Russia.
The general was very astonished.
‘And you have no one in Russia, absolutely no one?’ he asked.
‘At present I have no one, but I have hopes ... what’s more, I’ve had a letter ...’
‘At least,’ the general interrupted, not hearing the part about the letter, ‘you have obtained some kind of education, and your illness would not prevent you occupying some, shall we say, undemanding post, in some office?’
‘Oh, it certainly wouldn’t prevent me from doing that. And as regards a post, I should even be rather eager, for I should like to see what I am capable of. For I studied constantly all those four years, though not quite properly, but according to a special system. And I also managed to read a very large number of Russian books.’
‘Russian books? So you can read and write - write without mistakes?’
‘Oh, very much so.’
‘Splendid, sir; and your handwriting?’
‘My handwriting is first-rate. You see, I have a sort of talent for it; I’m a real calligrapher. With your permission I’ll write something for you now, as a sample,’ the prince said with eagerness.
‘I’d be much obliged. In fact, it’s even required ... And I like this enthusiasm of yours, Prince, truly you are most kind.’
‘You have such wonderful writing things, so many pencils, so many pens, what wonderful thick paper ... And what a wonderful study you have! That landscape there, I know it, it’s a Swiss view. I’m sure the artist painted it from nature, and I’m sure I have seen that place: it’s in the canton of Uri ...’
‘That may very well be so, though it was bought here. Ganya, give the prince some paper; here are some pens and paper, we’ll put them on this table, if you like. What’s this?’ the general asked turning to Ganya, who had meanwhile taken from his briefcase a large photographic portrait and handed it to him. ‘Bah! Nastasya Filippovna! Did she send you this, she, herself?’ he asked Ganya with animation and intense curiosity.
‘Just now, when I went to see her with my congratulations, she gave it to me. I’ve been asking her for one for ages. I’m not sure it wasn’t a hint on her part, for having come to her empty-handed, without a present, on such a day,’ Ganya added, smiling unpleasantly.
‘Oh, no,’ the general interrupted with conviction, ‘and really, what a cast of mind you have! She would never hint ... she’s not self-seeking at all. And in any case, what are you going to give her as a present: I mean, one would need thousands! Not your portrait, anyway! By the way, has she asked you for your portrait yet?’
‘No, she hasn’t; and perhaps she never will. Ivan Fyodorovich, you do remember about the soiree this evening? After all, you are one of the specially invited guests.’
‘Yes, yes, of course I remember, and I shall be there. Especially as it’s her birthday, and she’s twenty-five! Hmm ... And listen, Ganya, I may as well tell you, I’m going to reveal something, so prepare yourself. She has promised Afanasy Ivanovich and me that at this evening’s soiree she will deliver her final word: to be or not to be! So let me tell you: watch out.’
Ganya suddenly became embarrassed, so much so that he even turned slightly pale.
‘Did she really say that?’ he asked, and his voice seemed to tremble.
‘She promised it the day before yesterday. We were both so insistent that she had no option. Only she asked us not to tell you in advance.’
The general was studying Ganya fixedly; Ganya’s embarrassment was evidently not to his liking.
‘Remember, Ivan Fyodorovich,’ Ganya said, uneasily and hesitantly, ‘that she gave me complete freedom of decision until such time as she herself would resolve the matter, and even then would I still have the last word ...’
‘I say, you haven’t ... you haven’t ...’ the general suddenly exclaimed in alarm.
‘I haven’t said anything.’
‘But for pity’s sake, what are you trying to do to
The general was very astonished.
‘And you have no one in Russia, absolutely no one?’ he asked.
‘At present I have no one, but I have hopes ... what’s more, I’ve had a letter ...’
‘At least,’ the general interrupted, not hearing the part about the letter, ‘you have obtained some kind of education, and your illness would not prevent you occupying some, shall we say, undemanding post, in some office?’
‘Oh, it certainly wouldn’t prevent me from doing that. And as regards a post, I should even be rather eager, for I should like to see what I am capable of. For I studied constantly all those four years, though not quite properly, but according to a special system. And I also managed to read a very large number of Russian books.’
‘Russian books? So you can read and write - write without mistakes?’
‘Oh, very much so.’
‘Splendid, sir; and your handwriting?’
‘My handwriting is first-rate. You see, I have a sort of talent for it; I’m a real calligrapher. With your permission I’ll write something for you now, as a sample,’ the prince said with eagerness.
‘I’d be much obliged. In fact, it’s even required ... And I like this enthusiasm of yours, Prince, truly you are most kind.’
‘You have such wonderful writing things, so many pencils, so many pens, what wonderful thick paper ... And what a wonderful study you have! That landscape there, I know it, it’s a Swiss view. I’m sure the artist painted it from nature, and I’m sure I have seen that place: it’s in the canton of Uri ...’
‘That may very well be so, though it was bought here. Ganya, give the prince some paper; here are some pens and paper, we’ll put them on this table, if you like. What’s this?’ the general asked turning to Ganya, who had meanwhile taken from his briefcase a large photographic portrait and handed it to him. ‘Bah! Nastasya Filippovna! Did she send you this, she, herself?’ he asked Ganya with animation and intense curiosity.
‘Just now, when I went to see her with my congratulations, she gave it to me. I’ve been asking her for one for ages. I’m not sure it wasn’t a hint on her part, for having come to her empty-handed, without a present, on such a day,’ Ganya added, smiling unpleasantly.
‘Oh, no,’ the general interrupted with conviction, ‘and really, what a cast of mind you have! She would never hint ... she’s not self-seeking at all. And in any case, what are you going to give her as a present: I mean, one would need thousands! Not your portrait, anyway! By the way, has she asked you for your portrait yet?’
‘No, she hasn’t; and perhaps she never will. Ivan Fyodorovich, you do remember about the soiree this evening? After all, you are one of the specially invited guests.’
‘Yes, yes, of course I remember, and I shall be there. Especially as it’s her birthday, and she’s twenty-five! Hmm ... And listen, Ganya, I may as well tell you, I’m going to reveal something, so prepare yourself. She has promised Afanasy Ivanovich and me that at this evening’s soiree she will deliver her final word: to be or not to be! So let me tell you: watch out.’
Ganya suddenly became embarrassed, so much so that he even turned slightly pale.
‘Did she really say that?’ he asked, and his voice seemed to tremble.
‘She promised it the day before yesterday. We were both so insistent that she had no option. Only she asked us not to tell you in advance.’
The general was studying Ganya fixedly; Ganya’s embarrassment was evidently not to his liking.
‘Remember, Ivan Fyodorovich,’ Ganya said, uneasily and hesitantly, ‘that she gave me complete freedom of decision until such time as she herself would resolve the matter, and even then would I still have the last word ...’
‘I say, you haven’t ... you haven’t ...’ the general suddenly exclaimed in alarm.
‘I haven’t said anything.’
‘But for pity’s sake, what are you trying to do to
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