaneK He=as =ith you



=hen... she 0lushe an inot li&e to mention the ay

remem0eringher o=n elightful little [email protected] nee not tell me =hat ayit

=as 4 ans=ereF it =ill ever 0e-resent to my memory...Pehorinmy frien 4 annot ongratulateyou you are in her 0la&

0oo&s... Aninee it is a -ity 0eauseMary is a harming girl>...

4t must 0e o0serve that6rushnits&i is one of those men=ho ins-ea&ing of a =oman =ith=hom they are 0arely

auainte all her my



Mary my 3o-hie if she has hathe goo fortune to -lease

them.

4 assume a serious air anans=ere:

>Yes she is gooBloo&ing... Only0e areful 6rushnits&i +ussianlaies for the most -artherish only Platoni love

=ithout minglingany thought of matrimony =ithitF an Platoni love ise@eeinglyem0arrassing. Priness Maryseems to 0e one of those=omen =ho =ant to0e amuse. 4f she is 0ore inyour om-any for t=o minutes

on enBByou



are lost irrevoa0ly. Your sileneought to e@ite her uriosity

youronversation ought never tosatisfy it om-letelyF youshoul alarm her

every minuteF ten times in-u0li she =ill slight -eo-leso-inion foryou an =ill all that a sari?ean in orer to reuite herself

forit she =ill torment you.After=ars she =ill sim-ly saythat she annotenure you. 4f you o notauire authority over hereven her ?rst&iss =ill not give you the rightto a seon. 3he =ill irt =ith

you to



her hearts ontent an in t=oyears time she =ill marry a

monsterin o0eiene to her mother an=ill assure herself that she isunha--y

that she has love only onemanBBthat is to say youBB0utthat Heaven=as not =illing to unite her tohim 0eause he =ore a soliers

loa&although 0eneath that thi&grey loa& 0eat a heart-assionate anno0le>...

6rushnits&i smote the ta0le=ith his ?st an fell to =al&ingto an fro

aross the room.



4 laughe in=arly an even

smile one or t=ie 0utfortunately he inot notie. 4t is evient that heis in love 0eause he has

gro=n evenmore on?ing than heretofore.Moreover a ring has mae itsa--earaneon his ?nger a silver ring =ith

0la& enamel of loal=or&manshi-. 4tstru& me as sus-iious... 40egan to e@amine it an =hato you thin&4 sa=K The name Mary =asengrave on the insie in smallletters an in



a line =ith the name =as theate on =hih she ha -i&e

u- thefamous tum0ler. 4 &e-t myisovery a seret. 4 o not=ant to fore

onfessions from him 4 =anthim of his o=n aor tohoose me as hison?antBBan then 4 =ill enoymyself...

ToBay 4 rose late. 4 =ent to the=ell. 4 foun no0oy there. Theay gre= hot. ;hite shaggyloulets =ere itting ra-ilyfrom the



sno=Bla mountains giving-romise of a thunerstormF the

summit of Mount Mashu& =as smo&ing li&ea ust e@tinguishe torhF grey=is-s of

lou =ere oiling an ree-ingli&e sna&es aroun it arresteintheir ra-i s=ee- an as it=ere hoo&e to its -ri&ly

0rush=oo. Theatmos-here =as harge =itheletriity. 4 -lunge into theavenue of the vines leaing to the grotto.

4 felt lo=Bs-irite. 4 =as thin&ingof the lay =ith the little moleon



her hee& of =hom the otorha s-o&en to me... >;hy is she

hereK> 4thought. >An is it sheK An=hat reason have 4 for thin&ingit isK An

=hy am 4 so ertain of itK 4sthere not many a =oman =ith amole on herhee&K> +eeting in suh =ise4 ame right u- to the grotto. 4

loo&ein an 4 sa= that a =oman=earing a stra= hat an=ra--e in a 0la&sha=l =as sitting on a stoneseat in the ol shae of thearh. Herhea =as sun& u-on her 0reastan the hat overe her fae. 4

=as ust



a0out to turn 0a& in orer notto istur0 her meitations

=hen sheglane at me.

>Eera> 4 e@laime

involuntarily.

3he starte an turne -ale.

>4 &ne= that you =ere here>

she sai.

4 sat o=n 0esie her an too&her han. A longBforgottentremor ranthrough my veins at the sounof that ear voie. 3he gaGeinto my



fae =ith her ee- alm eyes.Mistrust an something in the

nature of re-roah =ere e@-resse in herglane.

>;e have not seen eah otherfor a long time> 4 sai.

>A long time an =e have 0othhange in many =ays.>

>5onseuently you love me nolongerK>...

>4 am marrie>... she sai.

>AgainK A fe= years agoho=ever that reason alsoe@iste 0ut

nevertheless>...



3he -lu&e her han a=ay

from mine an her hee&same.

>Perha-s you love your seon

hus0anK>...

3he mae no ans=er anturne her hea a=ay.

>Or is he very ealousK>

3he remaine silent.

>;hat thenK He is younghansome an 4 su--ose rihBB=hih is thehief thingBBan you areafraiK>...



4 glane at her an =asalarme. Profoun es-air =as

e-ite u-on herountenaneF tears =ereglistening in her eyes.

>Tell me> she =his-ere atlength >o you ?n it veryamusing totorture meK 4 ought to hate you.3ine =e have &no=n eah

other youhave given me naught 0utsuering>...

Her voie shoo&F she leaneover to me an let her heasin& u-on my0reast.



>Perha-s> 4 reete >it is forthat very reason that you have

lovemeF oys are forgotten 0utsorro=s never>...

4 las-e her losely to my0reast an so =e remaine fora longtime. At length our li-s re=loser an 0eame 0lent in a

ferventinto@iating &iss. Her hans=ere ol as ieF her hea =as0urning.

An hereu-on =e em0ar&eu-on one of thoseonversations =hih on



-a-er have no sense =hih itis im-ossi0le to re-eat an

im-ossi0leeven to retain in memory. Themeaning of the souns re-laesan

om-letes the meaning of the=ors as in 4talian o-era.

3he is eiely averse to myma&ing the auaintane of her

hus0anthe lame ol man of =hom 4ha aught a glim-se on the0oulevar.3he marrie him for the sa&e ofher son. He is rih an suersfromatta&s of rheumatism. 4 i notallo= myself even a single so

at



his e@-ense. 3he res-ets himas a father an =ill eeive

him as ahus0an... A strange thing thehuman heart in general an=omans

heart in -artiular.

Eeras hus0an 3emyonEasilevih 6BBBBv is a istantrelation of

Priness Ligovs&i. He lives ne@toor to her. Eera freuentlyvisitsthe Priness. 4 have given hermy -romise to ma&e theLigovs&isauaintane an to -ay ourtto Priness Mary in orer toistrat



attention from Eera. 4n suh=ay my -lans have 0een not a

littleerange 0ut it =ill 0eamusing for me...

Amusing... Yes 4 have alreay-asse that -erio of s-irituallife =hen ha--iness alone issought =hen the heart feelsthe urgent

neessity of violently an-assionately loving some0oy.8o= my only=ish is to 0e love an that 0yvery fe=. 4 even thin& that 4=oul 0eontent =ith one onstantattahment. A =rethe ha0itof the heart...



One thing has al=ays stru& meas strange. 4 have never mae

myself theslave of the =oman 4 havelove. On the ontrary 4 haveal=ays auire

an invini0le -o=er over her=ill an heart =ithout in theleasteneavouring to o so. ;hy isthisK 4s it 0eause 4 never

esteemanything highly an she has0een ontinually afrai to letme out of her hansK Or is it the magnetiinuene of a -o=erfulorganismK Or isit sim-ly that 4 have neversueee in meeting a =oman

of stu00orn



haraterK

4 must onfess that in fat 4 onot love =omen =ho -ossessstrengthof harater. ;hat 0usiness

have they =ith suh a thingK

4nee 4 remem0er no=. Onean one only i 4 love a=oman =ho ha

a ?rm =ill =hih 4 =as nevera0le to vanuish... ;e -arteasenemiesBBan then -erha-s if 4ha met her ?ve years later =e=oulhave -arte other=ise...

Eera is ill very ill although she

oes not amit it. 4 fear she has



onsum-tion or that isease=hih is alle >?evre lente>BBa

uiteun+ussian isease an one for=hih there is no name in ourlanguage.

The storm overtoo& us =hile inthe grotto an etaine us halfan hourlonger. Eera i not ma&e me

s=ear ?elity or as& =hether 4ha loveothers sine =e ha -arte...3he truste in me ane= =ith allher formerunonern an 4 =ill noteeive her: she is the only=oman in the



=orl =hom it =oul never 0e=ithin my -o=er to eeive. 4

&no= that =eshall soon have to -art againan -erhane for ever. ;e =ill0oth go

0y ierent =ays to the grave0ut her memory =ill remaininviola0le=ithin my soul. 4 have al=aysre-eate this to her an she

0elieves mealthough she says she oes not.

At length =e se-arate. /or along time 4 follo=e her =ith myeyesuntil her hat =as hien 0ehinthe shru0s an ro&s. My heart=as



-ainfully ontrate ust asafter our ?rst -arting. Oh ho= 4

reoie in that emotion 5an it0e that youth is a0out to ome0a& tome =ith its salutary tem-ests

or is this only the fare=ellglane thelast giftBBin memory of itselfK...An to thin& that ina--earane

4 am still a 0oy My fae though-ale is still freshF my lim0s aresu--le an slenerF my hair isthi& an urly my eyess-ar&le my0loo 0oils...

+eturning home 4 mounte onhorse0a& an gallo-e to the

ste--e. 4



love to gallo- on a ?ery horsethrough the tall grass in the

fae of the esert =inF greeily 4 gul-o=n the fragrant air an ?@my gaGe

u-on the 0lue istaneeneavouring to seiGe the mistyoutlines of o0ets =hih every minutegro= learer an learer.

;hatever griefso--ress my heart =hateverisuietues torture mythoughtsBBall areis-erse in a momentF my soul0eomes at easeF the fatigue of the 0oyvanuishes the istur0ane ofthe min. There is not a

=omans glane



=hih 4 =oul not forget at thesight of the tufte mountains

illumine0y the southern sunF at thesight of the ar&B0lue s&y or inhear&ening

to the roar of the torrent as itfalls from li to li.

4 0elieve that the 5ossa&sya=ning on their =athBto=ers

=hen theysa= me gallo-ing thusneelessly an aimlessly =erelong tormente0y that enigma 0eause frommy ress 4 am sure they too&me to 0e a5irassian. 4 have in fat 0eentol that =hen riing on

horse0a& in



my 5irassian ostume 4resem0le a 9a0arian more

than many a 9a0arianhimself. An inee so far asregars that no0le =arli&egar0 4 am

a -erfet any. 4 have not asingle -iee of gol lae toomuhF my=ea-on is ostly 0ut sim-ly=roughtF the fur on my a- is

neither toolong nor too shortF my leggingsan shoes are mathe =ith all-ossi0leaurayF my tuni is =hiteF my5irassian a&et ar&B0ro=n. 4havelong stuie the mountaineerseat on horse0a& an in no

=ay is it



-ossi0le to atter my vanity somuh as 0y a&no=leging my

s&ill inhorsemanshi- in the 5ossa&moe. 4 &ee- four horsesBBonefor myself an

three for my friens so that 4may not 0e 0ore 0y having toroam a0outthe ?els all aloneF they ta&emy horses =ith -leasure an

never rie=ith me.

4t =as alreay si@ olo& in theevening =hen 4 remem0erethat it =astime to ine. My horse =as

ae. 4 roe out on to the roaleaing



from Pyatigors& to the 6ermanolony to =hih the soiety of

the=ateringB-lae freuently riesen -iueniue. The roameaners 0et=een

0ushes an esens into littleravines through =hih o=noisy 0roo&s0eneath the shae of tallgrasses. All aroun in an

am-hitheatrerise the 0lue masses of Mount%eshtau an the UmeinyUheleGny an LysyMountains. #2* Deseninginto one of those ravines 4halte to =atermy horse. At that moment anoisy an glittering avalae

mae its



a--earane u-on the roaBBthelaies in 0la& an ar&B0lue

riingha0its the avaliers inostumes =hih forme ameley of the

5irassian an 8iGhegoroian.#2,* 4n front roe 6rushnits&i=ithPriness Mary.

The laies at the =ateringB-laestill 0elieve in atta&s 0y5irassiansin 0roa aylightF for thatreason ou0tless 6rushnits&iha slunga sa0re an a -air of -istolsover his soliers loa&. Heloo&e



riiulous enough in that heroiattire.

4 =as oneale from their sight0y a tall 0ush 0ut 4 =as a0le tosee

everything through the leavesan to guess from thee@-ression of theirfaes that the onversation =asof a sentimental turn. At length

they a--roahe the slo-eF6rushnits&i too& hol of the0rile of thePrinesss horse an then 4hear the onlusion of theironversation:

>An you =ish to remain allyour life in the 5auasusK> sai

Priness



Mary.

>;hat is +ussia to meK>ans=ere her avalier. >Aountry in =hihthousans of -eo-le 0eause

they are riher than 4 =ill loo&u-on me=ith ontem-t =hilst hereBBhere this thi& loa& has not-revente my

auaintane =ith you>...

>On the ontrary>... saiPriness Mary 0lushing.

6rushnits&is fae =as a -itureof elight. He ontinue:



>Here my life =ill o= alongnoisily uno0serve an

ra-ily unerthe 0ullets of the savages anif Heaven =ere every year tosen me a

single 0right glane from a=omans eyesBBli&e that=hihBB>

At that moment they ame u-

to =here 4 =as. 4 stru& myhorse =ith the=hi- an roe out from 0ehinthe 0ush...

>Mon Dieu un irassien>...e@laime Priness Mary interror.



4n orer om-letely touneeive her 4 re-lie in

/renh =ith a slight0o=:

>8e raigneG rien maame e

ne suis -as -lus angereu@ uevotreavalier>...

3he gre= em0arrasseBB0ut at

=hatK At her o=n mista&e or0eause myans=er stru& her as insolentK 4shoul li&e the latter hy-othesisto 0eorret. 6rushnits&i ast aisontente glane at me.



Late in the evening that is tosay a0out eleven olo& 4

=ent for a=al& in the lila avenue of the0oulevar. The to=n =asslee-ingF lights

=ere gleaming in only a fe==ino=s. On three siesloome the 0la&riges of the lis the s-urs ofMount Mashu& u-on the

summit of =hih an ominous lou =aslying. The moon =as rising inthe eastF inthe istane the sno=Blamountains glistene li&e afringe of silver.

The alls of the sentriesmingle at intervals =ith the

roar of the hot



s-rings let o= for the night. Attimes the lou lattering of a

horserang out along the streetaom-anie 0y the rea&ing of a 8agai =agon

an the -laintive 0uren of a Tartar song.

4 sat o=n u-on a 0enh anfell into a reverie... 4 felt the

neessityof -ouring forth my thoughts infrienly onversation... %ut =ith=homK...

>;hat is Eera oing no=K> 4=onere.

4 =oul have given muh to

-ress her han at that moment.



All at one 4 hear ra-i an

irregular ste-s... 6rushnits&i noou0t... 3o it =as

>;here have you ome fromK>

>/rom Priness Ligovs&is> hesai very im-ortantly. >Ho= =ellMaryoes sing>...

>Do you &no=K> 4 sai to him. >4=ager that she oes not &no=that youare a aet. 3he thin&s you arean oIer reue to theran&s>...

>May0e so. ;hat is that to

me>... he sai a0sently.



>8o 4 am only saying so>...

>%ut o you &no= that youhave mae her terri0ly angrytoBayK 3he

onsiere it an unhearBof-iee of insolene. 4t =as only=ithiIulty that 4 =as a0le toonvine her that you are so

=ell 0rean &no= soiety so =ell thatyou oul not have ha anyintention of insulting her. 3he says that youhave an im-uent glane anthat youhave ertainly a very higho-inion of yourself.>



>3he is not mista&en... %ut oyou not =ant to efen herK>

>4 am sorry 4 have not yet theright to o so>...

>Oho> 4 sai to myself>eviently he has ho-esalreay.>

>Ho=ever it is the =orse for

you> ontinue 6rushnits&iF >it=ill 0eiIult for you to ma&e theirauaintane no= an =hat a-ity 4t isone of the most agreea0lehouses 4 &no=>...

4 smile in=arly.



>The most agreea0le house tome no= is my o=n> 4 sai =ith

a ya=n an4 got u- to go.

>5onfess though you

re-entK>...

>;hat nonsense 4f 4 li&e 4 =ill0e at Priness Ligovs&is toBmorro=

evening>...

>;e shall see>...

>4 =ill even 0egin to -ay myaresses to Priness Mary ifyou =oulli&e me to>...



>Yes if she is =illing to s-ea& toyou>...

>4 am only a=aiting the moment=hen she =ill 0e 0ore 0y youronversation... 6oo0ye>...

>;ell 4 am going for a strollF 4oul not go to slee- no= foranything... Loo& here let us goto the restaurant instea there

isar-laying going on there...;hat 4 nee no= is violentsensations>...

>4 ho-e you =ill lose>...

4 =ent home.



5HAPT$+ 4E. 21st May.

8$A+LY a =ee& has -asse an4 have not yet mae the

Ligovs&isauaintane. 4 am a=aiting aonvenient o--ortunity.6rushnits&ifollo=s Priness Mary

every=here li&e a shao=. Theironversations areintermina0leF 0ut =hen =ill she0e tire of himK... Her mother-ays noattention 0eause he is not aman =ho is in a -osition tomarry. %ehol



the logi of mothers 4 haveaught t=o or three tener

glanesBBthismust 0e -ut a sto- to.

Yesteray for the ?rst time

Eera mae her a--earane atthe =ell...3he has never gone out ofoors sine =e met in thegrotto. ;e let o=n

our tum0lers at the same timean as she 0ent for=ar she=his-ere tome:

>You are not going to ma&e theLigovs&is auaintaneK... 4t isonlythere that =e an meet>...



A re-roah... Ho= tiresome%ut 4 have eserve it...

%y the =ay there is asu0sri-tion 0all tomorro= inthe saloon of the

restaurant an 4 =ill ane themaGur&a =ith Priness Mary.

5HAPT$+ E. 2(th May.

TH$ saloon of the restaurant=as onverte into theassem0ly room of a8o0les 5lu0. The om-any metat nine olo&. PrinessLigovs&i an her



aughter =ere amongst thelatest to ma&e their

a--earane. 3everal of the laies loo&e at PrinessMary =ith envy anmalevolene

0eause she resses =ith taste. Those =ho loo& u-onthemselves as thearistoray of the -laeoneale their envy an

attahe themselves toher train. ;hat else oul 0ee@-eteK ;herever there is agatheringof =omen the om-any isimmeiately ivie into ahigher an a lo=erirle.



%eneath the =ino= amongsta ro= of -eo-le stoo

6rushnits&i-ressing his fae to the -anean never ta&ing his eyes ohis

ivinity. As she -asse 0y shegave him a harly -ere-ti0leno. He0eame li&e the sun... The ?rstane =as a -olonaise after

=hih themusiians stru& u- a =altG.3-urs 0egan to ingle an s&irtsto risean =hirl.

4 =as staning 0ehin a ertainstout lay =ho =asovershao=e 0y



roseBoloure feathers. Themagni?ene of her ress

remine me of thetimes of the farthingale anthe motley hue of her 0y nomeans smooth

s&in of the ha--y e-oh of the0la& taeta -ath. Animmense =arton her ne& =as overe 0y alas-. 3he =as saying to her

avalier aa-tain of ragoons:

>That young Priness Ligovs&i isa most intolera0le reature Justfany she ostle against mean i not a-ologise 0ut eventurne



roun an stare at me throughher lorgnette... 5est

im-aya0le... An=hat has she to 0e -rou ofK 4tis time some0oy gave her alesson>...

>That =ill 0e easy enough>re-lie the o0liging a-tainan heirete his ste-s to the other

room.

4 =ent u- to Priness Maryimmeiately an availingmyself of theloal ustoms =hih allo=eone to ane =ith a stranger 4invite herto =altG =ith me.



3he =as sarely a0le to &ee-from smiling an letting her

trium-h 0eseenF 0ut ui&ly enough shesueee in assuming an air of -erfet

inierene an even severity.5arelessly she let her han fallu-on myshouler inline her heaslightly to one sie an =e

0egan to ane.4 have never &no=n a =aistmore volu-tuous an su--leHer fresh 0reathtouhe my faeF at times alo& of hair 0eomingse-arate from itsom-anions in the ey of the=altG glie over my 0urning

hee&...



4 mae three turns of the

0allroom she =altGessur-risingly =ell.3he =as out of 0reath her eyes=ere ulle her halfBo-en li-s

=eresarely a0le to =his-er theinis-ensa0le: >merimonsieur.>

After a fe= moments silene 4sai to her assuming a veryhum0le air:

>4 have hear Priness thatalthough uite unauainte=ith you 4have alreay ha themisfortune to inur your

is-leasure... that you



have onsiere me insolent.5an that -ossi0ly trueK>

>;oul you li&e to on?rm mein that o-inion no=K> sheans=ere

=ith an ironial little grimaeBBvery 0eoming ho=ever to hermo0ileountenane.

>4f 4 ha the auaity to insultyou in any =ay then allo= meto havethe still greater auaity to 0egyour -aron... An inee 4shoulvery muh li&e to -rove to youthat you are mista&en in regarto me>...



>You =ill ?n that a ratheriIult tas&>...

>%ut =hyK>...

>%eause you never visit us

an most li&ely there =ill not0e manymore of these 0alls.>

>That means> 4 thought >that

their oors are lose to me forever.>

>You &no= Priness> 4 sai toher =ith a ertain amount ofve@ation>one shoul never s-urn a-enitent riminal: in his es-airhe may



0eome t=ie as muh ariminal as 0efore... an then>...

3uen laughter an=his-ering from the -eo-learoun us ause me to

turn my hea an to interru-tmy -hrase. A fe= -aes a=ayfrom me stooa grou- of men amongst themthe a-tain of ragoons =ho

ha manifesteintentions hostile to theharming Priness. He =as-artiularly =ell-lease =ith something orother an =as ru00ing hishans laughing ane@hanging meaning glanes=ith his om-anions. All at one

a gentleman



in an eveningBress oat an=ith long moustahes an a re

faese-arate himself from thero= an irete hisunertain ste-s

straight to=ars Priness Mary.He =as run&. 5oming to a halto--ositethe em0arrasse Priness an-laing his hans 0ehin his

0a& he ?@ehis ull grey eyes u-on her ansai in a hoarse tre0le:

>PermetteG... 0ut =hat is thegoo of that sort of thing here...All 4nee say is: 4 engage you forthe maGur&a>...



>Eery =ell> she re-lie in atrem0ling voie thro=ing a

0eseehingglane aroun. Alas Hermother =as a long =ay o annot one of

the avaliers of herauaintane =as near. Aertain aieBeBam-a--arently sa= the =holesene 0ut he oneale himself

0ehin thero= in orer not to 0e mi@eu- in the aair.

>;hatK> sai the run&engentleman =in&ing to thea-tain of ragoons=ho =as enouraging him 0ysigns. >Do you not =ish to

ane thenK... All



the same 4 again have thehonour to engage you for the

maGur&a... Youthin& -erha-s that 4 am run&

That is all right... 4 an aneall

the easier 4 assure you>...

4 sa= that she =as on the -ointof fainting =ith fright aninignation.

4 =ent u- to the run&engentleman aught him nonetoo gently 0y thearm an loo&ing him ?@ely inthe fae reueste him toretire.>%eause> 4 ae >thePriness -romise long ago to

ane the maGur&a



=ith me.>

>;ell then theres nothing to0e one Another time> hesai0ursting out laughing an he

retire to his a0asheom-anions =hoimmeiately onute himinto another room.

4 =as re=are 0y a ee-=onrous glane.

The Priness =ent u- to hermother an tol her the =holestory. Thelatter sought me out among thero= an than&e me. 3heinforme me



that she &ne= my mother an=as on terms of frienshi- =ith

half a oGenof my aunts.

>4 o not &no= ho= it has

ha--ene that =e have notmae yourauaintane u- to no=> sheaeF >0ut onfess you aloneare to 0lame

for that. You ?ght shy ofeveryone in a -ositivelyunseemly =ay. 4 ho-ethe air of my ra=ingroom =illis-el your s-leen... Do you notthin&soK>



4 uttere one of the -hrases=hih every0oy must have

reay for suh anoasion.

The uarilles ragge on a

reafully long time.

At last the musi stru& u- fromthe gallery Priness Mary an 4too&

u- our -laes.

4 i not one allue to therun&en gentleman or to my-revious0ehaviour or to 6rushnits&i.

The im-ression -roue u-onher 0y the



un-leasant sene =as grauallyis-elleF her fae 0rightene

u-F she este very harminglyF heronversation =as =itty =ithout-retensions

to =it vivaious ans-ontaneousF her o0servations=ere sometimes-rofoun... 4n a very involvesentene 4 gave her to

unerstan that 4ha li&e her for a long time.3he 0ent her hea an 0lusheslightly.

>You are a strange man> shesai =ith a fore laugh liftinghervelvet eyes u-on me.



>4 i not =ish to ma&e yourauaintane> 4 ontinue

>0eause youare surroune 0y too ense athrong of aorers in =hih 4=as afrai

of 0eing lost to sightaltogether.>

>You nee not have 0een afraiFthey are all very tiresome>...

>AllK 8ot all surelyK>

3he loo&e ?@ely at me as ifeneavouring to reolletsomething then0lushe slightly again an?nally -ronoune =itheision:



>All>

>$ven my frien 6rushnits&iK>

>%ut is he your frienK> shesai manifesting some ou0t.

>Yes.>

>He of ourse oes not omeinto the ategory of the

tiresome>...

>%ut into that of theunfortunate> 4 sai laughing.

>Of ourse %ut o you onsierthat funnyK 4 shoul li&e you to0e inhis -lae>...



>;ellK 4 =as one a aetmyself an in truth it =as the

0est time of my life>

>4s he a aet thenK>... she

sai ra-ily an then ae:>%ut 4thought>...

>;hat i you thin&K>...

>8othing ;ho is that layK>

Thereu-on the onversationtoo& a ierent iretion an iti notreturn to the former su0et.



An no= the maGur&a ame toan en an =e se-arateBBuntil

=e shoulmeet again. The laies roveo in ierent iretions. 4 =entto get

some su--er an met ;erner.

>Aha> he sai: >so it is youAn yet you i not =ish toma&e the

auaintane of Priness Maryother=ise than 0y saving herfrom ertaineath.>

>4 have one 0etter> 4 re-lie.>4 have save her from faintingat the0all>...



>Ho= =as thatK Tell me.>

>8o guessBBO you =ho guesseverything in the =orl>

5HAPT$+ E4. )!th May.

A%O7T seven olo& in the

evening 4 =as =al&ing on the0oulevar.6rushnits&i -ereive me along =ay o an ame u- tome. A sort of riiulous ra-ture =as shiningin his eyes. He -resse myhan =armlyan sai in a tragi voie:



>4 than& you Pehorin... Youunerstan meK>

>8oF 0ut in any ase it is not=orth gratitue> 4 ans=erenot having

in fat any goo ee u-on myonsiene.

>;hatK %ut yesteray Haveyou forgottenK... Mary has tol

meeverything>...

>;hy Have you everything inommon so soon as thisK $vengratitueK>...

>Listen> sai 6rushnits&i veryearnestlyF >-ray o not ma&e

fun of



my love if you =ish to remainmy frien... You see 4 love her

to the-oint of maness... an 4 thin&BB4 ho-eBBshe loves me too... 4have a

reuest to ma&e of you. You =ill0e at their house this eveningF-romiseme to o0serve everything. 4&no= you are e@-eriene in

these mattersyou &no= =omen 0etter than4... ;omen ;omen ;ho anunerstan themK

Their smiles ontrait theirglanes their =ors -romisean allure0ut the tone of their voiere-els... At one time they gras-

an ivine



in a moment our most seretthoughts at another they

annot unerstanthe learest hints... Ta&ePriness Mary no=: yesterayher eyes as

they reste u-on me =ere0laGing =ith -assionF toBaythey are ull anol>...

>That is -ossi0ly the result ofthe =aters> 4 re-lie.

>You see the 0a sie ofeverything... materialist> heaeontem-tuously. >Ho=ever letus tal& of other matters.>



An satis?e =ith his 0a -unhe heere u-.

At nine olo& =e =ent toPriness Ligovs&is together.

Passing 0y Eeras =ino=s 4sa= her loo&ing out. ;e thre= aeetingglane at eah other. 3heentere the Ligovs&is ra=ingB

room soon afterus. Priness Ligovs&i -resenteme to her as a relation of hero=n. Tea=as serve. The guests =erenumerous an theonversation =as general.4 eneavoure to -lease thePriness este an mae her

laugh



heartily a fe= times. PrinessMary also =as more than one

on the-oint of 0ursting out laughing0ut she restraine herself inorer not

to e-art from the role she haassume. 3he ?ns languor0eoming toher an -erha-s she is notmista&en. 6rushnits&i a--ears

to 0e verygla that she is not infete 0ymy gaiety.

After tea =e all =ent into thera=ingroom.

>Are you satis?e =ith myo0eiene EeraK> 4 sai as 4

=as -assing



her.

3he thre= me a glane full oflove an gratitue. 4 havegro=naustome to suh glanesF

0ut at one time theyonstitute myfeliity. The Priness seate heraughter at the -ianoforte anall

the om-any 0egge her tosing. 4 &e-t silene an ta&ingavantageof the hu00u0 4 =ent asie tothe =ino= =ith Eera =ho=ishe tosay something of greatim-ortane to 0oth of us... 4tturne out to

0eBBnonsense...



Mean=hile my inierene =as

ve@ing Priness Mary as 4 =asa0le toma&e out from a single angrygleaming glane =hih she ast

at me...Oh 4 unerstan the metho of onversation =onerfully =ell:mute 0ute@-ressive 0rief 0ut foreful...

3he 0egan to sing. 3he has agoo voie 0ut she sings0aly... Ho=ever4 =as not listening.

6rushnits&i on the ontraryleaning his el0o=s on the gran-iano



faing her =as evouring her=ith his eyes an saying in an

unertoneevery minute: >5harmantDeliieu@>

>Listen> sai Eera to me >4 onot =ish you to ma&e myhus0ansauaintane 0ut you must=ithout fail ma&e yourself

agreea0le tothe PrinessF that =ill 0e aneasy tas& for you: you an oanything you=ish. 4t is only here that =eshall see eah other>...

>Only hereK>...

3he 0lushe an ontinue:



>You &no= that 4 am your slave:

4 have never 0een a0le to resistyou...an 4 shall 0e -unishe for ityou =ill ease to love me At

least4 =ant to -reserve myre-utation... not for myselfBBthatyou &no= very=ell... Oh 4 0eseeh you: o

not torture me as 0efore =ithileou0ts an feigne olness 4tmay 0e that 4 shall ie soonF 4feelthat 4 am gro=ing =ea&er fromay to ay... An yet 4 annotthin& of



the future life 4 thin& only ofyou... You men o not

unerstan theelights of a glane of a-ressure of the han... 0ut asfor me 4

s=ear to you that =hen 4 listento your voie 4 feel suh aee-strange 0liss that the most-assionate &isses oul not

ta&e its -lae.>

Mean=hile Priness Mary ha?nishe her song. Murmurs of-raise =ereto 0e hear all aroun. 4 =entu- to her after all the otherguests an



sai something ratherarelessly to her on the su0et

of her voie.

3he mae a little grimae-outing her lo=er li- an

ro--e a verysarasti urtsey.

>That is all the more attering>she sai >0eause you have

not 0eenlistening to me at allF 0ut-erha-s you o not li&emusiK>...

>On the ontrary 4 o... Afterinner es-eially.>



>6rushnits&i is right in sayingthat you have very -rosai

tastes... an4 see that you li&e musi in agastronomi res-et.>

>You are mista&en again: 4 am0y no means an e-iure. 4 havea most=rethe igestion. %ut musiafter inner -uts one to slee-

anto slee- after inner ishealthfulF onseuently 4 li&emusi in ameiinal res-et. 4n theevening on the ontrary ite@ites my nervestoo muh: 4 0eome either toomelanholy or too gay. %oth are

fatiguing



=here there is no -ositivereason for 0eing either

sorro=ful or gla.An moreover melanholy insoiety is riiulous an toogreat gaiety

is un0eoming>...

3he i not hear me to the en0ut =ent a=ay an sat 0esie6rushnits&i an they entere

into a sort of sentimentalonversation.A--arently the Prinessans=ere his sage -hrasesrather a0sentBminelyan inonseuently althougheneavouring to sho= that she=as



listening to him =ith attention0eause sometimes he loo&e

at her inastonishment trying to ivinethe ause of the in=aragitation =hih

=as e@-resse at times in herrestless glane...

%ut 4 have foun you out myear Priness Have a are You

=ant to -ayme 0a& in the same oin to=oun my vanityBByou =ill notsuee Anif you elare =ar on me 4 =ill0e meriless

4n the ourse of the evening 4-ur-osely trie a fe= times to

oin in



their onversation 0ut she metmy remar&s rather olly an

atlast 4 retire in -reteneve@ation. Priness Mary =astrium-hant

6rushnits&i li&e=ise. Trium-hmy friens an 0e ui& a0outit...

You =ill not have long totrium-h... 4t annot 0e

other=ise. 4 havea -resentiment... On ma&ing a=omans auaintane 4 haveal=aysunerringly guesse =hether she=oul fall in love =ith me ornot.



The remaining -art of theevening 4 s-ent at Eeras sie

an tal&e tothe full a0out the ol ays...;hy oes she love me somuhK 4n truth 4

am una0le to say all the moreso 0eause she is the only=oman =hohas unerstoo me -erfetly=ith all my -etty =ea&nesses

an evil-assions... 5an it 0e that=i&eness is so attrativeK...

6rushnits&i an 4 left the housetogether. 4n the street he too&my arman after a long silene sai:

>;ellK>



>You are a fool> 4 shoul have

li&e to ans=er. %ut 4 restrainemyself an only shrugge myshoulers.

5HAPT$+ E44. th June.

ALL these ays 4 have not onee-arte from my system.Priness Maryhas ome to li&e tal&ing to meF 4have tol her a fe= of thestrange events of my life anshe is 0eginning to loo& on meas



an e@traorinary man. 4 mo& ateverything in the =orl

es-eiallyfeelingsF an she is ta&ingalarm. ;hen 4 am -resent sheoes not are

to em0ar& u-on sentimentalisussions =ith 6rushnits&ian alreay ona fe= oasions she hasans=ere his sallies =ith a

mo&ing smile. %utevery time that 6rushnits&iomes u- to her 4 assume an airof mee&nessan leave the t=o of themtogether. On the ?rst oasionshe =as glaor trie to ma&e it a--ear soFon the seon she =as angry

=ith meF on



the thirBB=ith 6rushnits&i.

>You have very little vanity>she sai to me yesteray.>;hat ma&es youthin& that 4 ?n 6rushnits&i the

more entertainingK>

4 ans=ere that 4 =as sari?ingmy o=n -leasure for the sa&e of the

ha--iness of a frien.

>An my -leasure too> sheae.

4 loo&e at her intently anassume a serious air. Afterthat for the



=hole ay 4 i not s-ea& asingle =or to her... 4n the

evening she=as -ensiveF this morning atthe =ell more -ensive still.;hen 4 =ent

u- to her she =as listeninga0sentBminely to 6rushnits&i=ho =asa--arently falling into ra-turesa0out 8ature 0ut so soon as

she -ereive me she 0egan tolaughBBat a most ino--ortunemomentBB-retening not tonotie me. 4 =ent on a littlefurther an0egan stealthily to o0serve her.3he turne a=ay from herom-anion an



ya=ne t=ie. Deiely sheha gro=n tire of 6rushnits&iBB4

=ill nottal& to her for another t=oays.

5HAPT$+ E444. 11th June.

4 O/T$8 as& myself =hy 4 am soo0stinately eneavouring to =inthe loveof a young girl =hom 4 o not=ish to eeive an =hom 4=ill nevermarry. ;hy this =omanBli&eouetryK Eera loves me morethan Priness



Mary ever =ill. Ha 4 regarethe latter as an invini0le

0eauty 4shoul -erha-s have 0eenallure 0y the iIulty of theunerta&ing...

Ho=ever there is no suhiIulty in this ase5onseuently my-resent feeling is not that

restless raving for love =hihtorments usin the early ays of our youthinging us from one =oman toanother until =e ?n one =hoannot enure us. An then0egins ouronstanyBBthat sinereunening -assion =hih may 0e

e@-resse



mathematially 0y a line fallingfrom a -oint into s-aeBBthe

seret of that enlessness lying only inthe im-ossi0ility of attainingthe aim

that is to say the en.

/rom =hat motive then am 4ta&ing all this trou0leKBB$nvy of 6rushnits&iK Poor fello=

He is uite uneserving of it.Or is it the result of that ugly0utinvini0le feeling =hih ausesus to estroy the s=eet illusionsof our neigh0our in orer to havethe -etty satisfation of saying

to him



=hen in es-air he as&s =hathe is to 0elieve:

>My frien the same thingha--ene to me an you seenevertheless

that 4 ine su- an slee- very-eaefully an 4 shall 4 ho-e&no=ho= to ie =ithout tears anlamentations.>

There is in sooth a 0ounlessenoyment in the -ossession ofa youngsareB0ue soul 4t is li&e ao=eret =hih e@hales its 0est-erfumeat the &iss of the ?rst ray of thesun. You shoul -lu& the o=er

at



that moment an 0reathing itsfragrane to the full ast it

u-on theroa: -erhane someone =ill-i& it u- 4 feel =ithin me thatinsatiate

hunger =hih evourseverything it meets u-on the=ayF 4 loo& u-onthe suerings an oys ofothers only from the -oint of

vie= of theirrelation to myself regaringthem as the nutriment =hihsustains mys-iritual fores. 4 myself am nolonger a-a0le of ommittingfolliesuner the inuene of -assionF=ith me am0ition has 0een

re-resse 0y



irumstanes 0ut it hasemerge in another form

0eause am0ition isnothing more nor less than athirst for -o=er an my hief-leasure is

to ma&e everything thatsurrouns me su0et to my=ill. To arouse thefeeling of love evotion ana=e to=ars oneselfBBis not that

the ?rstsign an the greatest trium-hof -o=erK To 0e the ause ofsueringan oy to anotherBB=ithout inthe least -ossessing anye?nite rightto 0e soBBis not that thes=eetest foo for our -rieK

An =hat is



ha--inessKBB3atis?e -rie.;ere 4 to onsier myself the

0est themost -o=erful man in the=orl 4 shoul 0e ha--yF =ereall to love me

4 shoul ?n =ithin meine@hausti0le s-rings of love.$vil 0egetsevilF the ?rst suering gives usthe one-tion of the

satisfationof torturing another. The iea of evil annot enter the min=ithoutarousing a esire to -ut itatually into -ratie. >4easare organientities> someone has sai.

The very fat of their 0irth

eno=s them



=ith form an that form isation. He in =hose 0rain the

most ieasare 0orn aom-lishes themost. /rom that ause a geniushaine to an

oIial es& must ie or goma ust as it often ha--ensthat a manof -o=erful onstitution an atthe same time of seentary life

ansim-le ha0its ies of ana-o-leti stro&e.

Passions are naught 0ut ieasin their ?rst evelo-mentF theyare anattri0ute of the youth of theheart an foolish is he =ho

thin&s that



he =ill 0e agitate 0y them allhis life. Many uiet rivers 0egin

theirourse as noisy =aterfalls anthere is not a single stream=hih =ill

lea- or foam throughout its =ayto the sea. That uietnessho=ever isfreuently the sign of greatthough latent strength. The

fulness ane-th of feelings an thoughtso not amit of frenGieout0ursts. 4nsuering an in enoyment thesoul reners itself a stritaount of all it e@-erienes an onvinesitself that suh things must 0e.

4t



&no=s that 0ut for storms theonstant heat of the sun =oul

ry itu- 4t im0ues itself =ith its o=nlifeBB-ets an -unishes itself li&ea

favourite hil. 4t is only in thathighest state of selfB&no=legethata man an a--reiate theivine ustie.

On reaing over this -age 4o0serve that 4 have mae a=ie igressionfrom my su0et... %ut =hatmatterK... You see it is formyself that 4am =riting this iary anonseuently anything that 4 ot

o=n in it



=ill in time 0e a valua0lereminisene for me.

. . . . .

6rushnits&i has alle to see

me toBay. He ung himselfu-on my ne&Fhe has 0een -romote to 0e anoIer. ;e ran& ham-agne.Dotor ;erner

ame in after him.

>4 o not ongratulate you> hesai to 6rushnits&i.

>;hy notK>

>%eause the soliers loa&suits you very =ell an you

must onfess



that an infantry uniform mae0y one of the loal tailors =ill

not aanything of interest to you... Doyou not seeK Hitherto you have0een

an e@e-tion 0ut no= you =illome uner the general rule.>

>Tal& a=ay otor tal& a=ay You =ill not -revent me from

reoiing.He oes not &no=> ae6rushnits&i in a =his-er to me>ho= many ho-esthese e-aulettes have lentme... Oh... $-aulettese-aulettes Yourlittle stars are guiing stars8o 4 am -erfetly ha--y no=>



>Are you oming =ith us on our=al& to the hollo=K> 4 as&e

him.

>4K 8ot on any aount =ill 4sho= myself to Priness Mary

until myuniform is ?nishe.>

>;oul you li&e me to informher of your ha--inessK>

>8o -lease not a =or... 4 =antto give her a sur-rise>...

>Tell me though ho= are yougetting on =ith herK>

He 0eame em0arrasse anfell into thoughtF he =oul

glaly have



0ragge an tol lies 0ut hisonsiene =oul not let himF

an at thesame time he =as ashame toonfess the truth.

>;hat o you thin&K Does shelove youK>...

>Love meK 6oo graiousPehorin =hat ieas you o

have... Ho= oulshe -ossi0ly love me so soonK...An a =ellB0re =oman even ifshe isin love =ill never say so>...

>Eery =ell An 4 su--ose inyour o-inion a =ellB0re manshoul also



&ee- silene in regar to his-assionK>...

>Ah my ear fello= There are=ays of oing everythingF oftenthings

may remain uns-o&en 0ut yetmay 0e guesse>...

>That is true... %ut the love=hih =e rea in the eyes oes

not -legea =oman to anything =hilst=ors... Have a are6rushnits&i she is0efooling you>

>3heK> he ans=ere raising hiseyes heaven=ar an smilingom-laently. >4 am sorry for

you Pehorin>...



He too& his e-arture.

4n the evening a numerousom-any set o to =al& to thehollo=.

4n the o-inion of the learne ofPyatigors& the hollo= inuestion isnothing more nor less than an

e@tint rater. 4t is situate on aslo-e of Mount Mashu& at theistane of a verst from theto=n an isa--roahe 0y a narro= -ath0et=een 0rush=oo an ro&s.4n lim0ing u-the hill 4 gave Priness Marymy arm an she i not leave

it uring



the =hole e@ursion.

Our onversation ommene=ith slanerF 4 -roeee to-ass inrevie= our -resent an a0sent

auaintanesF at ?rst 4e@-ose theirriiulous an then their 0asies. My holer rose. 4 0egan in

est

an ene in genuine malie.At ?rst she =as amuse 0utafter=arsfrightene.

>You are a angerous man> shesai. >4 =oul rather -erish inthe



=oos uner the &nife of anassassin than uner your

tongue... 4n allearnestness 4 0eg of you: =henit omes into your min tos-ea& evil of

me ta&e a &nife instea an utmy throat. 4 thin& you =oul not?nthat a very iIult matter.>

>Am 4 li&e an assassin thenK>...

>You are =orse>...

4 fell into thought for a momentFthen assuming a ee-ly moveair 4sai:



>Yes suh has 0een my lot fromvery hilhoo All have rea

u-on myountenane the mar&s of 0aualities =hih =ere note@istentF 0ut

they =ere assume to e@istBBan they =ere 0orn. 4 =asmoestBB4 =asause of slyness: 4 gre=seretive. 4 -rofounly felt 0oth

goo anevilBBno one aresse me allinsulte me: 4 gre= vinitive. 4=asgloomyBBother hilren merryan tal&ativeF 4 felt myselfhigher thantheyBB4 =as rate lo=er: 4 gre=envious. 4 =as -re-are to love

the



=hole =orlBBno one unerstoome: 4 learne to hate. My

olourlessyouth o=e 0y in onit =ithmyself an the =orlF fearingriiule

4 0urie my 0est feelings in thee-ths of my heart an theretheyie. 4 s-o&e the truthBB4 =asnot 0elieve: 4 0egan to

eeive. Havingauire a thorough &no=legeof the =orl an the s-rings ofsoiety 4gre= s&ille in the siene oflifeF an 4 sa= ho= others=ithout s&ill=ere ha--y enoyinggratuitously the avantages

=hih 4 so un=eariely



sought. Then es-air =as 0orn=ithin my 0reastBBnot that

es-air =hihis ure at the muGGle of a-istol 0ut the ol -o=erlesses-air

oneale 0eneath the mas& ofamia0ility an a gooBnaturesmile. 40eame a moral ri--le. Onehalf of my soul ease to e@istF

it rieu- eva-orate ie an 4 utit o an ast it from me. Theotherhalf move an liveBBat theservie of allF 0ut it remaineuno0serve0eause no one &ne= that thehalf =hih ha -erishe ha

ever e@iste.



%ut no= the memory of it has0een a=a&ene =ithin me 0y

you an 4have rea you its e-ita-h. Tomany e-ita-hs in general seemriiulous

0ut to me they o notFes-eially =hen 4 remem0er=hat re-oses 0eneaththem. 4 =ill not ho=ever as&you to share my o-inion. 4f this

out0urstseems a0sur to you 4 -rayyou laugh 4 fore=arn you thatyourlaughter =ill not ause me theleast hagrin.>

At that moment 4 met her eyes:tears =ere =elling in them. Her

arm as



it leane u-on mine =astrem0lingF her hee&s =ere

aameF she -itieme 3ym-athyBBa feeling to=hih all =omen yiel so easilyha ug its

talons into her ine@-erieneheart. During the =holee@ursion she =as-reou-ie an i not irt=ith anyoneBBan that is a great

sign

;e arrive at the hollo=F thelaies left their avaliers 0utshe inot let go my arm. The=ittiisms of the loal aniesfaile to ma&e



her laughF the stee-ness of theelivity 0esie =hih she =as

staningause her no alarm althoughthe other laies uttere shrillries an

shut their eyes.

On the =ay 0a& 4 i notrene= our melanholyonversation 0ut to my

ile uestions an ests shegave short an a0sentBmineans=ers.

>Have you ever 0een in loveK> 4as&e her at length.

3he loo&e at me intentlyshoo& her hea an again fell

into a reverie.



4t =as evient that she =as=ishing to say something 0ut

i not &no=ho= to 0egin. Her 0reastheave... An inee that =as0ut natural

A muslin sleeve is a =ea&-rotetion an an eletris-ar& =as runningfrom my arm to hers. Almost all-assions have their 0eginning

in that=ay an freuently =e arevery muh eeive in thin&ingthat a =omanloves us for our moral an-hysial meritsF of oursethese -re-are an-reis-ose the heart for theree-tion of the holy ame 0ut

for all



that it is the ?rst touh thateies the matter.

>4 have 0een very amia0le toBay have 4 notK> Priness Marysai to me

=ith a fore smile =hen =eha returne from the =al&.

;e se-arate.

3he is issatis?e =ith herself.3he auses herself ofolness... Ohthat is the ?rst the hieftrium-h

ToBmorro= she =ill 0e feeling aesire to reom-ense me. 4&no= the



=hole -roeeing 0y heartalreayBBthat is =hat is so

tiresome

5HAPT$+ 4C. 12th June.

4 HAE$ seen Eera toBay. 3hehas 0egun to -lague me =ith

her ealousy.Priness Mary has ta&en it intoher hea it seems to on?etheserets of her heart to Eera: aha--y hoie it must 0eonfesse



>4 an guess =hat all this isleaing to> sai Eera to me.

>You ha0etter sim-ly tell me at onethat you are in love =ith her.>

>%ut su--osing 4 am not in love=ith herK>

>Then =hy run after her istur0her agitate her imagination...

Oh 4&no= you =ell ListenBBif you=ish me to 0elieve you ometo 9islovos&in a =ee&s timeF =e shall 0emoving thither the ay after toBmorro=.Priness Mary =ill remain herelonger. $ngage logings ne@t

oor to us.



;e shall 0e living in the largehouse near the s-ring on the

meGGanineoor. Priness Ligovs&i =ill 0e0elo= us an ne@t oor there isa

house 0elonging to the samelanlor =hih has not yet0een ta&en...;ill you omeK>...

4 gave my -romise an thisvery same ay 4 have sent toengage thelogings.

6rushnits&i ame to me at si@olo& an announe that hisuniform



=oul 0e reay toBmorro= ustin time for him to go to the 0all

in it.

>At last 4 shall ane =ith herthe =hole evening through...

An then 4shall tal& to my heartsontent> he ae.

>;hen is the 0allK>

>;hy toBmorro= Do you not&no= thenK A great festivalBBan the loalauthorities have unerta&en toorganiGe it>...

>Let us go to the 0oulevar>...



>8ot on any aount in thisnasty loa&>...

>;hat Have you ease to loveitK>...

4 =ent out alone an meetingPriness Mary 4 as&e her to&ee- themaGur&a for me. 3he seemesur-rise an elighte.

>4 thought that you =oul onlyane from neessity as on thelastoasion> she sai =ith a veryharming smile...

3he oes not seem to notie6rushnits&is a0sene at all.



>You =ill 0e agreea0ly sur-risetoBmorro=> 4 sai to her.

>At =hatK>

>That is a seret... You =ill ?n

it out yourself at the 0all.>

4 ?nishe u- the evening atPriness Ligovs&isF there =ereno other

guests -resent e@e-t Eera ana ertain very amusing littleolgentleman. 4 =as in goos-irits an im-rovise variouse@traorinarystories. Priness Mary sato--osite me an listene to mynonsense =ith



suh ee- straine an eventener attention that 4 gre=

ashame of myself. ;hat ha 0eome ofher vivaity her ouetry hera-ries her

haughty mien herontem-tuous smile hera0sentmine glaneK...

Eera notie everything an

her si&ly ountenane =as a-iture of -rofoun grief. 3he =as sittingin the shao= 0y the =ino=0urie in a=ie armBhair... 4 -itie her.

Then 4 relate the =holeramati story of our

auaintaneshi- our



loveBBonealing it all ofourse uner ?titious names.

3o vivily i 4 -ortray mytenerness my an@ieties myra-turesF in

so favoura0le a light i 4e@hi0it her ations an herharater thatinvoluntarily she ha to forgiveme for my irtation =ith

PrinessMary.

3he rose sat o=n 0esie usan 0rightene u-... an it =asonlyat t=o olo& in the morningthat =e remem0ere that theotors ha



orere her to go to 0e ateleven.

5HAPT$+ C. 1)th June.

HAL/ an hour 0efore the 0all6rushnits&i -resente himselfto me in

the full s-lenour of theuniform of the Line infantry.Attahe tohis thir 0utton =as a little0ronGe hain on =hih hung aou0lelorgnette. $-aulettes ofinrei0le siGe =ere 0ent0a&=ars an u-=ars



in the sha-e of a u-is =ingsFhis 0oots rea&eF in his left

han hehel innamonBoloure &igloves an a forageBa- an=ith his right he

&e-t every moment t=isting hisfriGGle tuft of hair u- into tinyurls.5om-laeny an at the sametime a ertain iIene =ere

e-ite u-onhis fae. His festal a--earanean -rou gait =oul havemae me0urst out laughing if suh a-roeeing ha 0een inaorane =ith myintentions.



He thre= his a- an gloves onthe ta0le an 0egan to -ull

o=nthe s&irts of his oat an to -uthimself to rights 0efore theloo&ingBglass. An enormous

0la& han&erhief =hih =ast=iste into avery high stiener for hisravat an the 0ristles of =hihsu--orte

his hin stu& out an inh overhis ollar. 4t seeme to him to0erather small an he re= it u-as far as his ears. As a result of that har =or&BBthe ollar of hisuniform 0eing very tight anunomforta0leBBhe gre= re inthe fae.



>They say you have 0eenourting my -riness terri0ly

these last fe=aysK> he sai ratherarelessly an =ithout loo&ingat me.

>;here are =e fools to rin&tea> #2,1* 4 ans=erere-eating a -et-hrase of one of the leverest

rogues of -ast times oneele0rate insong 0y Push&in. >Tell me oesmy uniform ?t me =ellK... Ohtheurse Je=... Ho= it uts meuner the arm-its... Have yougot anysentK>



>6oo graious =hat more oyou =antK You are ree&ing of

rose -omae asit is.>

>8ever min. 6ive me some>...

He -oure half a -hial over hisravat his -o&etBhan&erhiefhissleeves.

>You are going to aneK> heas&e.

>4 thin& not.>

>4 am afrai 4 shall have to leao the maGur&a =ith PrinessMary



an 4 sarely &no= a single?gure>...

>Have you as&e her to anethe maGur&a =ith youK>

>8ot yet>...

>Min you are not forestalle>...

>Just so inee> he sai

stri&ing his forehea. >6ooB0ye... 4 =illgo an =ait for her at theentrane.>

He seiGe his forageBa- anran.



Half an hour later 4 also set o. The street =as ar& an

eserte.Aroun the assem0ly rooms orinnBB=hihever you -referBB-eo-le =ere

thronging. The =ino=s =erelighte u- the strains of theregimental0an =ere 0orne to me on theevening 0reeGe. 4 =al&e

slo=lyF 4 feltmelanholy.

>5an it 0e -ossi0le> 4 thought>that my sole mission on earthis toestroy the ho-es of othersK$ver sine 4 0egan to live an toat it



seems al=ays to have 0een myfate to -lay a -art in the ening

of other-eo-les ramas as if 0ut forme no one oul either ie orfall

into es-air 4 have 0een theinis-ensa0le -erson of the ?fthatFun=illingly 4 have -laye the-itiful -art of an e@eutioner or

atraitor. ;hat o0et has fateha in thisK... 3urely 4 have not0eena--ointe 0y estiny to 0e anauthor of mileBlass trageiesan familyromanes or to 0e aolla0orator =ith the -urveyor

of storiesBBfor the



+eaers Li0rary #2,2* fore@am-leK... Ho= an 4 tellK...

Are therenot many -eo-le =ho in0eginning life thin& to en itli&e Lor %yron

or Ale@aner the 6reat annevertheless remain Titular5ounillors#2,)* all their aysK>

$ntering the saloon 4 onealemyself in a ro= of men an0egan toma&e my o0servations.

6rushnits&i =as staning0esie Priness Mary ansaying something =ith



great =armth. 3he =as listeningto him a0sentBminely an

loo&ing a0outher her fan lai to her li-s.4m-atiene =as e-ite u-onher fae

her eyes =ere searhing allaroun for some0oy. 4 =entsoftly 0ehinthem in orer to listen to theironversation.

>You torture me Priness>6rushnits&i =as saying. >Youhave hangereafully sine 4 sa= youlast>...

>You too have hange> sheans=ere asting a ra-i

glane at him



in =hih he =as una0le toetet the latent sneer.

>4 5hangeK... Oh never You&no= that suh a thing isim-ossi0le

;hoever has seen you one =ill0ear your ivine image =ithhim forever.>

>3to->...

>%ut =hy =ill you not let me saytoBnight =hat you have so oftenlistene to =ith onesensionBBan ust reently tooK>...

>%eause 4 o not li&ere-etitions> she ans=ere

laughing.



>Oh 4 have 0een 0itterly

mista&en... 4 thought fool that4 =as thatthese e-aulettes at least=oul give me the right to

ho-e... 8oit =oul have 0een 0etter forme to have remaine for everin thatontem-ti0le soliers loa& to

=hih -ro0a0ly 4 =as ine0teforyour attention>...

>As a matter of fat the loa& ismuh more 0eoming to you>...

At that moment 4 =ent u- an0o=e to Priness Mary. 3he

0lushe a



little an =ent on ra-ily:

>4s it not true MonsieurPehorin that the grey loa&suits Monsieur6rushnits&i muh 0etterK>...

>4 o not agree =ith you> 4ans=ere: >he is more youthfulBloo&ingstill in his uniform.>

That =as a 0lo= =hih6rushnits&i oul not 0ear: li&eall 0oys hehas -retensions to 0eing an olmanF he thin&s that the ee-traesof -assions u-on hisountenane ta&e the -lae of

the lines sore 0y



Time. He ast a furious glaneat me stam-e his foot an

too& himself o.

>5onfess no=> 4 sai to

Priness Mary: >that althoughhe has al=ays0een most riiulous yet not solong ago he seeme to you to0e

interesting... in the greyloa&K>...

3he ast her eyes o=n anmae no re-ly.

6rushnits&i follo=e thePriness a0out uring the =holeevening an



ane either =ith her or visBaBvis. He evoure her =ith his

eyessighe an =earie her =ith-rayers an re-roahes. Afterthe thir

uarille she ha 0egun to hatehim.

>4 i not e@-et this from you>he sai oming u- to me an

ta&ing myarm.

>;hatK>

>You are going to ane themaGur&a =ith herK> he as&e ina solemntone. >3he amitte it>...



>;ell =hat thenK 4t is not aseret is it>K

>Of ourse not... 4 ought to havee@-ete suh a thing from thathitBBthat irt... 4 =ill have my

revenge though>

>You shoul lay the 0lame onyour loa& or your e-aulettes0ut =hy

ause herK ;hat fault is it ofhers that she oes not li&e youanylongerK>...

>%ut =hy give me ho-esK>

>;hy i you ho-eK To esirean to strive after somethingBB

that 4 an



unerstan %ut =ho everho-esK>

>You have =on the =ager 0utnot uite> he sai =ith amalignant

smile.

The maGur&a 0egan.6rushnits&i hose no one 0utthe Priness other

avaliers hose her everyminute: o0viously a ons-irayagainst meBBallthe 0etter 3he =ants to tal& tome they are -reventing herBBshe =ill=ant to t=ie as muh.



4 sueeGe her han one ort=ieF the seon time she

re= it a=ay=ithout saying a =or.

>4 shall slee- 0aly toBnight>

she sai to me =hen themaGur&a =asover.

>6rushnits&i is to 0lame for

that.>

>Oh no>

An her fae 0eame so-ensive so sa that 4 -romisemyself that 4=oul not fail to &iss her hanthat evening.



The guests 0egan to is-erse.As 4 =as haning Priness Mary

into herarriage 4 ra-ily -resse herlittle han to my li-s. The night=as

ar& an no0oy oul see.

4 returne to the saloon very=ell satis?e =ith myself.

The young men 6rushnits&iamongst them =ere havingsu--er at thelarge ta0le. As 4 ame in theyall fell silent: eviently they ha0eental&ing a0out me. 3ine the last0all many of them have 0eensul&y =ith



me es-eially the a-tain ofragoonsF an no= it seems a

hostilegang is atually 0eing formeagainst me uner theomman of

6rushnits&i. He =ears suh a-rou an ourageous air...

4 am very glaF 4 love enemiesthough not in the 5hristian

sense. Theyamuse me stir my 0loo. To 0eal=ays on ones guar to atheveryglane the meaning of every=or to guess intentions torushons-iraies to -reten to 0eeeive an suenly =ith

one 0lo=



to overthro= the =holeimmense an la0oriously

onstrute ei?e of unning an esignBBthat is=hat 4 all life.

During su--er 6rushnits&i &e-t=his-ering an e@hanging=in&s =ith thea-tain of ragoons.

5HAPT$+ C4. 1Nth June.

E$+A an her hus0an left thismorning for 9islovos&. 4 mettheir



arriage as 4 =as =al&ing toPriness Ligovs&is. Eera

noe to me:re-roah =as in her glane.

;ho is to 0lame thenK ;hy =ill

she not give me an o--ortunityof seeing her aloneK Love is li&e?reBBif not fe it ies out.Perhane

ealousy =ill aom-lish =hatmy entreaties have faile to o.

4 staye a =hole hour atPriness Ligovs&is. Mary hasnot 0een out sheis ill. 4n the evening she =as noton the 0oulevar. The ne=lyforme



gang arme =ith lorgnetteshas in very fat assume a

menaing as-et.4 am gla that Priness Mary isillF they might 0e guilty of someim-ertinene to=ars her.

6rushnits&i goes a0out =ithishevelle lo&san =ears an a--earane ofes-air: he is evientlyaite as a

matter of fatF his vanityes-eially has 0een inure.%ut you seethere are some -eo-le in =homeven es-air is iverting...

On my =ay home 4 notie thatsomething =as la&ing. 4 havenot seen



her 3he is ill 3urely 4 have notfallen in love =ith her in real

earnestK... ;hat nonsense

5HAPT$+ C44. 1Qth June.

AT eleven olo& in themorningBBthe hour at =hih

Priness Ligovs&iis usually -ers-iring in the$rmolov 0athsBB4 =al&e -asther house.Priness Mary =as sitting-ensively at the =ino=F onseeing me shes-rang u-.



4 entere the anteBroom there=as no0oy there an availing

myself of the freeom aore 0y theloal ustoms 4 mae my =ayunannoune

into the ra=ingBroom.

Priness Marys harmingountenane =as shroue =itha ull -allor.

3he =as staning 0y the-ianoforte leaning one han onthe 0a& of anarmBhairF her han =as veryfaintly trem0ling. 4 =ent u- toher softlyan sai:

>You are angry =ith meK>...



3he lifte a ee- languiglane u-on me an shoo& her

hea. Her li-s=ere a0out to utter something0ut faileF her eyes ?lle =ithtearsF

she san& into the armBhair an0urie her fae in her hans.

>;hat is the matter =ith youK> 4sai ta&ing her han.

>You o not res-et me... Ohleave me>...

4 too& a fe= ste-s... 3he re=herself u- in the hair her eyess-ar&le.

4 sto--e still too& hol of the

hanle of the oor an sai:



>/orgive me Priness. 4 have

ate li&e a maman... 4t =illnot ha--enanother timeF 4 shall see tothat... %ut ho= an you &no=

=hat has 0eenta&ing -lae hitherto =ithin mysoulK That you =ill never learnan somuh the 0etter for you.

/are=ell.>

As 4 =as going out 4 seeme tohear her =ee-ing.

4 =anere on foot a0out theenvirons of Mount Mashu& tillevening



fatigue myself terri0ly an onarriving home ung myself on

my 0eutterly e@hauste.

;erner ame to see me.

>4s it true> he as&e >that youare going to marry PrinessMaryK>

>;hatK>

>The =hole to=n is saying so.All my -atients are ou-ie=ith thatim-ortant -iee of ne=sF 0utyou &no= =hat these -atientsare: they &no=everything.>



>This is one of 6rushnits&istri&s> 4 sai to myself.

>To -rove the falsity of theserumours otor 4 maymention as a

seret that 4 am moving to9islovos& toBmorro=>...

>An Priness Mary tooK>

>8o she remains here another=ee&>...

>3o you are not going to getmarrieK>...

>Dotor otor Loo& at meAm 4 in the least li&e a0riegroom or any

suh thingK>



>4 am not saying so... %ut you

&no= there are oasions...> heae=ith a rafty smileBB>in =hih anhonoura0le man is o0lige to

marryan there are mothers =ho tosay the least o not -reventsuhoasions... An so as a frien

4 shoul avise you to 0e moreautious. The air of these -artsis very angerous. Ho= manyhansomeyoung men =orthy of a 0etterfate have 4 not seen e-artingfrom herestraight to the altar... ;oulyou 0elieve me they =ere even

going to



?n a =ife for me That is tosay one -erson =asBBa lay

0elongingto this istrit =ho ha a very-ale aughter. 4 ha themisfortune to

tell her that the latters olour=oul 0e restore after=elo& anthen =ith tears of gratitue sheoere me her aughters han

an the=hole of her o=n fortuneBB?ftysouls #2"* 4 thin&. %ut 4 re-liethat4 =as un?t for suh an honour.>

;erner left fully onvine thathe ha -ut me on my guar.



4 gathere from his =ors thatvarious ugly rumours =ere

alreay 0eings-rea a0out the to=n on thesu0et of Priness Mary anmyself:

6rushnits&i shall smart for this

5HAPT$+ C444. 1"th June.

4 HAE$ 0een in 9islovos& threeays no=. $very ay 4 see Eeraat the=ell an out =al&ing. 4n themorning =hen 4 a=a&e 4 sit 0ymy =ino=



an iret my lorgnette at her0alony. 3he has alreay 0een

resselong ago an is =aiting for thesignal agree u-on. ;e meetas though

une@-etely in the garen=hih slo-es o=n from ourhouses to the=ell. The lifeBgiving mountainair has 0rought 0a& her olour

an herstrength. 8ot for nothing is8arGan alle the >3-ring ofHeroes.> Theinha0itants aver that the air of9islovos& -reis-oses theheart tolove an that all the romanes=hih have ha their 0eginning

at the



foot of Mount Mashu& ?n theironsummation here. An in

veryfat everything here 0reathesof solitueF everything has anair of

sereyBBthe thi& shao=s ofthe linen avenues 0eningover thetorrent =hih falls noisy anfoaming from ag to ag an

leavesitself a =ay 0et=een themountains no= 0eoming la=ith verureBBthemistB?lle silent ravines =iththeir rami?ations stragglinga=ayin all iretionsBBthe freshnessof the aromati air laen =ith



the fragrane of the tallsouthern grasses an the =hite

aaiaBBtheneverBeasing s=eetlyBslum0erous 0a00le of the ool0roo&s =hih

meeting at the en of thevalley o= along in frienlyemulation an?nally ing themselves into thePo&umo&. On this sie the

ravine is=ier an 0eomes onverteinto a verant ell through=hih =insthe usty roa. $very time 4loo& at it 4 seem to see aarriage omingalong an a rosy little faeloo&ing out of the arriageB

=ino=. Many



arriages have alreay riven0yBB0ut still there is no sign of

that-artiular one. The village=hih lies 0ehin the fortresshas 0eome

-o-ulous. 4n the restaurant0uilt u-on a hill a fe= -aesistant frommy logings lights are0eginning to ash in the

evening through theou0le ro= of -o-larsF noisean the ingling of glassesresoun tilllate at night.

4n no -lae are suh uantitiesof 9a&hetian =ine an mineral=aters

run& as here.



>An many are =illing to mi@the t=o

%ut that is a thing 4 never

o.>

$very ay 6rushnits&i an hisgang are to 0e foun 0ra=ling

in the innan he has almost ease togreet me.

He only arrive yesteray anhas alreay sueee inuarrelling =iththree ol men =ho =ere goingto ta&e their -laes in the 0aths

0efore



him.

Deiely his misfortunes areevelo-ing a =arli&e s-irit=ithin him.

5HAPT$+ C4E. 22n June.

AT last they have arrive. 4 =assitting 0y the =ino= =hen 4hear thelattering of their arriage. Myheart thro00e... ;hat oes itmeanK5an it 0e that 4 am in loveK... 4am so stu-ily onstitute thatsuh a

thing might 0e e@-ete of me.



4 ine at their house. Priness

Ligovs&i loo&e at me =ithmuhtenerness an i not leaveher aughters sie... a 0a

sign On theother han Eera is ealous ofme in regar to Priness MaryBBho=ever4 have 0een striving for that

goo fortune. ;hat =ill not a=oman o inorer to hagrin her rivalK 4remem0er that one a =omanlove mesim-ly 0eause 4 =as in love=ith another =oman. There isnothing more



-arao@ial than the femaleminF it is iIult to onvine a

=oman of anythingF they have to 0e leinto onvining themselves. Theorer of

the -roofs 0y =hih theyemolish their -reuies ismost originalFto learn their ialeti it isneessary to overthro= in your

o=n minevery sholasti rule of logi./or e@am-le the usual =ay:

>This man loves meF 0ut 4 ammarrie: therefore 4 must notlove him.>

The =omans =ay:



>4 must not love him 0eause 4am marrieF 0ut he loves

meBBtherefore>...

A fe= ots here 0eausereason has no more to say. %ut

generallythere is something to 0e sai 0ythe tongue an the eyes anafterthese the heartBBif there is suh

a thing.

;hat if these notes shoul oneay meet a =omans eyeK

>3laner> she =ill e@laiminignantly.



$ver sine -oets have =rittenan =omen have rea them

for =hih the-oets shoul 0e most ee-lygrateful =omen have 0eenalle angels so

many times that in very truthin their sim-liity of soul theyhave0elieve the om-limentforgetting that for money the

same -oets haveglori?e 8ero as a emigo...

4t =oul 0e unreasona0le =ere 4to s-ea& of =omen =ith suhmalignityBB4=ho have love nothing else inthe =orlBB4 =ho have al=ays0een reay



to sari?e for their sa&e easeam0ition life itself... %ut you

see4 am not eneavouring in a ?tof ve@ation an inure vanityto -lu&

from them the magi veilthrough =hih only anaustome glane an-enetrate. 8o all that 4 saya0out them is 0ut the result of

>A min =hih olly hatho0serve

A heart =hih 0ears thestam- of =oe.> #2(*



;omen ought to =ish that allmen &ne= them as =ell as 4

0eause 4 havelove them a hunre times0etter sine 4 have ease to 0eafrai of

them an have om-rehenetheir little =ea&nesses.

%y the =ay: the other ay;erner om-are =omen to the

enhante forestof =hih Tasso tells in his>Jerusalem Delivere.> #)!*

>3o soon as you a--roah> hesai >from all iretions terrorssuhas 4 -ray Heaven may -reserveus from =ill ta&e =ing at you:

uty



-rie eorum -u0li o-inionriiule ontem-t... You must

sim-ly gostraight on =ithout loo&ing atthemF graually the monstersisa--ear

an 0efore you o-ens a 0rightan uiet glae in the mist of=hih0looms the green myrtle. Onthe other han =oe to you if

at the ?rstste-s your heart trem0les anyou turn 0a&>

5HAPT$+ CE. 2Nth June.



TH43 evening has 0een fertile inevents. A0out three versts from

9islovos& in the gorgethrough =hih the Po&umo&o=s there isa li alle the +ing. 4t is a

naturally forme gate risingu-ona lofty hill an through it thesetting sun thro=s its lastaming

glane u-on the =orl. Anumerous avalae set othither to gaGe atthe sunset through the ro&B=ino=. To tell the truth notone of them=as thin&ing a0out the sun. 4roe 0esie Priness Mary. Onthe =ay



home =e ha to for thePo&umo&. Mountain streams

even thesmallest are angerousFes-eially so 0eause the0ottom is a -erfet

&aleioso-e: it hanges everyay o=ing to the -ressure ofthe urrentF=here yesteray there =as aro& toBay there is a avity. 4

too&Priness Marys horse 0y the0rile an le it into the =ater=hihame no higher than its &nees.;e 0egan to move slo=ly in aslantingiretion against the urrent. 4tis a =ellB&no=n fat that in

rossing



ra-i streamlets you shoulnever loo& at the =ater

0eause if youo your hea 0egins to =hirliretly. 4 forgot to =arnPriness Mary

of that.

;e ha reahe the mile an=ere right in the vorte@ =hensuenly

she reele in her sale.

>4 feel ill> she sai in a faintvoie.

4 0ent over to her ra-ily anthre= my arm aroun hersu--le =aist.



>Loo& u-> 4 =his-ere. >4t isnothingF ust 0e 0rave 4 am

=ith you.>

3he gre= 0etterF she =as a0outto isengage herself from my

arm 0ut4 las-e her tener soft ?gurein a still loser em0raeF myhee&almost touhe hers from

=hih =as =afte ame.

>;hat are you oing to meK...Oh Heaven>...

4 -ai no attention to her alarman onfusion an my li-stouhe her



tener hee&. 3he shuere0ut sai nothing. ;e =ere

riing 0ehin theothers: no0oy sa= us.

;hen =e mae our =ay out on

the 0an& the horses =ere all-ut to thetrot. Priness Mary &e-t hers0a&F 4 remaine 0esie her. 4t=as

evient that my silene =asma&ing her uneasy 0ut 4 s=oreto myself that 4 =oul not s-ea& a single=orBBout of uriosity. 4 =anteto seeho= she =oul e@triate herself from that em0arrassing-osition.



>$ither you es-ise me or youlove me very muh> she sai

at lengthan there =ere tears in hervoie. >Perha-s you =ant tolaugh at me to

e@ite my soul an then toa0anon me... That =oul 0e so0ase so vilethat the mere su--osition... Ohno> she ae in a voie of

tenertrustfulnessF >there is nothing inme =hih =oul -relueres-etF isit not soK Your -resum-tuousation... 4 must 4 must forgiveyoufor it 0eause 4 -ermitte it...Ans=er s-ea& 4 =ant to hear

your



voie>...

There =as suh =omanlyim-atiene in her last =orsthat involuntarily4 smileF ha--ily it =as

0eginning to gro= us&... 4mae no ans=er.

>You are silent> she ontinueF>you =ish -erha-s that 4

shoul 0ethe ?rst to tell you that 4 loveyou.>...

4 remaine silent.

>4s that =hat you =ishK> sheontinue turning ra-ilyto=ars me....



There =as something terri0le inthe etermination of her glane

anvoie.

>;hyK> 4 ans=ere shrugging

my shoulers.

3he stru& her horse =ith herriingB=hi- an set o at fullgallo-

along the narro= angerousroa. 4t all ha--ene so ui&lythat 4 =assarely a0le to overta&e heran then only 0y the time sheha oinethe rest of the om-any.



All the =ay home she =asontinually tal&ing an

laughing. There=as something feverish in hermovementsF not one i sheloo& in my

iretion. $very0oy o0serveher unusual gaiety. PrinessLigovs&ireoie in=arly as she loo&eat her aughter. Ho=ever the

lattersim-ly has a ?t of nerves: she=ill s-en a slee-less nightan =ill=ee-.

This thought aors memeasureless elight: there aremoments =hen 4



unerstan the Eam-ire... Anyet 4 am re-ute to 0e a goo

fello= an4 strive to earn thatesignation

On ismounting the laies=ent into Priness Ligovs&ishouse. 4 =ase@ite an 4 gallo-e to themountains in orer to is-el the

thoughts =hih ha throngeinto my hea. The e=yevening 0reathe aninto@iating oolness. The moon=as rising from 0ehin the ar&summits.$ah ste- of my unsho horseresoune hollo=ly in thesilene of the



gorges. 4 =atere the horse atthe =aterfall an then after

greeilyinhaling one or t=ie the freshair of the southern night.

4 set o on my =ay 0a&. 4 roethrough the village. The lightsin the=ino=s =ere 0eginning to gooutF the sentries on the

fortressBram-artan the 5ossa&s in thesurrouning -i&ets =ere allingout in ra=lingtones to one another.

4n one of the village houses0uilt at the ege of a ravine 4notie



an e@traorinary illumination.At times isorant murmurs

an shoutingoul 0e hear -roving that amilitary arouse =as in fulls=ing. 4

ismounte an re-t u- to the=ino=. The shutter ha not0een maefast an 4 oul see the0anueters an ath =hat

they =ere saying. They =ere tal&ing a0out me.

The a-tain of ragoonsushe =ith =ine stru& theta0le =ith his?st emaning attention.



>6entlemen> he sai >this=ont o Pehorin must 0e

taught a lesson These Peters0urg eglingsal=ays arry their heas highuntil they get

a sla- in the fae He thin&sthat 0eause he al=ays =earslean glovesan -olishe 0oots he is theonly one =ho has ever live in

soiety.An =hat a haughty smile Allthe same 4 am onvine thathe is ao=arBByes a o=ar>

>4 thin& so too> sai6rushnits&i. >He is fon ofgetting himself out



of trou0le 0y -retening to 0eonly having a o&e. 4 one gave

him suha tal&ing to that anyone else inhis -lae =oul have ut me to-iees

on the s-ot. %ut Pehorinturne it all to the riiuloussie. 4 of ourse i not all him out0eause that =as his 0usiness

0ut he inot are to have anything moreto o =ith it.>

>6rushnits&i is angry =ith himfor having a-ture PrinessMary fromhim> some0oy sai.



>Thats a ne= iea 4t is true 4i run after Priness Mary a

little0ut 4 left o at one 0eause 4o not =ant to get marrieF anit is

against my rules to om-romisea girl.>

>Yes 4 assure you that he is ao=ar of the ?rst =ater 4

meanPehorin not 6rushnits&iBB0ut6rushnits&i is a ?ne fello= an0esies he is my true frien>the a-tain of ragoons =enton.

>6entlemen 8o0oy herestans u- for himK 8o0oyK 3o

muh the 0etter



;oul you li&e to -ut hisourage to the testK 4t =oul 0e

amusing>...

>;e =oulF 0ut ho=K>

>Listen here then: 6rushnits&iin -artiular is angry =ithhimBBtherefore to 6rushnits&ifalls the hief -art. He =ill -i&a

uarrel over some silly trie orother an =ill hallengePehorinto a uel... ;ait a 0itF here is=here the o&e omes in... He=illhallenge him to a uelF very=ell The =hole -roeeingBBhallenge



-re-arations onitionsBB=ill 0eas solemn an a=eBins-iring as

-ossi0leBB4 =ill see to that. 4 =ill0e your seon my -oor frienEery =ell Only here is the ru0F=e =ill -ut no 0ullets in the

-istols.4 an ans=er for it that Pehorin=ill turn o=arBB4 =ill -laethemsi@ -aes a-art evil ta&e it

Are you agree gentlemenK>

>3-leni iea... Agree... An=hy notK>... ame from allsies.

>An you 6rushnits&iK>



Trem0lingly 4 a=aite6rushnits&is ans=er. 4 =as

?lle =ith ol rageat the thought that 0ut for anaient 4 might have maemyself the

laughingBsto& of those fools. 4f6rushnits&i ha not agree 4shoulhave thro=n myself u-on hisne&F 0ut after an interval of

silenehe rose from his -laee@tene his han to thea-tain an sai verygravely:

>Eery =ell 4 agree>



4t =oul 0e iIult to esri0ethe enthusiasm of that

honoura0leom-any.

4 returne home agitate 0y

t=o ierent feelings. The ?rst=assorro=.

>;hy o they all hate meK> 4

thoughtBB>=hyK Have 4 aronteanyoneK 8o.5an it 0e that 4 am one of thosemen the mere sight of =hom isenough toreate animosityK>

An 4 felt a venomous ragegraually ?lling my soul.



>Have a are Mr. 6rushnits&i> 4sai =al&ing u- an o=n the

room:>4 am not to 0e este =ith li&ethis You may -ay early for thea--ro0ation of your foolish

omraes. 4 am not your toy>...

4 got no slee- that night. %yay0rea& 4 =as as yello= as anorange.

4n the morning 4 met PrinessMary at the =ell.

>You are illK> she sai loo&ingintently at me.

>4 i not slee- last night.>



>8or 4 either... 4 =as ausingyou... -erha-s grounlessly. %ut

e@-lainyourself 4 an forgive youeverything>...

>$verythingK>...

>$verything... only s-ea& thetruth... an 0e ui&... You see 4have 0een thin&ing a goo eal

trying to e@-lain to ustify your0ehaviour. Perha-s you areafrai of o--osition on the -artof myrelations... that =ill not matter.;hen they learn>...

Her voie shoo&.



>4 =ill =in them over 0yentreaties. Or is it your o=n

-ositionK...%ut you &no= that 4 ansari?e everything for the sa&eof the man 4

love... Oh ans=er ui&lyBBhave-ity... You o not es-ise meBBo youK>

3he seiGe my han.

Priness Ligovs&i =as =al&ing infront of us =ith Eeras hus0ananha not seen anythingF 0ut =emight have 0een o0serve 0ysome of theinvalis =ho =ere strollinga0outBBthe most inuisitive

gossi-s of all



inuisitive fol&BBan 4 ra-ilyisengage my han from her

-assionate-ressure.

>4 =ill tell you the =hole truth> 4

ans=ere. >4 =ill not ustifymyself nor e@-lain my ations:4 o not love you.>

Her li-s gre= slightly -ale.

>Leave me> she sai in asarely aui0le voie.

4 shrugge my shoulersturne roun an =al&e a=ay.



5HAPT$+ CE4. 2Qth June.

4 3OM$T4M$3 es-ise myself...4s not that the reason =hy 4es-iseothers alsoK... 4 have gro=n

ina-a0le of no0le im-ulsesF 4am afrai of a--earing riiulous to myself.4n my -lae another =oulhave oere

Priness Mary son oeur et safortuneF 0ut over me the =or>marry> hasa &in of magial -o=er.Ho=ever -assionately 4 love a=oman if sheonly gives me to feel that 4have to marry herBBthenfare=ell love My



heart is turne to stone annothing =ill =arm it ane=. 4 am

-re-arefor any other sari?e 0ut thatFmy life t=enty times over naymy

honour 4 =oul sta&e on thefortune of a ar... 0ut myfreeom 4 =illnever sell. ;hy o 4 -riGe it sohighlyK ;hat is there in it to

meK /or=hat am 4 -re-aring myselfK;hat o 4 ho-e for from thefutureK... 4ntruth a0solutely nothing. 4t is a&in of innate rea anine@-lia0le-reuie... There are -eo-leyou &no= =ho have an

unaounta0le rea



of s-iers 0eetles mie... 3hall4 onfess itK ;hen 4 =as 0ut a

hila ertain ol =oman tol myfortune to my mother. 3he-reite for me

eath from a =i&e =ife. 4 =as-rofounly stru& 0y her =orsat thetime: an irresisti0le re-ugnaneto marriage =as 0orn =ithin my

soul...Mean=hile something tells methat her -reition =ill 0erealiGeF 4=ill try at all events to arrangethat it shall 0e realiGe as lateinlife as -ossi0le.



5HAPT$+ CE44. 2th June.

Y$3T$+DAY the onurerA-fel0aum arrive here. A long

-laar mae itsa--earane on the oor of therestaurant informing the mostres-ete-u0li that the a0oveB

mentione marvellous onureraro0at hemistan o-tiian =oul have thehonour to give a magni?ent-erformane onthe -resent ay at eight olo&in the evening in the saloon ofthe



8o0les 5lu0 in other =orsthe restaurantF ti&etsBBt=o

ru0les an ahalf eah.

$veryone intens to go an see

the marvellous onurerF evenPrinessLigovs&i has ta&en a ti&et forherself in s-ite of her aughter0eing

ill.

After inner toBay 4 =al&e-ast Eeras =ino=sF she =assitting 0yherself on the 0alony. A notefell at my feet:



>5ome to me at ten olo& thisevening 0y the large stairase.

Myhus0an has gone to Pyatigors&an =ill not return 0efore toBmorro=

morning. My servants anmais =ill not 0e at homeF 4have istri0uteti&ets to all of them an to the-rinesss servants as =ell. 4

a=aityouF ome =ithout fail.>

>Aha> 4 sai to myself >so thenit has turne out at last as 4thoughtit =oul.>



At eight olo& 4 =ent to seethe onurer. The -u0li

assem0le 0eforethe stro&e of nine. The-erformane 0egan. On the0a& ro=s of hairs

4 reogniGe Eeras an PrinessLigovs&is menservants anmais. They=ere all there every single one.6rushnits&i =ith his lorgnette

=assitting in the front ro= an theonurer ha reourse to himeverytime he neee a han&erhiefa =ath a ring an so forth.

/or some time -ast 6rushnits&ihas ease to 0o= to me an

toBay



he has loo&e at me ratherinsolently one or t=ie. 4t =ill

all 0eremem0ere to him =hen =eome to settle our sores.

%efore ten olo& ha stru& 4stoo u- an =ent out.

4t =as ar& outsie -ith ar&.5ol heavy lous =ere lying

on thesummit of the surrouningmountains an only at rareintervals ithe ying 0reeGe rustle the to-sof the -o-lars =hih surrounethe restaurant. Peo-le =erero=ing at the =ino=s. 4 =ento=n the



mountain an turning in unerthe gate 4 hastene my -ae.

3uenly itseeme to me that some0oy=as follo=ing my ste-s. 4sto--e an loo&e

roun. 4t =as im-ossi0le toma&e out anything in thear&ness. Ho=everout of aution 4 =al&e rounthe house as if ta&ing a stroll.

PassingPriness Marys =ino=s 4again hear ste-s 0ehin meF aman =ra--e ina loa& ran 0y me. Thatrenere me uneasy 0ut 4 re-tu- to the ightof ste-s an hastily mountethe ar& stairase. A oor

o-ene an a



little han seiGe mine...

>8o0oy has seen youK> saiEera in a =his-er linging tome.

>8o0oy.>

>8o= o you 0elieve that 4 loveyouK Oh 4 have long hesitatelong

torture myself... %ut you ano anything you li&e =ith me.>

Her heart =as 0eating violentlyher hans =ere ol as ie. 3he0ro&eout into om-laints an ealousre-roahes. 3he emane that4 shoul



onfess everything to hersaying that she =oul 0ear my

faithlessness=ith su0mission 0eause hersole esire =as that 4 shoul 0eha--y. 4

i not uite 0elieve that 0ut 4alme her =ith oaths-romises an soon.

>3o you =ill not marry MaryK You o not love herK... %ut shethin&s...Do you &no= she is maly inlove =ith you -oor girl>...



A0out t=o olo& in themorning 4 o-ene the =ino=

an tying t=osha=ls together 4 let myselfo=n from the u--er 0alony tothe lo=er

holing on 0y the -illar. A light=as still 0urning in PrinessMarysroom. 3omething re= meto=ars that =ino=. The

urtain =as not uitera=n an 4 =as a0le to ast aurious glane into the interiorof theroom. Mary =as sitting on her0e her hans rosse u-onher &neesFher thi& hair =as gathere u-uner a laeBfrille nighta-F

her =hite



shoulers =ere overe 0y alarge rimson &erhief an her

little feet=ere hien in a -air of manyBoloure Persian sli--ers. 3he=as sitting

uite still her hea sun& u-onher 0reastF on a little ta0le infrontof her =as an o-en 0oo&F 0uther eyes ?@e an full of

ine@-ressi0legrief seeme for the hunrethtime to 0e s&imming the same-age =hilsther thoughts =ere far a=ay.

At that moment some0oystirre 0ehin a shru0. 4 lea-efrom the



0alony on to the s=ar. Aninvisi0le han seiGe me 0y the

shouler.

>Aha> sai a rough voie:>aught... 4ll teah you to 0e

entering-rinesses rooms at night>

>Hol him fast> e@laimeanother s-ringing out from a

orner.

4t =as 6rushnits&i an thea-tain of ragoons.

4 stru& the latter on the hea=ith my ?st &no&e him ohis feet



an arte into the 0ushes. Allthe -aths of the garen =hih

overethe slo-e o--osite our houses=ere &no=n to me.

>Thieves guar>... they rie.

A gunshot rang outF a smo&ing=a fell almost at my feet.

;ithin a minute 4 =as in myo=n room unresse an in0e. Mymanservant ha only ustlo&e the oor =hen6rushnits&i an thea-tain 0egan &no&ing foramission.



>Pehorin Are you aslee-K Areyou thereK>... rie the a-tain.

>4 am in 0e> 4 ans=ereangrily.

>6et u- Thieves...5irassians>...

>4 have a ol> 4 ans=ere. >4am afrai of athing a hill.>

They =ent a=ay. 4 ha gaineno useful -ur-ose 0y ans=eringthem: they=oul have 0een loo&ing for mein the garen for another houror so.



Mean=hile the alarm 0eameterri?. A 5ossa& gallo-e u-

from thefortress. The ommotion =asgeneralF 5irassians =ereloo&e for in

every shru0BBan of oursenone =ere foun. Pro0a0lyho=ever a goomany -eo-le =ere left =ith the?rm onvition that if only

moreourage an es-ath ha 0eensho=n 0y the garrison at leasta sore of 0rigans =oul have faile toget a=ay =ith their lives.



5HAPT$+ CE444. 2,th June.

TH43 morning at the =ell thesole to-i of onversation =asthenoturnal atta& 0y the

5irassians. 4 ran& thea--ointe num0er of glasses of 8arGan =ater anafter sauntering a fe= timesa0out the

long linen avenue 4 met Eerashus0an =ho ha ust arrivefromPyatigors&. He too& my arm an=e =ent to the restaurant for0rea&fast.He =as reafully uneasy a0outhis =ife.



>;hat a terri0le fright she halast night> he sai. >Of ourse

it =as0oun to ha--en ust at thevery time =hen 4 =as a0sent.>

;e sat o=n to 0rea&fast nearthe oor leaing into a ornerBroom in=hih a0out a oGen youngmen =ere sitting. 6rushnits&i

=as amongstthem. /or the seon timeestiny -rovie me =ith theo--ortunity of overhearing a onversation=hih =as to eie his fate. Hei notsee me an onseuently it=as im-ossi0le for me to

sus-et him of



esignF 0ut that only magni?ehis fault in my eyes.

>4s it -ossi0le though that they=ere really 5irassiansK>some0oy

sai. >Di anyone see themK>

>4 =ill tell you the =hole truth>ans=ere 6rushnits&i: >only-lease o

not 0etray me. This is ho= it=as: yesteray a ertain man=hose name4 =ill not tell you ame u- tome an tol me that at tenolo& inthe evening he ha seensome0oy ree-ing into theLigovs&is house. 4



must o0serve that PrinessLigovs&i =as here an Priness

Mary at home.3o he an 4 set o to =ait0eneath the =ino=s an=aylay the lu&y

man.>

4 onfess 4 =as frightenealthough my om-anion =asvery 0usily

engage =ith his 0rea&fast: hemight have hear things =hihhe =oulhave foun rather is-leasingif 6rushnits&i ha ha--ene toguess thetruthF 0ut 0line 0y ealousythe latter i not even sus-etit.



>3o o you seeK> 6rushnits&iontinue. >;e set o ta&ing

=ith us agun loae =ith 0lan&artrige so as ust to give hima fright.

;e =aite in the garen till t=oolo&. At lengthBBgooness&no=sinee =here he a--earefrom 0ut he must have ome

out 0y the glassoor =hih is 0ehin the -illarFit =as not out of the =ino=that heame 0eause the =ino= haremaine uno-eneBBat length4 say =e sa=someone getting o=n from the0alony... ;hat o you thin& of

Priness



MaryBBehK ;ell 4 amit it isharly =hat you might e@-et

from Moso=laies After that =hat an you0elieveK ;e =ere going to seiGehim 0ut

he 0ro&e a=ay an arte li&e ahare into the shru0s. Thereu-on4 ?reat him.>

There =as a general murmur ofinreulity.

>You o not 0elieve itK> heontinue. >4 give you my =orof honour asa gentleman that it is all-erfetly true an in -roof 4=ill tell

you the mans name if you li&e.>



>Tell us tell us =ho =as heK>

ame from all sies.

>Pehorin> ans=ere6rushnits&i.

At that moment he raise hiseyesBB4 =as staning in theoor=ayo--osite to him. He gre=

terri0ly re. 4 =ent u- to himan sai slo=lyan istintly:

>4 am very sorry that 4 i notome in 0efore you ha givenyour =orof honour in on?rmation of amost a0omina0le alumny: my

-resene



=oul have save you from thatfurther at of 0aseness.>

6rushnits&i um-e u- from hisseat an seeme a0out to yinto a

-assion.

>4 0eg you> 4 ontinue in thesame tone: >4 0eg you at oneto retrat

=hat you have saiF you &no=very =ell that it is all aninvention. 4o not thin& that a =omansinierene to your 0rilliantmerits shouleserve so terri0le a revenge.%ethin& you =ell: if youmaintain your



-resent attitue you =ill losethe right to the name of

gentleman an=ill ris& your life.>

6rushnits&i stoo 0efore me in

violent agitation his eyes asto=n.%ut the struggle 0et=een hisonsiene an his vanity =asof short

uration. The a-tain ofragoons =ho =as sitting0esie him nugehim =ith his el0o=. 6rushnits&istarte an ans=ere ra-ily=ithoutraising his eyes:



>My ear sir =hat 4 say 4 meanan 4 am -re-are to re-eat... 4

amnot afrai of your menaes anam reay for anything.>

>The latter you have alreay-rove> 4 ans=ere ollyF anta&ing thea-tain of ragoons 0y the arm4 left the room.

>;hat o you =antK> as&e thea-tain.

>You are 6rushnits&is frienan =ill no ou0t 0e hisseonK>

The a-tain 0o=e very

gravely.



>You have guesse rightly> he

ans=ere.

>Moreover 4 am 0oun to 0e hisseon 0eause the insult

oereto him touhes myself also. 4=as =ith him last night> heaestraightening u- his stoo-ing

?gure.

>Ah 3o it =as you =hose hea 4stru& so lumsilyK>...

He turne yello= in the faethen 0lueF su--resse rage =as-ortrayeu-on his ountenane.



>4 shall have the honour to senmy seon to you toBay> 4

ae0o=ing aieu to him very-olitely =ithout a--earing tohave notie his

fury.

On the restaurantBste-s 4 metEeras hus0an. A--arently heha 0een

=aiting for me.

He seiGe my han =ith afeeling a&in to ra-ture.

>8o0le young man> he sai=ith tears in his eyes. >4 havehear



everything. ;hat a sounrel4ngrate... Just fany suh

-eo-le0eing amitte into a eenthousehol after this Than& 6o4 have no

aughters %ut she for =homyou are ris&ing your life =illre=ar you.%e assure of my onstantisretion> he ontinue. >4

have 0een youngmyself an have serve in thearmy: 4 &no= that these aairsmust ta&etheir ourse. 6ooB0ye.>

Poor fello= He is gla that hehas no aughters...



4 =ent straight to ;erner founhim at home an tol him the

=holestoryBBmy relations =ith Eeraan Priness Mary an theonversation

=hih 4 ha overhear an from=hih 4 ha learne theintention of these gentlemen to ma&e a foolof me 0y ausing me to ?ght a

uel =ith0lan& artriges. %ut no= theaair ha gone 0eyon the0ouns of

estF they -ro0a0ly ha note@-ete that it =oul turn outli&e this.



The otor onsente to 0e myseonF 4 gave him a fe=

iretions =ithregar to the onitions of theuel. He =as to insist u-on theaair 0eing manage =ith all

-ossi0le serey 0eausealthough 4 am-re-are at any moment tofae eath 4 am not in the leastis-ose

to s-oil for all time my future inthis =orl.

After that 4 =ent home. 4n anhours time the otor returnefrom hise@-eition.



>There is inee a ons-irayagainst you> he sai. >4 foun

thea-tain of ragoons at6rushnits&is together =ithanother gentleman

=hose surname 4 o notremem0er. 4 sto--e a momentin the anteBroomin orer to ta&e o mygoloshes. They =ere sua00ling

an ma&ing aterri0le u-roar. On no aount=ill 4 agree 6rushnits&i =assaying:he has insulte me -u0lilyF it=as uite a ierent thing0efore...



>;hat oes it matter to youKans=ere the a-tain. 4 =ill

ta&e it allu-on myself. 4 have 0eenseon in ?ve uels an 4shoul thin& 4 &no=

ho= to arrange the aair. 4 havethought it all out. Just let mealone-lease. 4t is not a 0a thing togive -eo-le a 0it of a fright.

An =hye@-ose yourself to anger if it is-ossi0le to avoi itK...

>At that moment 4 entere theroom. They suenly fell silent.Ournegotiations =ere some=hat-rotrate. At length =e

eie the matter



as follo=s: a0out ?ve verstsfrom here there is a hollo=

gorgeF they=ill rie thither tomorro= atfour olo& in the morning an=e

shall leave half an hour later. You =ill ?re at si@ -aesBB6rushnits&ihimself emane thatonition. ;hihever of you is

&illeBBhis eath=ill 0e -ut o=n to the aountof the 5irassians. An no= 4must tellyou =hat 4 sus-et: they that isto say the seons may havemaesome hange in their former-lan an may =ant to loa only

6rushnits&is



-istol. That is something li&emurer 0ut in time of =ar an

es-eially in Asiati =arfaresuh tri&s are allo=e.6rushnits&iho=ever seems to 0e a little

more magnanimous than hisom-anions. ;hato you thin&K Ought =e not tolet them see that =e haveguesse their

-lanK>

>8ot on any aount otorMa&e your min easyF 4 =ill notgive in tothem.>

>%ut =hat are you going to othenK>



>That is my seret.>

>Min you are not aught... si@-aes you &no=>

>Dotor 4 shall e@-et you toB

morro= at four olo&. Thehorses =ill0e reay... 6oo0ye.>

4 remaine in the house until

the evening =ith my oorlo&e. Amanservant ame to invite meto Priness Ligovs&isBB4 0aehim say that4 =as ill.



T=o olo& in the morning... 4annot slee-... Yet slee- is =hat

4nee if 4 am to have a steayhan toBmorro=. Ho=ever atsi@ -aes

it is iIult to miss. Aha Mr.6rushnits&i your =iles =ill notsuee... ;e shall e@hangeroles: no= it is 4 =ho shall haveto see&

the signs of latent terror u-onyour -alli ountenane. ;hyhave youyourself a--ointe these fatalsi@ -aesK Thin& you that 4 =illtamelye@-ose my forehea to youraimK...



8o =e shall ast lots... AnthenBBthenBB=hat if his lu&

shoul-revailK 4f my star at lengthshoul 0etray meK... An little=oner if

it i: it has so long anfaithfully serve my a-ries.

;ellK 4f 4 must ie 4 must Theloss to the =orl =ill not 0e

greatFan 4 myself am alreayo=nright =eary of everything.4 am li&e a guestat a 0all =ho ya=ns 0ut oesnot go home to 0e sim-ly0eausehis arriage has not ome forhim. %ut no= the arriage is

here...



6ooB0ye...

My =hole -ast life 4 live again inmemory an involuntarily 4as&myself: =hy have 4 liveBBfor

=hat -ur-ose =as 4 0ornK... A-ur-osethere must have 0een ansurely mine =as an e@alteestiny 0eause

4 feel that =ithin my soul are-o=ers immeasura0le... %ut 4=as not a0leto isover that estiny 4allo=e myself to 0e arriea=ay 0y theallurements of -assions inanean igno0le. /rom their rui0le4



issue har an ol as iron0ut gone for ever =as the glo=

of no0leas-irationsBBthe fairest o=er of life. An from that time forthho=

often have 4 not -laye the -artof an a@e in the hans of fateLi&e anim-lement of -unishment 4have fallen u-on the hea of

oome vitimsoften =ithout malie al=ays=ithout -ity... To none has mylove 0roughtha--iness 0eause 4 havenever sari?e anything forthe sa&e of those 4 have love: for myselfalone 4 have loveBBfor my o=n

-leasure.



4 have only satis?e the strangeraving of my heart greeily

rainingtheir feelings their tenernesstheir oys their sueringsBBan4 have never 0een a0le to sate

myself. 4 am li&e one =ho s-ent=ithhunger falls aslee- ine@haustion an sees 0efore himsum-tuous vians

an s-ar&ling =inesF heevours =ith ra-ture the aerialgifts of theimagination an his -ainsseem some=hat assuage. Lethim 0ut a=a&e:the vision vanishesBBt=ofolhunger an es-air remain



An toBmorro= it may 0e 4shall ie... An there =ill not

0e left onearth one 0eing =ho hasunerstoo me om-letely.3ome =ill onsier me

=orse others 0etter than 4have 0een in reality... 3ome =illsay:he =as a goo fello=F others:a villain. An 0oth e-ithets =ill

0efalse. After all this is life =orththe trou0leK An yet =e liveBBoutof uriosity ;e e@-etsomething ne=... Ho= a0suran yet ho=ve@atious



5HAPT$+ C4C

4T is no= a month an a halfsine 4 have 0een in the 8BBBB

/ortress.

Ma&sim Ma&simyh is outhunting... 4 am alone. 4 amsitting 0y the

=ino=. 6rey lous haveovere the mountains to thefootF the suna--ears through the mist as ayello= s-ot. 4t is olF the =inis=histling an ro&ing theshutters... 4 am 0ore... 4 =illontinue my



iary =hih has 0eeninterru-te 0y so many strange

events.

4 rea the last -age over: ho=riiulous it seems... 4 thought

to ieFit =as not to 0e. 4 have not yetraine the u- of sueringan no= 4feel that 4 still have long to live.

Ho= learly an ho= shar-lyhave all these 0ygone events0een stam-eu-on my memory Time has noteae a single line a singleshae.



4 remem0er that uring thenight -reeing the uel 4 i

not slee- asingle moment. 4 =as not a0leto =rite for long: a seretuneasiness

too& -ossession of me. /ora0out an hour 4 -ae theroom then 4 sato=n an o-ene a novel 0y;alter 3ott =hih =as lying on

my ta0le. 4t=as >The 3ottish Puritans.>#)!1* At ?rst 4 rea =ith aneortF thenarrie a=ay 0y the magial?tion 4 0eame o0livious ofeverythingelse.



At last ay 0ro&e. My nerves0eame om-ose. 4 loo&e in

the glass:a ull -allor overe my fae=hih -reserve the traes ofharassing

slee-lessnessF 0ut my eyesalthough enirle 0y a0ro=nish shao=glittere -rouly anine@ora0ly. 4 =as satis?e =ith

myself.

4 orere the horses to 0esale resse myself anran o=n to the0aths. Plunging into the ols-ar&ling =ater of the 8arGan3-ring 4



felt my 0oily an mental-o=ers returning. 4 left the

0aths as freshan hearty as if 4 =as o to a0all. After that =ho shall saythat the

soul is not e-enent u-on the0oy...

On my return 4 foun theotor at my rooms. He =as

=earing greyriingB0reehes a a&et an a5irassian a-. 4 0urst outlaughing=hen 4 sa= that little ?gureuner the enormous shaggya-. ;ernerhas a 0y no means =arli&eountenane an on that

oasion it =as even



longer than usual.

>;hy so sa otorK> 4 sai tohim. >Have you not a hunretimes =iththe greatest inierene

esorte -eo-le to the other=orlK 4maginethat 4 have a 0ilious fever: 4may get =ellF also 4 may ieF0oth are

in the usual ourse of things. Try to loo& on me as a -atientaite=ith an illness =ith =hih youare still unfamiliarBBan thenyoururiosity =ill 0e arouse in thehighest egree. You an no=ma&e a fe=



im-ortant -hysiologialo0servations u-on me... 4s not

the e@-etationof a violent eath itself a realillnessK>

The otor =as stru& 0y thatiea an he 0rightene u-.

;e mounte our horses. ;ernerlung on to his 0rile =ith 0oth

hansan =e set o. 4n a trie =e hagallo-e -ast the fortressthroughthe village an ha rien intothe gorge. Our =ining roa=ashalfBovergro=n =ith tall grassan =as intersete every

moment 0y a



noisy 0roo& =hih =e ha tofor to the great es-air of the

otor0eause eah time his horse=oul sto- in the =ater.

A morning more fresh an 0lue 4annot remem0er The sun hasaresho=n his fae from 0ehin thegreen summits an the

0lening of the?rst =armth of his rays =ith theying oolness of the night-roueon all my feelings a sort ofs=eet languor. The oyous0eam of the youngay ha not yet -enetrate thegorgeF it gile only the to-s of

the



lis =hih overhung us on0oth sies. The tufte shru0s

gro=ing inthe ee- revies of the lis0es-rin&le us =ith a silversho=er

at the least 0reath of =in. 4remem0er that on that oasion4 love8ature more than ever 0efore.;ith =hat uriosity i 4

e@amine everye=ro- trem0ling u-on the0roa vine leaf an reetingmillions of rain0o=hue rays Ho= eagerlyi my glane eneavour to-enetrate thesmo&y istane There the roagre= narro=er an narro=er

the lis



0luer an more reaful an atlast they met it seeme in an

im-enetra0le =all.

;e roe in silene.

>Have you mae your =illK>;erner suenly inuire.

>8o.>

>An if you are &illeK>

>My heirs =ill 0e foun ofthemselves.>

>4s it -ossi0le that you have nofriens to =hom you =oul li&eto sena last fare=ellK>...



4 shoo& my hea.

>4s there really not one =omanin the =orl to =hom you =oulli&e toleave some to&en in

remem0raneK>...

>Do you =ant me to reveal mysoul to you otorK> 4ans=ere... >You

see 4 have outlive the years=hen -eo-le ie =ith the nameof the0elove on their li-s an0eueathing to a frien a lo&of -omaeBBorun-omaeBBhair. ;hen 4 thin&that eath may 0e near 4 thin&of myself



aloneF others o not even o asmuh. The friens =ho toB

morro= =illforget me or =orse =ill uttergooness &no=s =hatfalsehoos a0out meF

the =omen =ho =hileem0raing another =ill laughat me in orer notto arouse his ealousy of theeeaseBBlet them go Out of

the storm of life 4 have 0orne a=ay only afe= ieasBBan not one feeling./or along time no= 4 have 0eenliving not =ith my heart 0ut=ith my hea.4 =eigh analyse my o=n-assions an ations =ith

severe uriosity 0ut



=ithout sym-athy. There aret=o -ersonalities =ithin me:

one livesBBinthe om-lete sense of the=orBBthe other reets an

uges himF the

?rst it may 0e in an hourstime =ill ta&e fare=ell of youan the=orl for ever an the seonBBthe seonK... Loo& otor o

yousee those three 0la& ?gures onthe li to the rightK They areourantagonists 4 su--oseK>...

;e -ushe on.



4n the 0ushes at the foot of theli three horses =ere tethereF

=etethere ours there too anthen =e lam0ere u- thenarro= -ath to the

lege on =hih 6rushnits&i =asa=aiting us in om-any =iththe a-tainof ragoons an his otherseon =hom they alle 4van

4gnatevih. Hissurname 4 never hear.

>;e have 0een e@-eting youfor uite a long time> sai thea-tain of ragoons =ith an ironialsmile.



4 re= out my =ath ansho=e him the time.

He a-ologiGe saying that his=ath =as fast.

There =as an em0arrassingsilene for a fe= moments. Atlength theotor interru-te it.

>4t seems to me> he saiturning to 6rushnits&i >that asyou have0oth sho=n your reainess to?ght an there0y -ai the e0tue to theonitions of honour you might0e a0le to ome to ane@-lanation an

?nish the aair amia0ly.>



>4 am reay> 4 sai.

The a-tain =in&e to6rushnits&i an the latterthin&ing that 4 =as

losing ourage assume ahaughty air although until thatmoment hishee&s ha 0een overe =itha ull -allor. /or the ?rst time

sine ourarrival he lifte his eyes on meF0ut in his glane there =as aertainisuietue =hih evine anin=ar struggle.

>Delare your onitions> hesai >an anything 4 an o for

you 0e



assure>...

>These are my onitions: you=ill this very ay -u0lily reantyourslaner an 0eg my -aron>...

>My ear sir 4 =oner ho= youare ma&e suh a -ro-osal tomeK>

>;hat else oul 4 -ro-oseK>...

>;e =ill ?ght.>

4 shrugge my shoulers.

>%e it soF only 0ethin& you thatone of us =ill infalli0ly 0e&ille.>



>4 ho-e it =ill 0e you>...

>An 4 am so onvine of theontrary>...

He 0eame onfuse turne

re an then 0urst out into afore laugh.

The a-tain too& his arm anle him asieF they =his-ere

together fora long time. 4 ha arrive in afairly -ai? frame of min 0utallthis =as 0eginning to rive mefurious.

The otor ame u- to me.



>Listen> he sai =ith manifestuneasiness >you have surely

forgottentheir ons-iray... 4 o not&no= ho= to loa a -istol 0utin

this ase... You are a strangeman Tell them that you &no=theirintentionBBan they =ill notare... ;hat s-ort To shoot you

li&e a0ir>...

>Please o not 0e uneasyotor an =ait a=hile... 4 shallarrangeeverything in suh a =ay thatthere =ill 0e no avantage ontheir sie.

Let them =his-er>...



>6entlemen this is 0eoming

teious> 4 sai to them louly:>if =e areto ?ght let us ?ghtF you hatime yesteray to tal& as muh

as you=ante to.>

>;e are reay> ans=ere thea-tain. >Ta&e your -laes

gentlemenDotor 0e goo enough tomeasure si@ -aes>...

>Ta&e your -laes> re-eate4van 4gnatevih in a suea&yvoie.



>$@use me> 4 sai. >Onefurther onition. As =e are

going to ?ghtto the eath =e are 0oun too everything -ossi0le in orerthat

the aair may remain a seretan that our seons may inurnores-onsi0ility. Do you agreeK>...

>Ruite.>

>;ell then this is my iea. Doyou see that narro= lege onthe toof the -er-eniular li on therightK 4t must 0e thirty fathomsif not



more from there to the 0ottomFan o=n 0elo= there are

shar- ro&s.$ah of us =ill stan right atthe e@tremity of the legeBBinsuh

manner even a slight =oun=ill 0e mortal: that ought to 0einaorane =ith your esire asyou yourselves have ?@e u-on

si@-aes. ;hihever of us is=oune =ill 0e ertain to fallo=n an 0eashe to -ieesF the otor=ill e@trat the 0ullet anthen it =ill0e -ossi0le very easily toaount for that suen eath

0y saying it



=as the result of a fall. Let usast lots to eie =ho shall ?re

?rst. 4n onlusion 4 elarethat 4 =ill not ?ght on any otherterms.>

>%e it so> sai the a-tain afteran e@-ressive glane at6rushnits&i=ho noe his hea in to&enof assent. $very moment he

=as hangingountenane. 4 ha -lae himin an em0arrassing -osition.Ha the uel0een fought u-on the usualonitions he oul haveaime at my leg=oune me slightly an insuh =ise grati?e his

vengeane =ithout



over0urening his onsiene.%ut no= he =as o0lige to ?re

in the airor to ma&e himself an assassinor ?nally to a0anon his 0ase-lan

an to e@-ose himself to eualanger =ith me. 4 shoul nothave li&eto 0e in his -lae at thatmoment. He too& the a-tain

asie an saisomething to him =ith great=armth. His li-s =ere 0lue an4 sa= themtrem0lingF 0ut the a-tainturne a=ay from him =ith aontem-tuoussmile.



>You are a fool> he sai to6rushnits&i rather louly. >You

antunerstan a thing... Let us 0eo then gentlemen>

The -rei-ie =as a--roahe0y a narro= -ath 0et=een0ushes anfragments of ro& forme the-rearious ste-s of that natural

stairase.5linging to the 0ushes =e-roeee to lam0er u-.6rushnits&i =ent infront his seons 0ehin himan then the otor an 4.

>4 am sur-rise at you> saithe otor -ressing my han

vigorously.



>Let me feel your -ulse... Oho/everish... %ut nothing

notiea0leon your ountenane... onlyyour eyes are gleaming more0rightly than

usual.>

3uenly small stones rollenoisily right uner our feet.;hat =as itK

6rushnits&i ha stum0leF the0ranh to =hih he =as lingingha 0ro&eno an he =oul have rolleo=n on his 0a& if his seonsha nothel him u-.

>Ta&e are> 4 rie. >Do not fall

-rematurely: that is a 0a sign.



+emem0er Julius 5aesar>

5HAPT$+ CC

A8D no= =e ha lim0e to thesummit of the -roeting li.

The lege=as overe =ith ?ne san as

if on -ur-ose for a uel. Allarounli&e an innumera0le herro=e the mountains theirsummits lost tovie= in the golen mist of themorningF an to=ars the southrose



the =hite mass of $l0ruGlosing the hain of iy -ea&s

among =hih?0rous lous =hih harushe in from the east =erealreay roaming.

4 =al&e to the e@tremity of thelege an gaGe o=n. Myhea nearlys=am. At the foot of the-rei-ie all seeme ar& an

ol as in atom0F the mossBgro=n ags ofthe ro&s hurle o=n 0ystorm an time=ere a=aiting their -rey.

The lege on =hih =e =ere to?ght forme an almost regulartriangle.



3i@ -aes =ere measure fromthe -roeting orner an it

=as eiethat =hihever ha ?rst tomeet the ?re of his o--onentshoul stan

in the very orner =ith his 0a&to the -rei-ieF if he =as not&illethe aversaries =oul hange-laes.

4 etermine to relinuish everyavantage to 6rushnits&iF 4=ante totest him. A s-ar& ofmagnanimity might a=a&e inhis soulBBan then all=oul have 0een settle for the0est. %ut his vanity an

=ea&ness of



harater ha -erfore totrium-h... 4 =ishe to give

myself the fullright to refrain from s-aring himif estiny =ere to favour me.;ho

=oul not have onlue suhan agreement =ith hisonsieneK

>5ast the lot otor> sai the

a-tain.

The otor re= a silver oinfrom his -o&et an hel it u-.

>Tail> rie 6rushnits&ihurriely li&e a man suenlyarouse 0y afrienly nuge.



>Hea> 4 sai.

The oin s-un in the air an fell ingling. ;e all rushe to=arsit.

>You are lu&y> 4 sai to6rushnits&i. >You are to ?re?rst %utremem0er that if you o not &illme 4 shall not missBB4 give you

my =orof honour.>

He ushe u-F he =as ashameto &ill an unarme man. 4 loo&eat him?@elyF for a moment it seemeto me that he =oul thro=himself at my



feet im-loring forgivenessF 0utho= to onfess so 0ase a

-lotK... Onee@-eient only =as left to himBBto ?re in the air 4 =asonvine

that he =oul ?re in the airOne onsieration alone might-revent himoing soBBthe thought that 4=oul eman a seon uel.

>8o= is the time> the otor=his-ere to me -lu&ing me0y thesleeve. >4f you o not tell themno= that =e &no= theirintentions allis lost. Loo& he is loaingalreay... 4f you =ill not say

anything 4



=ill>...

>On no aount otor> 4ans=ere holing him 0a& 0ythe arm. >You=ill s-oil everything. You have

given me your =or not tointerfere...;hat oes it matter to youKPerha-s 4 =ish to 0e &ille>...

He loo&e at me inastonishment.

>Oh that is another thing...Only o not om-lain of me inthe other=orl>...



Mean=hile the a-tain haloae his -istols an given one

to6rushnits&i after =his-eringsomething to him =ith a smileFthe other

he gave to me.

4 -lae myself in the orner ofthe lege -lanting my left foot?rmly

against the ro& an 0eningslightly for=ar so that in aseof aslight =oun 4 might not fallover 0a&=ars.

6rushnits&i -lae himselfo--osite me an at a givensignal 0egan



to raise his -istol. His &neesshoo&. He aime right at my

forehea...7nuttera0le fury 0egan toseethe =ithin my 0reast.

3uenly he ro--e themuGGle of the -istol an -aleas a sheetturne to his seon.

>4 annot> he sai in a hollo=voie.

>5o=ar> ans=ere thea-tain.

A shot rang out. The 0ulletgraGe my &nee. 4nvoluntarily 4too& a fe=



-aes for=ar in orer to geta=ay from the ege as ui&ly

as -ossi0le.

>;ell my ear 6rushnits&i it isa -ity that you have misse>

saithe a-tain. >8o= it is yourturn ta&e your stan $m0raeme ?rst: =eshall not see eah other again>

They em0raeF the a-tainoul sarely refrain fromlaughing.

>Do not 0e afrai> he aeglaning unningly at6rushnits&iF



>everything in this =orl isnonsense... 8ature is a fool

fate atur&eyhen an life a o-e&>#)1*

After that tragi -hrase uttere=ith 0eoming gravity he =ent0a& tohis -lae. 4van 4gnatevih =ithtears also em0rae

6rushnits&i anthere the latter remaine alonefaing me. $ver sine then 4have 0eentrying to e@-lain to myself =hatsort of feeling it =as that =as0oiling=ithin my 0reast at thatmoment: it =as the ve@ation of

inure vanity



an ontem-t an =rathengenere at the thought that

the man no=loo&ing at me =ith suhon?ene suh uietinsolene ha t=o

minutes 0efore 0een a0out to&ill me li&e a og =ithoute@-osinghimself to the least anger0eause ha 4 0een =oune a

little moreseverely in the leg 4 shoulinevita0ly have fallen over theli.

/or a fe= moments 4 loo&e him?@ely in the fae trying toisern



thereon even a slight trae ofre-entane. %ut it seeme to

me that he=as restraining a smile.

>4 shoul avise you to say a

-rayer 0efore you ie> 4 sai.

>Do not =orry a0out my soulany more than your o=n. Onething 4 0eg of

you: 0e ui& a0out ?ring.>

>An you o not reant yourslanerK You o not 0eg myforgivenessK...%ethin& you =ell: has youronsiene nothing to say toyouK>



>Mr. Pehorin> e@laime thea-tain of ragoons. >Allo= me

to -ointout that you are not here to-reah... Let us lose no time inase

anyone shoul rie through thegorge an =e shoul 0e seen.>

>Eery =ell. Dotor ome here>

The otor ame u- to me. Poorotor He =as -aler than6rushnits&i ha0een ten minutes 0efore.

The =ors =hih follo=e 4-ur-osely -ronoune =ith a-ause 0et=een



eahBBlouly an istintly asthe sentene of eath is

-ronoune:

>Dotor these gentlemen haveforgotten in their hurry no

ou0t to-ut a 0ullet in my -istol. 4 0egyou to loa it afreshBBan-ro-erly>

>4m-ossi0le> rie the a-tain>im-ossi0le 4 loae 0oth-istols.Perha-s the 0ullet has rolleout of yours... That is not myfault Anyou have no right to loaagain... 8o right at all. 4t isaltogether



against the rules 4 shall notallo= it>...

>Eery =ell> 4 sai to thea-tain. >4f so then you an 4shall ?ght

on the same terms>...

He ame to a ea sto-.

6rushnits&i stoo =ith his hea

sun& on his 0reastem0arrasse angloomy.

>Let them 0e> he sai at lengthto the a-tain =ho =as goingto -ullmy -istol out of the otorshans. >You &no= yourself that

they are



right.>

4n vain the a-tain maevarious signs to him.6rushnits&i =oul noteven loo&.

Mean=hile the otor haloae the -istol an hane itto me. Onseeing that the a-tain s-at

an stam-e his foot.

>You are a fool then myfrien> he sai: >a ommonfool... Youtruste to me 0efore so youshoul o0ey me in everythingno=... %utserve you right Die li&e a

y>...



He turne a=ay muttering as

he =ent:

>%ut all the same it isa0solutely against the rules.>

>6rushnits&i> 4 sai. >There isstill time: reant your slaneran 4=ill forgive you everything. You

have not sueee in ma&inga fool of meF my selfBesteem is satis?e.+emem0erBB=e =ere onefriens>...

His fae ame his eyesashe.



>/ire> he ans=ere. >4 es-isemyself an 4 hate you. 4f you o

not&ill me 4 =ill lie in =ait for yousome night an ut your throat.

There

is not room on the earth for0oth of us>...

4 ?re.

;hen the smo&e ha learea=ay 6rushnits&i =as not to 0eseen on thelege. Only a slener olumn of ust =as still eying at theege of the -rei-ie.

There =as a simultaneous ry

from the rest.



>/inita la ommeia> 4 sai to

the otor.

He mae no ans=er an turnea=ay =ith horror.

4 shrugge my shoulers an0o=e to 6rushnits&is seons.

5HAPT$+ CC4

A3 4 esene 0y the -ath 4o0serve 6rushnits&is0loostaine or-se0et=een the lefts of the ro&s.4nvoluntarily 4 lose my eyes.



7ntying my horse 4 set ohome at a =al&ing -ae. A

stone lay u-on myheart. To my eyes the sunseeme im its 0eams =ere-o=erless to =arm

me.

4 i not rie u- to the village0ut turne to the right alongthe

gorge. The sight of a man=oul have 0een -ainful to me:4 =ante to 0ealone. Thro=ing o=n the 0rilean letting my hea fall on my0reast 4roe for a long time an atlength foun myself in a s-ot=ith =hih



4 =as =holly unfamiliar. 4 turnemy horse 0a& an 0egan to

searhfor the roa. The sun haalreay set 0y the time 4 harien u- to

9islovos&BBmyself an myhorse 0oth utterly s-ent

My servant tol me that ;ernerha alle an he hane me

t=o notes:one from ;erner the other...from Eera.

4 o-ene the ?rstF its ontents=ere as follo=s:

>$verything has 0een arrangeas =ell as oul 0eF the

mutilate 0oy



has 0een 0rought inF an the0ullet e@trate from the

0reast. $very0oyis onvine that the ause ofeath =as an unfortunateaientF only

the 5ommanant =ho =asou0tless a=are of youruarrel shoo& his hea0ut he sai nothing. There areno -roofs at all against you an

you mayslee- in -eae... if you an..../are=ell>...

/or a long time 4 oul notma&e u- my min to o-en theseon note...;hat oul it 0e that she =as=riting to meK... My soul =as

agitate 0y



a -ainful fore0oing.

Here it is that letter eah =orof =hih is ineli0ly engraveu-onmy memory:

>4 am =riting to you in the fullassurane that =e shall neversee eahother again. A fe= years ago on

-arting =ith you 4 thought thesame.Ho=ever it has 0een Heavens=ill to try me a seon time: 4have not0een a0le to enure the trialmy frail heart has againsu0mitte to



the =ellB&no=n voie... You =illnot es-ise me for thatBB=ill

youK Thisletter =ill 0e at one a fare=ellan a onfession: 4 am o0ligeto tell

you everything that has 0eentreasure u- in my heart sineit 0egan tolove you. 4 =ill not ause youBByou have ate to=ars me as

any otherman =oul have ateF youhave love me as a hattel asa soure of

oys isuietues an griefsinterhanging one =ith theother =ithout=hih life =oul 0e ull anmonotonous. 4 have unerstoo

all that from



the ?rst... %ut you =ereunha--y an 4 have sari?e

myself ho-ingthat some time you =oula--reiate my sari?e thatsome time you

=oul unerstan my ee-tenerness unfettere 0y anyonitions. Along time has ela-se sinethen: 4 have fathome all the

serets of your soul... an 4 haveonvine myself that my ho-e=as vain. 4t has0een a 0itter 0lo= to me %utmy love has 0een grafte =ithmy soulF ithas gro=n ar& 0ut has not0een e@tinguishe.



>;e are -arting for everF yetyou may 0e sure that 4 shall

never loveanother. 7-on you my soul hase@hauste all its treasures itstears

its ho-es. 3he =ho has onelove you annot loo& =ithout aertainisain u-on other men not0eause you have 0een 0etter

than they ohno 0ut in your nature there issomething -euliarBB0elongingto youalone something -rou anmysteriousF in your voie=hatever the =orss-o&en there is an invini0le-o=er. 8o one an so

onstantly =ish to



0e love in no one is=i&eness ever so attrative

no ones glane-romises so muh 0liss no onean 0etter ma&e use of hisavantages

an no one an 0e so trulyunha--y as you 0eause noone eneavours soearnestly to onvine himself of the ontrary.

>8o= 4 must e@-lain the auseof my hurrie e-artureF it =illseem of little im-ortane to you0eause it onerns me alone.

>This morning my hus0aname in an tol me a0out your

uarrel =ith



6rushnits&i. $viently 4 hangeountenane greatly 0eause

he loo&eme in the fae long anintently. 4 almost fainte at thethought that

you ha to ?ght a uel toBayan that 4 =as the ause of itF itseeme to me that 4 shoul goma... %ut no= =hen 4 am a0leto reason

4 am sure that you remain alive:it is im-ossi0le that you shouliean 4 not =ith youBBim-ossi0leMy hus0an =al&e a0out theroom for along time. 4 o not &no= =hathe sai to me 4 o notremem0er =hat 4



ans=ere... Most li&ely 4 tolhim that 4 love you... 4 only

remem0erthat at the en of ouronversation he insulte me=ith a reaful

=or an left the room. 4 hearhim orering the arriage... 4have 0eensitting at the =ino= threehours no= a=aiting your

return... %ut youare alive you annot haveie... The arriage is almostreay...6ooB0ye gooB0ye... 4 have-erisheBB0ut =hat matterK 4f 4oul 0esure that you =ill al=aysremem0er meBB4 no longer say

loveBBno only



remem0er... 6ooB0ye they areoming... 4 must hie this

letter.

>You o not love Mary o youK You =ill not marry herK Listen

you mustoer me that sari?e. 4 havelost everything in the =orl foryou>...

Li&e a maman 4 s-rang on theste-s um-e on my 5irassianhorse =hih=as 0eing le a0out theourtyar an set o at fullgallo- alongthe roa to Pyatigors&.7ns-aringly 4 urge on the

ae horse =hih



snorting an all in a foamarrie me s=iftly along the

ro&y roa.

The sun ha alreayisa--eare 0ehin a 0la&

lou =hih ha 0eenresting on the rige of the=estern mountainsF the gorgegre= ar& anam-. The Po&umo& foring

its =ay over the ro&s roare=ith a hollo=an monotonous soun. 4gallo-e on ho&ing =ithim-atiene. The ieaof not ?ning Eera in Pyatigors&stru& my heart li&e a hammer./or one



minute again to see her for oneminute to say fare=ell to -ress

herhan... 4 -raye urse =e-tlaughe... 8o nothing oule@-ress

my an@iety my es-air... 8o=that it seeme -ossi0le that 4might 0ea0out to lose her for ever Eera0eame earer to me than

aught in the=orlBBearer than life honourha--iness 6o &no=s =hatstrange =hatma -lans s=arme in myhea... Mean=hile 4 stillgallo-e urging onmy horse =ithout -ity. Anno= 4 0egan to notie that he

=as 0reathing



more heavilyF he ha alreaystum0le one or t=ie on level

groun...4 =as ?ve versts from$ssentu&iBBa 5ossa& village=here 4 oul hange

horses.

All =oul have 0een save hamy horse 0een a0le to hol outfor another

ten minutes. %ut suenly inlifting himself out of a littlegulley=here the roa emerges fromthe mountains at a shar- turnhe fell tothe groun. 4 um-e o=n-rom-tly 4 trie to lift him u- 4tugge at



his 0rileBBin vain. A sarelyaui0le moan 0urst through his

lenheteethF in a fe= moments hee@-ire. 4 =as left on theste--e aloneF

4 ha lost my last ho-e. 4eneavoure to =al&BBmy legssan& uner meFe@hauste 0y the an@ieties ofthe ay an 0y slee-lessness 4

fell u-onthe =et grass an 0urst outrying li&e a hil.

/or a long time 4 lay motionlessan =e-t 0itterly =ithoutattem-tingto restrain my tears an so0s. 4thought my 0reast =oul 0urst.

All



my ?rmness all my oolnessisa--eare li&e smo&eF my

soul gre=-o=erless my reason silentan if anyone ha seen me atthat moment

he =oul have turne asie=ith ontem-t.

;hen the nightBe= an themountain 0reeGe ha oole my

0urning 0ro=an my thoughts ha resumetheir usual ourse 4 realiGethat to-ursue my -erishe ha--iness=oul 0e unavailing anunreasona0le.;hat more i 4 =antKBBTo seeherKBB;hyK ;as not all over

0et=een usK A



single 0itter fare=ell &iss=oul not have enrihe my

reolletionsan after it -arting =oul onlyhave 0een more iIult for us.

3till 4 am -lease that 4 an=ee-. Perha-s ho=ever theause of that =as my shattere nervesa night -asse =ithout slee-

t=o minuteso--osite the muGGle of a -istolan an em-ty stomah.

4t is all for the 0est. That ne=suering reate =ithin me afortunateiversionBBto s-ea& in militarystyle. To =ee- is healthy an

then



no ou0t if 4 ha not rien as 4i an ha not 0een o0lige to

=al&?fteen versts on my =ay 0a&slee- =oul not have lose myeyes on

that night either.

4 returne to 9islovos& at ?veolo& in the morning thre=myself on

my 0e an sle-t the slee- of8a-oleon after ;aterloo.

%y the time 4 a=o&e it =as ar&outsie. 4 sat 0y the o-en=ino= =ithmy a&et un0uttoneBBan themountain 0reeGe oole my0reast still



trou0le 0y the heavy slee- of=eariness. 4n the istane

0eyon theriver through the to-s of thethi& lime trees =hihovershao=e it

lights =ere glaning in thefortress an the village. 5loseat han all=as alm. 4t =as ar& inPriness Ligovs&is house.

The otor entereF his 0ro=s=ere &nitF ontrary to ustomhe i notoer me his han.

>;here have you ome fromotorK>



>/rom Priness Ligovs&isF heraughter is illBBnervous

e@haustion... That is not the -oint though. This is =hat 4 have ome to tellyou:

the authorities are sus-iiousan although it is im-ossi0le to-roveanything -ositively 4 shoul allthe same avise you to 0e

autious.Priness Ligovs&i tol me toBaythat she &ne= that you fought auel onher aughters aount. Thatlittle ol manBB=hats hisnameKBBhas tolher everything. He =as a=itness of your uarrel =ith

6rushnits&i in the



restaurant. 4 have ome to =arnyou. 6ooB0ye. May0e =e shall

not meetagain: you =ill 0e 0anishesome=here.>

He sto--e on the thresholF he=oul glaly have -resse myhan...an ha 4 sho=n the slightestesire to em0rae him he

=oul havethro=n himself u-on my ne&F0ut 4 remaine ol as a ro&BBan he leftthe room.

That is ust li&e men They areall the same: they &no=0eforehan all



the 0a -oints of an at theyhel- they avise they even

enourageit seeing the im-ossi0ility ofany other e@-eientBBan thenthey =ash

their hans of the =hole aairan turn a=ay =ith inignationfrom him=ho has ha the ourage tota&e the =hole 0uren of

res-onsi0ility u-onhimself. They are all li&e thateven the 0estBnature the=isest...

5HAPT$+ CC44



8$CT morning having reeiveorers from the su-reme

authority to0eta&e myself to the 8BBBB/ortress 4 alle u-on PrinessLigovs&i to

say gooB0ye.

3he =as sur-rise =hen inans=er to her uestion=hether 4 ha not

anything of s-eial im-ortaneto tell her 4 sai 4 ha ome to=ishher gooB0ye an so on.

>%ut 4 must have a very serioustal& =ith you.>

4 sat o=n in silene.



4t =as lear that she i not&no= ho= to 0eginF her fae

gre= livishe ta--e the ta0le =ith her-lum- ?ngersF at length in a0ro&en

voie she sai:

>Listen Monsieur Pehorin 4thin& that you are agentleman.>

4 0o=e.

>8ay 4 am sure of it> sheontinue >although your0ehaviour issome=hat euivoal 0ut youmay have reasons =hih 4 onot &no=F an



you must no= on?e them tome. You have -rotete my

aughter fromslaner you have fought a uelon her 0ehalfBBonseuentlyyou have

ris&e your life... Do not ans=er.4 &no= that you =ill nota&no=legeit 0eause 6rushnits&i has 0een&ille>BBshe rosse herself.

>6oforgive himBBan you too 4ho-e... That oes not onernme... 4 arenot onemn you 0eause myaughter although innoentlyhas 0eenthe ause. 3he has tol meeverything... everything 4 thin&.

You have



elare your love for her... 3hehas amitte hers to you.>BB

HerePriness Ligovs&i sigheheavily.BB>%ut she is ill an 4 amertain

that it is no sim-le illness3eret grief is &illing herF she=ill notonfess 0ut 4 am onvinethat you are the ause of it...

Listen:you thin& -erha-s that 4 amloo&ing for ran& or immense=ealthBB0euneeive my aughtersha--iness is my sole esire.

Your -resent-osition is unenvia0le 0ut itmay 0e 0ettere: you have

meansF my



aughter loves youF she has0een 0rought u- in suh a =ay

that she =illma&e her hus0an a ha--yman. 4 am =ealthy she is myonly hil... Tell

me =hat is &ee-ing you0a&K... You see 4 ought not to0e saying allthis to you 0ut 4 rely u-on yourheart u-on your honourBB

remem0er sheis my only aughter... my onlyone>...

3he 0urst into tears.

>Priness> 4 sai >it isim-ossi0le for me to ans=eryouF allo= me to



s-ea& to your aughteralone>...

>8ever> she e@laime risingfrom her hair in violentagitation.

>As you =ish> 4 ans=ere-re-aring to go a=ay.

3he fell into thought mae a

sign to me =ith her han that 4shoul=ait a little an left the room.

/ive minutes -asse. My heart=as 0eating violently 0ut mythoughts=ere tranuil my hea ool.Ho=ever assiuously 4 sought in

my 0reast



for even a s-ar& of love for theharming Mary my eorts =ere

of noavail

Then the oor o-ene an she

entere. Heavens Ho= she hahangesine 4 ha last seen herBBanthat 0ut a short time ago

;hen she reahe the mileof the room she staggere. 4

um-e u-gave her my arm an le herto a hair.

4 stoo faing her. ;e remainesilent for a long timeF her largeeyes



full of unuttera0le griefseeme to 0e searhing in mine

for somethingresem0ling ho-eF her =an li-svainly eneavoure to smileFher tener

hans =hih =ere fole u-onher &nees =ere so thin antrans-arentthat 4 -itie her.

>Priness> 4 sai >you &no=that 4 have 0een ma&ing fun ofyouK... Youmust es-ise me.>

A si&ly ush suuse herhee&s.

>5onseuently> 4 ontinue

>you annot love me>...



3he turne her hea a=ay

leane her el0o=s on the ta0leovere hereyes =ith her han an itseeme to me that she =as on

the -oint of tears.

>Oh 6o> she sai almostinaui0ly.

The situation =as gro=ingintolera0le. Another minuteBBan 4 shoul havefallen at her feet.

>3o you see yourself> 4 sai inas ?rm a voie as 4 oulomman



an =ith a fore smile >yousee yourself that 4 annot

marry you.$ven if you =ishe it no= you=oul soon re-ent. Myonversation =ith

your mother has om-elle meto e@-lain myself to you sofran&ly an so0rutally. 4 ho-e that she isuner a elusion: it =ill 0e easy

for youto uneeive her. You see 4 am-laying a most -itiful an uglyrolein your eyes an 4 even amititBBthat is the utmost 4 an ofor yoursa&e. Ho=ever 0a an o-inionyou may entertain of me 4

su0mit to it...



You see that 4 am 0ase in yoursight am 4 notK... 4s it not true

thateven if you have love me you=oul es-ise me from thismomentK>...

3he turne roun to me. 3he=as -ale as mar0le 0ut hereyes =eres-ar&ling =onrously.

>4 hate you>... she sai.

4 than&e her 0o=eres-etfully an left the room.

An hour after=ars a -ostale@-ress =as 0earing me ra-ilyfrom



9islovos&. A fe= versts from$ssentu&i 4 reogniGe near the

roa=aythe 0oy of my s-irite horse.

The sale ha 0een ta&en ono ou0t

0y a -assing 5ossa& an inits -lae t=o ravens =eresitting on thehorses 0a&. 4 sighe anturne a=ay...

An no= here in this=earisome fortress 4 often as&myself as mythoughts =aner 0a& to the-ast: =hy i 4 not =ish to treathat =aythro=n o-en 0y estiny =heresoft oys an ease of soul =ere

a=aiting



meK... 8o 4 oul never have0eome ha0ituate to suh a

fate 4 amli&e a sailor 0orn an 0re onthe e& of a -irate 0rig: hissoul has

gro=n austome to stormsan 0attlesF 0ut one let him0e ast u-onthe shore an he hafes he-ines a=ay ho=ever invitingly

the shaygroves allure ho=ever 0rightlyshines the -eaeful sun. Thelivelongay he -aes the sany shorehear&ens to the monotonousmurmur of theonrushing =aves an gaGesinto the misty istane: lo

yoner u-on



the -ale line iviing the 0lueee- from the grey lous is

there notglaning the longeBfor sail at?rst li&e the =ing of a seagull0ut

little 0y little severing itselffrom the foam of the 0illo=san =itheven ourse ra=ing nigh tothe esert har0ourK

APP$8D4C

P+$/A5$ TO TH$ 3$5O8D$D4T4O8



%y the Author

TH$ -refae to a 0oo& servesthe ou0le -ur-ose of -rologueane-ilogue. 4t aors the author

an o--ortunity of e@-laining theo0etof the =or& or of viniatinghimself an re-lying to hisritis. As a

rule ho=ever the reaer isonerne neither =ith themoral -ur-oseof the 0oo& nor =ith the atta&sof the +evie=ers an so the-refaeremains unrea. 8everthelessthis is a -ity es-eially =ith us



+ussians The -u0li of thisountry is so youthful not to

saysim-leBmine that it annotunerstan the meaning of afa0le unless

the moral is set forth at theen. 7na0le to see a o&einsensi0le toirony it has in a =or 0een0aly 0rought u-. 4t has not yet

learnethat in a eent 0oo& as ineent soiety o-en invetivean have no-laeF that our -resentBayivilisation has invente a&eener =ea-onnone the less ealy for 0eingalmost invisi0le =hih uner

the loa&



of attery stri&es =ith sure anirresisti0le eet. The +ussian

-u0li is li&e a sim-leBmine-erson from the ountry =hohaning tooverhear a onversation

0et=een t=o i-lomatists0elonging to hostileourts omes a=ay =ith theonvition that eah of themhas 0een

eeiving his 6overnment inthe interest of a mostaetionate -rivatefrienshi-.

The unfortunate eets of anoverBliteral ae-tation of =ors0y



ertain reaers an even+evie=ers have reently 0een

manifeste inregar to the -resent 0oo&.Many of its reaers have 0eenreafully

an in all seriousness sho&eto ?n suh an immoral man asPehorinset 0efore them as an [email protected] have o0serve =ith

muhaumen that the author has-ainte his o=n -ortrait anthose of his auaintanes... ;hat astale an =rethe est %ut+ussia ita--ears has 0een onstitutein suh a =ay that a0surities

of this



&in =ill never 0e eraiate. 4tis ou0tful =hether in this

ountrythe most ethereal of fairyBtales=oul esa-e the re-roah ofattem-ting

oensive -ersonalities.

Pehorin gentlemen is in fat a-ortrait 0ut not of one manonly:

he is a om-osite -ortraitmae u- of all the vies =hihourishfullgro=n amongst the -resentgeneration. You =ill tell me asyou havetol me 0efore that no manan 0e so 0a as thisF an myre-ly =ill 0e:



>4f you 0elieve that suh-ersons as the villains of

tragey an romaneoul e@ist in real life =hy anyou not 0elieve in the reality of PehorinK 4f you amire ?tions

muh more terri0le anmonstrous =hyis it that this harater even ifregare merely as a reatureof

the imagination annot o0tainuarter at your hansK 4s it not0eausethere is more truth in it thanmay 0e altogether -alata0le toyouK>

You =ill say that the ause ofmorality gains nothing 0y this

0oo&. 4



0eg your -aron. Peo-le have0een surfeite =ith s=eetmeats

an theirigestion has 0een ruine:0itter meiines shar- truthsare therefore

neessary. This must notho=ever 0e ta&en to mean thatthe author hasever -rouly reame of0eoming a reformer of human

vies. Heaven&ee- him from suhim-ertinene He has sim-lyfoun it entertaining toe-it a man suh as heonsiers to 0e ty-ial of the-resent ay ansuh as he has often met in reallifeBBtoo often inee

unfortunately



0oth for the author himself anfor you. 3uIe it that the

isease has0een -ointe out: ho= it is to0e ureBB6o alone &no=s

/OOT8OT$:

#/ootnote 1: A retail sho- antavern om0ine.*

#/ootnote 2: A verst is ameasure of length a0out )Q!!$nglish feet.*



#/ootnote ): $rmolov i.e.6eneral $rmolov. +ussians have

threenamesBB5hristian name-atronymi an surname. Theyare aresse 0y

the ?rst t=o only. The surnameof Ma&sim Ma&simyhollouial forMa&simovih is notmentione.*

#/ootnote N: The 0ell on theuga a =ooen arh oining theshafts of a+ussian onveyane over thehorses ne&.*

#/ootnote Q: +o&y /or.*



#/ootnote : A &in of 0eermae from millet.*

#/ootnote ,: i.e. a&no=leging+ussian su-remay.*

#/ootnote ": A &in of t=oBstringe or threeBstringeguitar.*

#/ootnote (: >6ooBBvery

goo.>*

#/ootnote 1!: Tur&ish for >%la&Beye.>*

#/ootnote 11: >8o>*

#/ootnote 12: A -artiular &inof anient an value sa0re.*



#/ootnote 1): 9ingBBa title of the3ultan of Tur&ey.*

#/ootnote 1N: 4 0eg my reaers-aron for having versi?e9aG0ihs

song =hih of ourse as 4hear it =as in -roseF 0ut ha0itis seonnature. Authors note.*

#/ootnote 1Q1: >8o +ussianBB0a 0a>*

#/ootnote 1Q: 9restov is anaetive meaning >of theross>9restSrossF an of ourse isnot the +ussian for>5hristo-he.>*



#/ootnote 1: A legenary+ussian hero =hose =histling

&no&e -eo-leo=n.*

#/ootnote 1,: LeGghian ane.*

#/ootnote 1": 4n +ussianBBo&aGiyaSoasion aventureet.F hto Gao&aGiyaSho= unfortunate*

#/ootnote 1(: The uga.*

#/ootnote 2!: >Thou> is the formof aress use in s-ea&ing toanintimate frien et. Pehorinha use the more formal>you.>*



#/ootnote 21: Team of threehorses a0reast.*

#/ootnote 22: Desyatni& asu-erintenent of ten men orhuts i.e. an

oIer li&e the ol $nglishtithingBman or hea0orough.*

#/ootnote 2): 5arBgames.*

#/ootnote 2N: A 5auasian=ine.*

#/ootnote 2Q: Push&in. 5om-are3helleys Aonais @@@i. ): >asthe lastlou of an e@-iring storm.>*

#/ootnote 2: The 3na&e the

4ron an the %al Mountains.*



#/ootnote 2,: 8iGhegoro is the

>government> of =hih 8iGhniy8ovgoro isthe a-ital.*

#/ootnote 2,1: A -o-ular-hrase euivalent to: >Ho=shoul 4 thin& of oing suh a thingK>*

#/ootnote 2,2: Pu0lishe 0y3en&ovs&i an uner the

Documents

A hero of our time