'Mr. Astley?' I repeated in surprise.
But Polina had already disappeared behind the door.
'Aha, so they are in correspondence!' I ran at once, of course, to Mr. Astley; first to his hotel, where I did not find him, then to the Casino, where I hurried through all the rooms: and at last, as I was returning home in vexation, almost in despair, I met him by chance, witti a party of Englishmen and Englishwomen on horseback. I beckoned to him, stopped him and gave him the letter: we had not time even to exchange a glance. But I suspect that Mr. Astley purposely gave rein to his horse.
Was I tortured by jealousy? An5:way, I was in an utterly shattered condition. I did not even want to find out what th^
were writing to one another about. And so he was trasted by her I 'Her friend, her friend,' I thought, 'and that is clear (and when has he had time to become her friend?), but is there love in the case? Of course not,' common- sense whispered to me. But common-sense alone counts for little in such cases; anyway, this, too, had to be cleared up. Things were growing unpleasantly complicated.
Before I had time to go into the hotel, first the porter and then the ober-keUner. coming out of his room, informed me that I was wanted, that I had been asked for, three times they had sent to ask: where was I?—^that I was asked to go as quickly as possible to the General's rooms. I was in the most disagreeable frame of mind. In the General's room I found, besides the General himself, De Grieux and Mile. Blanche—alone, without her mother. The mother was evidently an official one, only used for show. But when it came to real bimness she acted for herself. And probably the woman knew little of her so-called daughter's affairs.
They were, however, consulting warmly about something, and the doors of the study were actually locked— ^which had never happened before. Coming to the door, I heard loud voices—De Grieux's insolent and malignant voice, Blanche's shrill fury, and the General's pitiful tones, evidently defending himself about something. Upon my enfrance they all, as it were, pulled themselves up and restrained themselves. De Grieux smoothed his hair and forced a smile into his angry face—^that horrid official French smile which I so detest. The crushed and desperate General tried to assume an air of dignity, but it was a mechanical effort. Only Mile. Blanche's countenjince, blazing with anger, scarcely changed. She only ceased speaking while she fixed her eyes upon me in impatient expectation. I may mention that hitherto she had freated me with extraordinary casualness, had even refused to respond to my bows, and had simply declined to see me.
'Alexey Ivanovitch,' the General began in a soft and mollifying tone; 'allow me to tell you that it is strange, exceedingly strange ... in fact, yoixr conduct in regard to me and my family ... in fact, it is exceedingly strange ...'
'Eh! ce m'esi pas ga,' De Grieux interposed, with vexation and contempt. (There's no doubt he was the leading spirit.) 'Mem cher monsiew, twire cher general se trompe, in taking up this tone' (I franslate the rest of his speech in Russian), 'but he meant to say . . . that is to warn you, or rather to beg
you most earnestly not to ruin him—^yes, indeed, not to ruin him I I make use of that expression.'
'But how, how?' I interrapted.
'Why, you are undertaking to be the guide (or how shall I express it?) of this old woman, cette pcmvre terrible vieill&'r-De Grieux himself hesitated—'but you know she'll lose everything; she will gamble away her whole fortune! You know yourself, you have seen yourself, how she plays I If she begins to lose; she will never leave off, from obstinacy, from anger, and will lose everything, she will gamble away everything, and in such cases one can never regain one's losses and then . . . then . . .'
'And then,' the General put in, 'then you will ruin the whole family! I and my family are her heirs, she has no nearer relations. I tell you openly: my affairs are in a bad way, a very bad way. You know my position to some extent ... If she loses a considerable sum or even (Lord help us!) her whole fortune, what will become of me, of my children!' (The General looked round at De Grieux.) 'Of me.' (He looked round at Mile. Blanche, who turned away from him with contempt.) 'Alexey Ivanovitch, save us, save us! . . .'
'But how. General, how, how can I? . . . What influence have I in the matter?'
'Refuse, refuse, give her up! . . .'
'Then someone else will turn up,' I said.
'Ce n'est pas ga, ce n'est pas ga,' De Grieux interrupted again, 'qtte dmbie! No, don't desert her, laoit at least advise her, dissuade her, draw her away . . . don't let her play too much, distract her in some way.'
'But how can I do that? If you would undertake the task yourself, M. de Grieux,' I added, as naively as I could.
Here I caught a rapid, fiery, questioning glance from Mile. Blanche at M. de Grieux. And in De Grieux's own face there was something peculiar, something he could not himself disguise.
'The point is, she won't accept me now!' De Grieux cried, with a wave of his hand. 'If only . . . later on . . .'
De Grieux looked rapidly and meaningly at Mile. Blanche.
'0, mon che>r M. Alexis, soyez si hon.' Mile. Blanche herself took a step towards me with a most fascinating smile, she seized me by both hands and pressed them warmly. Damn it all! That diabolical face knew how to change completely in one moment. At that instant her face was so imploring, so sweet, it was such a child- like and even mischievous smile; at
the end of the phrase she gave me such a sly wink, unseen by all the rest; she meant to do for me completely, and it was successfully done; only it was horribly coarse.
Then the General leapt up, positively leapt up. 'Alexey Ivanovitch, forgive me for beginning as I did just now. I did not mean that at all. ... I beg you, I beseech you, I bow down before you in Russian style—^you alone, you alone can save us. Mile, de Cominges and I implore you—^you understand, you understand, of course.' He besought me, indicating Mile. Blanche with his eyes. He was a very pitiful figure.
At that instant there came three subdued and respectful knocks at the door; it was opened—^the corridor attendant was knocking and a few steps behind him stood Potapitch. They came with messages from Granny; they were charged to find and bring me at once. 'She is angry,' Potapitch informed me.
'But it is only half-past three.'
'She could not get to sleep; she kept tossing about, and then at last she got up, sent for her chair and for you. She's at the front door now.'
'Quelle megere,' cried De Grieux.
I did, in fact, find Granny on the steps, out of all patience at my not being there. She could not wait till four o'clock.
'Come,' she cried, and we set off again to roulette.
CHAPTER XII
GRANNY was in an impatient and irritable mood; it was evident that roulette had made a deep impression on her mind. She took no notice of anything else and was altogether absent-minded. For instance, she asked me no questions on the road as she had done before. Seeing a luxurious carriage whirling by, she was on the point of raising her hand and asking: W[iat is it? Whose is it?—but I believe she did not hear what I answered: her absorption was continually interrupted by abrupt and impatient gesticulations. When I pointed out to her Baron and Baroness Burmerhelm, who were approaching the Casino, she looked absent-mindedly at them and said, quite indifferently, 'Ah!' and, turning round quickly to Potapitch and Marfa, who were walking behind her, snapped out to them—
'Why are you hanging upon us? We can't take you every
time! Go home! You and I are enough,' she added, when they had hurriedly turned and gone home.
They were akeady expecting Granny at the Casino. They immediately made room for her in the same place, next to the croupier. I fancy that these croupiers, who are always so strictiy decorous and appear to be ordinary officials who are absolutely indifferent as to whether the bank wins or loses, are by no means so unconcerned at the bank's losses and, of course, receive instructions for attracting players and for augmenting the profits—for which they doubtless receive prizes and bonuses. They looked upon Granny, anyway, as their prey.
Then just what we had expected happened.
This was how it was.
Granny pounced at once on z&ro and immediately ordered me to stake twelve friedrichs d'or. She staked once, twice, three times—zero never turned up.
'Put it down! Put it down!' Granny nudged me, impatiently. I obeyed.
