Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

to work, we do our business thoroughly. You seem to be displeased with our triumph ? '

' I do not like the murder of the women.'

' It is necessary to destroy an evil race, root and branch.'

Fedor was silent. Basil tranquilly continued his discourse, which he only interrupted to swallow his tea. ' You appear sad and melancholy, my son ? '

Fedor continued silent.

' It is your foolish love for the daughter of The-lenef our mortal enemy, which has been your ruin.'

' I! — a love for my foster-sister ! I have a friend

ship for her, if you like : but'

'Pshaw! pshaw!—a curious kind of friendship yours ! '

The young man rose, and tried to place his hand on the other's mouth,

i( What do you mean, boy ? One would suppose you feared being overheard,' continued Basil, without changing his manner.

Fedor remained motionless: the peasant continued —

' It is not I who will be your dupe ; her father Thelenef was not so either, when he maltreated you.'

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122THE HISTOEY OF THELENEF.

Fedor again strove to interrupt him.

' What! you will not allow me to speak ! You have not forgotten any more than I, that he once beat you. It was to punish you, not for the trifling fault invented by himself, but for your secret love of his daughter. He wanted to drive you from the country before the evil was past remedy.'

Fedor, in the most violent agitation, walked up and down the room, unable to utter any reply. He bit his hands in impotent rage, till he at length found words to say :

' You remind me of a hateful day, comrade ; let us talk of something else.'

' I always talk of what I please: if you do not choose to answer me, I can talk alone ; but, once for all, I will not be interrupted. I am your senior, and the godfather of your new-born babe ; your captain also. Do you see this sign on my breast ? It is that of my rank in our army. I have therefore a right to speak before you ; and if you pretend to object, I have my men bivouacking outside; with a single whistle I could bring them around me, and in a few momenta the house would be in a blaze. Patience, then, and we shall understand each other better.'

The young man re-seated himself, affecting the most indifferent air that he could assume.

' What was I talking about ? ' continued Basil, grumbling between his teeth. ' Oh, I was reminding you of an unpleasant recollection. Is it not true? But you have sadly forgotten it, my son, and I must bring back to your mind your own history. You will see at least that I know how to read your thoughts,

THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.123

and to discover whether there beats within you the heart of a traitor.'

Here Basil again interrupted himself, opened a casement, and spoke in the ear of a man who presented himself at the aperture, through which were seen five other armed peasants in the back-ground.

Fedor had seized his poniard, but he replaced it in his girdle ; the life of Xenie was at stake, and the least imprudence might cause the hut to be set on fire, and all that was in it to perish ! He therefore restrained himself; he wished once more to see u? sister. Who can analyse all the mysteries of love ? The secret of his life was being revealed to Xenie, without any contrivance or concurrence on his part. At this moment, terrible as it was, he experienced only exeess of joy ! What signifies the short duration of supreme felicity, — is it not eternal while it is felt ? But these powerful illusions of the heart can never be known to men who are incapable of love. True love is not dependent upon time — its measure is supernatural — its movements are not to be calculated by cold human reason.

After a brief silence, the loud voice of Basil put an end to the sweet yet painful ecstasy of Fedor.

?? But since you did not love your wife, why did you marry her? You acted there very foolishly.'

This question again frenzied the mind of the young man.

To say that he loved his wife, was to lose all that he was about to gain. ' I thought I loved her,' he replied : ' they told me it was necessary for me to marry. Could I know what was in my heart ? I wished to please the daughter of Thelenef. I obeyed G 2

124THE HISTORY OF TIIELENEF.

without reflection. Is it not our habit as peasants to act in this manner ? '

' It is. You pretend you were ignorant of what you wished. I will tell yon : you wished simply to reconcile yourself with Thelcnef.'

?? You little know me ! '

' I know you better than you know yourself. You thought our tyrants were still needful to us; and you therefore yielded, to obtain the pardon of Thelcnef. In truth, we should all have done as much in your place ; but what I reproach you with, is your wish to deceive me, who see through all. There was no other way of regaining the favour of the father, than by setting him at rest as to the consequences of your love for the daughter ; and with tins view you married, without thinking of the grief of your poor wife, whom you have condemned to eternal misery, and whom you did not scruple to abandon at the moment when she was hoping to give yon a son.'

' I was ignorant of that when I quitted her : she concealed from me her situation. Once for all, I have acted without design or premeditation. I have been ever accustomed to the guidance of my foster-sister, who has so much wisdom.'

?? More's the pity.'

'How?'

' I say it is a pity: she will be the greater loss to the country.'

' Are you capable'

' We are capable of destroying her as we have done the others. ... Do yon suppose we shall be so foolish as not to shed the last drop of the blood of Thelenef, — the blood of our most hateful enemy ?'

126THE HISTORY OF THELENEF.

of the aged man was at its height, and his strength was still very great. The unfortunate Fedor knew not how toict. Heaven did not aid him.

The troops of Basil, who were lying in wait, heard the cries. Before Fedor could disengage himself from the powerful grasp of the poor senseless being, for whom he felt a respect which induced him to spare his life, though at the risk of his own, six men, furnished with cords and armed with pitch-forks, stakes, and scythes, rushed into the cabin. To lay hold of Fedor, to disarm, and to bind him. was the work of a moment.

' Where are you going to take me ? '

' To the castle of Vologda, to burn you there with Thelenef. You will see that your treason has not saved him.'

These words were spoken by the oldest man of the troop. Fedor not replying, the man quietly continued : — ' You did not think that our victory would be so complete and prompt: our army has