"Plague upon the thoughtless fellow! whip up, coachman!" cried Pauline gayly.
But I had already opened the door.
"Excuse me," said I, "I will be with you in a moment." And while saying these words I was so pale that she became pale, too, as if assailed by a dark presentiment.Kostia Petrovitch did not detain me long.After saluting me with ceremonious politeness, he said in a bantering tone:
"Vladimir, faith she is really charming.But I am sorry to say that if your engagement is not broken off before this evening, to-morrow this pretty girl will learn from me who you are."After which, saluting me again, he walked away humming an aria.
"Money, sir, had always appeared to me so small a thing compared with science and glory; and besides, my love for Pauline was so free from alloy, that I had never conceived the idea of informing myself in regard to her fortune, or the dowry which she might bring to me.That evening, as we took tea together in the parlor of my expected father-in-law, I contrived to bring up this important question for consideration, and expressed views of such a selfish character, and displayed such a sordid cupidity, that the old officer at last became indignant.Pauline had a proud soul; she listened to us some time in silence, and then rising, she crushed me with a look of scorn, and, extending her arm, pointed me the door.That devil of a look, sir, I have not forgotten; it has long pursued me, and now I often see it in my dreams.
"Returning home, I tried to kill myself; but so awkwardly that Ifailed.There are some things in which we never succeed the first time.I was prevented from renewing the attempt by the Sequere fatum, which returned to my memory.I said to the floods which beat against my exhausted breast: 'Carry me where you please; you are my masters, I am your slave.'
"And believe me, sir, this unhappy adventure benefited me.It led me to salutary reflection.For the first time I ventured to think, I eradicated from my mind every prejudice which remained there, Itook leave of all chimeras, I saw life and the world as they are, and decided that Heaven is a myth.My manners soon betrayed the effect of the enlightenment of my mind.No more arrogance, no more boasting.I did not divest myself of pride, but it became more tractable and more convenient; it renounced ostentation and vain display; the peacock changed into a man of good breeding.This, sir, is what experience has done for me, assisted by Sequere fatum.
It has made me wise, an honest man and an atheist.So I said a little while afterwards to Count Kostia:
"'Of all the benefits I have received from you, the most precious was that of delivering me from Pauline.That woman would have ruined me.Ah, Count Kostia, how I laugh to myself when I recall the ridiculous litanies with which I once regaled your ears.You knew me well.A passing fancy--a fire of straw.Thanks to you, Kostia Petrovitch, my mind has acquired a perspicuity for which Ishall be eternally grateful to you.
"This declaration touched him; he loved me the more for it.He has always had a weakness for men who listen to reason.Until then, notwithstanding the marks of affection which he lavished upon me, he had always made me feel the distance between us.But from that day I became intimate with him; I participated in his secrets, and, what cemented our friendship still more, was that one day I had an opportunity of saving his life at the risk of my own.""And Pauline?" said the inquisitive and sympathetic Gilbert.
"Ah! Pauline interests you! Comfort yourself.Six months after our rupture she made a rich marriage.She still lives in her little town; she is happy, and has lost none of her beauty.I meet her sometimes in the street with her husband and children, and Ihave the pleasure of seeing her turn her head always from me.And I, too, sir, have children; they are my pupils.They are called in Moscow THE LITTLE VLADIMIRS, and one of them will become some of these days a great Vladimir.I have revealed all my secrets to him, for I do not want them to die with me, and my end may be near.
I have yet an important work to accomplish; and when my task is finished, let death take me.The life of the little shepherd of Ukraine has been too exciting to last long.'Short and sweet,' is my motto."And at these words, leaning suddenly towards Gilbert, and looking him in the eye:
"Apropos," said he, "were you really thinking of Constantine, the emperor, when you exclaimed: 'Oh, fortune! what strange tricks you play?'"Gilbert was nearly disconcerted by this sudden attack, but promptly recovered himself.
"Ah! ah!" thought he, "it was not for nothing, then, that you told me your history; you had a purpose! Who knows but that Count Leminof has sent you to get my confidence?"Vladimir employed all the skill he possessed to make Gilbert speak;his insidious questions were inexhaustible: Gilbert was impenetrable.From time to time they looked steadily at each other, each seeking to embarrass his adversary, and to surprise his secret, but in vain; they fenced with glances, but they were both so sure in the parries, that not a thrust succeeded.At last Vladimir lost patience.
"My dear sir," exclaimed he, "I have the weakness to put faith in dreams, and I had one the other night which troubled me very much.
I dreamed that Count Kostia had a daughter, and that he made her very unhappy, because she had the twofold misfortune of not being his daughter, and of resembling in a striking manner a woman whose remembrance he did not cherish.You see that dreams are as singular as the tricks of fortune.But the most serious matter was, that the unhappiness and beauty of this child had strongly touched your heart and that you had conceived an ardent passion for her.
"'What must I do?' you said to me one day.
