Part 6 (1/2)

'_C'est tres naturel, vous savez, dans les jeunes filles_,' he added in French, somewhat to Litvinov's surprise; the latter observed at the same instant that the prince was not in his dressing-gown as usual, but was wearing a coat. 'And besides,' continued Osinin, 'she may well be a little upset after the events of yesterday!'

'Events?' muttered Litvinov.

'Yes, yes, events, events, _de vrais evenements_. You cannot imagine, Grigory Mihalovitch, _quel succes elle a eu_! The whole court noticed her! Prince Alexandr Fedorovitch said that her place was not here, and that she reminded him of Countess Devons.h.i.+re. You know ... that ...

celebrated.... And old Blazenkrampf declared in the hearing of all, that Irina was _la reine du bal_, and desired to be introduced to her; he was introduced to me too, that's to say, he told me that he remembered me a hussar, and asked me where I was holding office now. Most entertaining man that Count, and such an _adorateur du beau s.e.xe_! But that's not all; my princess ... they gave her no peace either: Natalya Nikitishna herself conversed with her ... what more could we have? Irina danced _avec tous les meilleurs cavaliers_; they kept bringing them up to me.... I positively lost count of them. Would you believe it, they were all flocking about us in crowds; in the mazurka they did nothing but seek her out. One foreign diplomatist, hearing she was a Moscow girl, said to the Tsar: '_Sire_,' he said, '_decidement c'est Moscou qui est le centre de votre empire!_' and another diplomatist added: '_C'est une vraie revolution, Sire--revelation_ or _revolution_ ... something of that sort. Yes, yes, it was. I tell you it was something extraordinary.'

'Well, and Irina Pavlovna herself?' inquired Litvinov, whose hands and feet had grown cold hearing the prince's speech, 'did she enjoy herself, did she seem pleased?'

'Of course she enjoyed herself; how could she fail to be pleased? But, as you know, she's not to be seen through at a glance! Every one was saying to me yesterday: it is really surprising! _jamais on ne dirait que mademoiselle votre fille est a son premier bal_. Count Reisenbach among the rest ... you know him most likely.'

'No, I don't know him at all, and have never heard of him.'

'My wife's cousin.'

'I don't know him.'

'A rich man, a chamberlain, living in Petersburg, in the swim of things; in Livonia every one is in his hands. Hitherto he has neglected us ...

but there, I don't bear him ill-will for that. _J'ai l'humeur facile, comme vous savez._ Well, that's the kind of man he is. He sat near Irina, conversed with her for a quarter of an hour, not more, and said afterwards to my princess: ”_Ma cousine_,” he says, ”_votre fille est une perle; c'est une perfection_, every one is congratulating me on such a niece....” And afterwards I look round--and he had gone up to a ... a very great personage, and was talking, and kept looking at Irina ... and the personage was looking at her too.'...

'And so Irina Pavlovna will not appear all day?' Litvinov asked again.

'Quite so; her head aches very badly. She told me to greet you from her, and thank you for your flowers, _qu'on a trouve charmant_. She needs rest.... The princess has gone out on a round of visits ... and I myself ... you see....'

The prince cleared his throat, and began to fidget as though he were at a loss what to add further. Litvinov took his hat, and saying he did not want to disturb him, and would call again later to inquire after her health, he went away.

A few steps from the Osinins' house he saw an elegant carriage for two persons standing before the police sentry-box. A groom in livery, equally elegant, was bending negligently from the box, and inquiring of the Finnish police-sergeant whereabouts Prince Pavel Va.s.silyevitch Osinin lived. Litvinov glanced at the carriage; in it sat a middle-aged man of bloated complexion, with a wrinkled and haughty face, a Greek nose, and an evil mouth, m.u.f.fled in a sable wrap, by all outward signs a very great man indeed.

IX

Litvinov did not keep his promise of returning later; he reflected that it would be better to defer his visit till the following day. When he went into the too familiar drawing-room at about twelve o'clock, he found there the two youngest princesses, Viktorinka and Kleopatrinka. He greeted them, and then inquired, 'Was Irina Pavlovna better, and could he see her?'

'Irinotchka has gone away with mammy,' replied Viktorinka; she lisped a little, but was more forward than her sister.

'How ... gone away?' repeated Litvinov, and there was a sort of still shudder in the very bottom of his heart. 'Does she not, does she not look after you about this time, and give you your lessons?'

'Irinotchka will not give us any lessons any more now,' answered Viktorinka. 'Not any more now,' Kleopatrinka repeated after her.

'Is your papa at home?' asked Litvinov.

'Papa is not at home,' continued Viktorinka, 'and Irinotchka is not well; all night long she was crying and crying....'

'Crying?'

'Yes, crying ... Yegorovna told me, and her eyes are so red, they are quite in-inflamed....'

Litvinov walked twice up and down the room shuddering as though with cold, and went back to his lodging. He experienced a sensation like that which gains possession of a man when he looks down from a high tower; everything failed within him, and his head was swimming slowly with a sense of nausea. Dull stupefaction, and thoughts scurrying like mice, vague terror, and the numbness of expectation, and curiosity--strange, almost malignant--and the weight of crushed tears in his heavy laden breast, on his lips the forced empty smile, and a meaningless prayer--addressed to no one.... Oh, how bitter it all was, and how hideously degrading! 'Irina does not want to see me,' was the thought that was incessantly revolving in his brain; 'so much is clear; but why is it? What can have happened at that ill-fated ball? And how is such a change possible all at once? So suddenly....' People always see death coming suddenly, but they can never get accustomed to its suddenness, they feel it senseless. 'She sends no message for me, does not want to explain herself to me....'

'Grigory Mihalitch,' called a strained voice positively in his ear.