Marie by Alexander Pushkin
IV
THE DUEL
Several weeks elapsed, during which my life in the fortress became not only
supportable, but even agreeable. I was received as a member of the family in the
Commandant's house. The husband and wife were excellent people. Ivan Mironoff,
from being the adopted child of the regiment, rose to officer's rank. He was a
plain, simple, uneducated man, but thoroughly good and loyal. His wife governed
him, and that suited his natural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the
garrison, as she did her household, and commanded through the fortress as she
did in her own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we became better
acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection and intelligence.
Little by little I became deeply attached to this good family.
I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not oppress
me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to do, no guard to
mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his own amusement, the Commandant
drilled his soldiers. He had not yet succeeded in teaching them which was the
right flank and which the left.
Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so that
a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and essayed some
translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every day I dined at the
Commandant's, where, as a general thing, I spent the rest of the day. In the
evening, Father Garasim came with his wife, Accoulina, the greatest gossip of
the place. Of course Alexis and I met daily, yet gradually his society
displeased me. His perpetual jokes upon the Commandant's family, and above all
his biting remarks about Marie, rendered his conversation very disagreeable to
me. I had no other society than this family in the fortress, and I desired no
other. All predictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt, and peace
reigned around us.
I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature. One day I
happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is well known that
authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek a kindly audience. I
copied my little song and took it to Alexis, the only one in the fortress who
could appreciate a poetical work. After preluding a little, I drew my pages from
my pocket and read my verses to him.
"How do you like that?" said I, expecting praise as a tribute due me. To my
great annoyance, Alexis, who was generally pleased with my writings, declared
frankly that my song was worth nothing.
"What do you mean?" said I, with forced calmness. He took the paper out of my
hand and began to criticize without pity, every verse, every word, tearing me up
in the most malicious fashion. It was too much. I snatched the paper from him,
declaring that never again would I show him any of my compositions.
"We shall see," said he, "if you can keep your word; poets need a listener as
Ivan Mironoff needs a decanter of brandy before dinner. Who is this Marie to
whom you declare your tender feelings? Might it not be Marie Mironoff?"
"That is none of your business," said I, frowning. "I want neither your
advice nor supposition."
"Oh! oh! vain poet; discreet lover," continued Alexis, irritating me more and
more, "listen to friendly counsel: if you want to succeed do not confine
yourself to songs."
"What do you mean, sir? Explain!"
"With pleasure," he replied. "I mean that if you wish to form an intimacy
with Marie Mironoff, you have only to give her a pair of earrings instead of
your lackadaisical verses."
All my blood boiled. "Why have you this opinion of her?" I asked, with much
effort restraining my anger.
"Because," said he, "of my own experience."
"You lie, wretch," I cried, with furry, "you lie, shamelessly."
Alexis was enraged.
"That shall not pass so," he said, grasping my hand. "You shall give me
satisfaction."
"When ever you like," I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was ready to
tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom I found with a
needle in his hand. According to orders from the Commandant's wife, he was
stringing mushrooms which were to be dried for winter use.
"Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends you
here?"
In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him,
Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great attention,
opening wide his only eye.
"You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I should
witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?"
"Precisely."
"Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harsh word
can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, give him the same; if
he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, you a third; in the end we
will compel you to make peace. Whilst if you fight—well, if you should
kill him, God be with him! for I do not like him much; but if he should
perforate you, what a nice piece of business! Then who will pay for the broken
pots?"
The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution.
"Do as you like," said Ignatius, "but what's the use of having me as a
witness? People fight—that's nothing extraordinary—I have often been quite close
to Swedes and Turks, and people of all shades of color."
I tried to explain to him the duties of a second; Ignatius would not, or
could not understand me. "Follow your own fashion," said he, "if I were to
meddle in this affair, it would be to announce to Ivan Mironoff, according to
rule, that a plot is being made in the fortress for the commission of a criminal
action—one contrary to the interests of the crown."
I was alarmed, and begged Ignatius to say nothing to the Commandant. He gave
me his word that he would be silent, and I left him in peace. As usual I passed
the evening at the Commandant's, forcing myself to be calm and gay, in order not
to awaken suspicions and to avoid questioning. I confess that I had not the
coolness of which people boast who have been in a similar position. I was
disposed to tenderness. Marie Mironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The
idea that perhaps I saw her for the last time, gave her a touching grace.
Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation with
Ignatius.
"What's the good of seconds," said he, dryly. "We can do without them."
We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o'clock.
Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us. "You
should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a good quarrel."
"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playing patience in
a corner, "I do not quite understand?"
Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confused and
knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: "He approves of peace."
"With whom had you quarreled?" said she.
"With Peter Grineff—a few high words."
"Why?"
"For a mere nothing—a song."
"Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened."
"Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang his
song for me. Then I chanted mine:
'Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.'
As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every one
is at liberty to sing what he pleases."
The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood his
allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general. The
Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, and advised me,
as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service, and leading to
nothing good.
As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take leave
of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried its point, and
went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the morning at six o'clock.
The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting my
adversary, who did not fail to appear. "We may be surprised," he said; "be
quick." We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the scabbards, when
Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from behind a haystack. He
ordered us to repair to the presence of the Commandant. We obeyed. The soldiers
surrounded us. Ignatius conducted us in triumph, marching military step, with
majestic gravity. We entered the Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding
doors, and exclaimed with emphasis: "They are taken!"
Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassination in our
fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, give up your swords
to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you; are you not ashamed? As for
Alexis, it is quite different; he was transferred to us from the Guards for
having caused a soul to perish; and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour."
Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see! You
see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code."
Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not help
smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said to Basilia:
"Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you take useless pains to
subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to Ivan Mironoff; it is his
business."
"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the same
flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up these boys instantly;
put them in separate rooms—on bread and water, to expel this stupid idea of
theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a penance on order that they may repent
before God and man."
Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The tempest,
however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to embrace each other,
and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the house, having in appearance
made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself," I said to him, "to have denounced us to
the Commandant, after having given me your word you would not do so?"
"As God is holy, I said nothing to Ivan Mironoff. Basilia drew it all from
me. She took all the necessary measures without the knowledge of the Commandant.
Thank God it finished as it did." He went to his room; I remained with Alexis.
"Our affair can not end thus," I remarked.
"Certainly not," replied Alexis. "You shall pay me with your blood for your
impertinence, but as undoubtedly we shall be watched, let us feign for a few
days. Until then, adieu!"
We separated as if nothing had happened. I returned to the Commandant's, and
seated myself as usual near Marie. Her father was absent and her mother busy
with household duties. We spoke in subdued tones. Marie reproached me gently for
the pain my quarrel with Alexis gave her. "My heart failed me," she said, "when
I heard you were going to fight with swords. How strange men are! For a word,
they are ready to strangle each other, and sacrifice, not only their own life,
but even the honor and happiness of those who— I am sure you did not begin the
quarrel? Alexis was the aggressor?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because he is so sarcastic. I do not like him, and yet I would not displease
him, although he is quite disagreeable to me."
"What do you think, Marie, are you pleasing to him or not?"
Marie blushed. "It seems," said she, "that I please him."
"How do you know?"
"Because he made me an offer of marriage."
"He made you an offer of marriage! When?"
"Last year, two months before your arrival."
"You did not accept?"
"Evidently not, as you see. Alexis is a most intelligent man, of an excellent
family and not without fortune, but the mere idea that beneath the crown, on my
marriage day, I should be obliged to kiss him before every one! No! no! not for
any thing in the world."
Marie's words opened my eyes. I understood the persistence of Alexis in
aspersing her character. He had probably remarked our mutual inclination, and
was trying to turn us from each other. The words which had provoked our quarrel
seemed to me the more infamous, as instead of being a vulgar joke, it was
deliberate calumny. The desire to punish this shameless liar became so strong
that I waited impatiently the favorable moment. I had not long to wait. The next
day, occupied composing an elegy, biting my pen in the expectation of a rhyme,
Alexis knocked at my window. I put down my pen, took my sword, and went out of
the house.
"Why defer?" said Alexis, "we are no longer watched, let us go down to the
river-side; there none will hinder us."
We set out in silence, and having descended a steep path, we stopped at the
water's edge and crossed swords. Alexis was more skillful than I in the use of
arms, but I was stronger and bolder. Mons. Beaupre, who had been, amongst other
things, a soldier, had taught me fencing. Alexis did not expect to find in me an
adversary of so dangerous a character.
For some minutes neither gained any advantage over the other, but at last
noticing that Alexis was growing weak, I attacked him energetically, and almost
drove him backward into the river, when suddenly I heard my name pronounced in a
high voice. Turning my head rapidly, I saw Saveliitch running toward me down the
path. As I turned my head, I felt a sharp thrust in the breast under the right
shoulder, and I fell, unconscious.