第24章

He seemed happy.At last, I heard nothing more, there was nothing more to hear but the double chorusof frogs in the pools of the sland.Our pools, Natacha, are like the enchanted lakes of the Caucasus which are silent by day and sing at evening; there are innumerabel throngs of frogs which sing on the same chord, some of them on a major and some on a minor.The chorus speaks from pool to pool, lamenting and moaning across the fields and gardens, and re-echoing like AEolian harps placed opposite one another.""Do AEolian harps make so much noise, Boris?""You laugh? I don't find you yourself half the time.It is Michael who has changed you, and I am out of it.(Here they spoke in Russian.) I shall not be easy until I am your husband.I can't understand your manner with Michael at all."(Here more Russian words which I do not understand.)"Speak French; here is the gardener," said Natacha.

"I do not like the way you are managing our lives.Why do you delay our marriage? Why?

(Russian words from Natacha.Gesture of desperation from Boris.)"How long? You say a long time? But that says nothing - a long time.How long? A year? Two years? Ten years? Tell me, or Iwill kill myself at your feet.No, no; speak or I will kill Michael.On my word! Like a dog!""I swear to you, by the dear head of your mother, Boris, that the date of our marriage does not depend on Michael."(Some words in Russian.Boris, a little consoled, holds her hand lingeringly to his lips.)Conversation between Michael and Natacha in the garden:

"Well? Have you told him?"

"I ended at last by making him understand that there is not any hope.None.It is necessary to have patience.I have to have it myself.""He is stupid and provoking."

"Stupid, no.Provoking, yes, if you wish.But you also, you are provoking.""Natacha! Natacha!"

(Here more Russian.) As Natacha started to leave, Michael placed his hand on her shoulder, stopped her and said, looking her direct in the eyes:

"There will be a letter from Annouchka this evening, by a messenger at five o'clock." He made each syllable explicit."Very important and requiring an immediate reply."These notes of Rouletabille's are not followed by any commentary.

After luncheon the gentlemen played poker until half-past four, which is the "chic" hour for the promenade to the head of the island.Rouletabille had directed Matrena to start exactly at a quarter to five.He appeared in the meantime, announcing that he had just interviewed the mayor of St.Petersburg, which made Athanase laugh, who could not understand that anyone would come clear from Paris to talk with men like that.Natacha came from her chamber to join them for the promenade.Her father told her she looked too worried.

They left the villa.Rouletabille noted that the dvornicks were before the gate and that the schwitzar was at his post, from which he could detect everyone who might enter or leave the villa.

Matrena pushed the rolling-chair herself.The general was radiant.

He had Natacha at his right and at his left Athanase and Thaddeus.

The two orderlies followed, talking with Rouletabille, who had monopolized them.The conversation turned on the devotion of Matrena Petrovna, which they placed above the finest heroic traits in the women of antiquity, and also on Natacha's love for her father.

Rouletabille made them talk.

Boris Mourazoff explained that this exceptional love was accounted for by the fact that Natacha's own mother, the general's first wife, died in giving birth to their daughter, and accordingly Feodor Feodorovitch had been both father and mother to his daughter.He had raised her with the most touching care, not permitting anyone else, when she was sick, to have the care of passing the nights by her bedside.

Natacha was seven years old when Feodor Feodorovitch was appointed governor of Orel.In the country near Orel, during the summer, the general and his daughter lived on neighborly terms near the family of old Petroff, one of the richest fur merchants in Russia.Old Petroff had a daughter, Matrena, who was magnificent to see, like a beautiful field-flower.She was always in excellent humor, never spoke ill of anyone in the neighborhood, and not only had the fine manners of a city dame but a great, simple heart, which she lavished on the little Natacha.

The child returned the affection of the beautiful Matrena, and it was on seeing them always happy to find themselves together that Trebassof dreamed of reestablishing his fireside.The nuptials were quickly arranged, and the child, when she learned that her good Matrena was to wed her papa, danced with joy.Then misfortune came only a few weeks before the ceremony.Old Petroff, who speculated on the Exchange for a long time without anyone knowing anything about it, was ruined from top to bottom.Matrena came one evening to apprise Feodor Feodorovitch of this sad news and return his pledge to him.For all response Feodor placed Natacha in Matrena's arms."Embrace your mother," he said to the child, and to Matrena, "From to-day I consider you my wife, Matrena Petrovna.

You should obey me in all things.Take that reply to your father and tell him my purse is at his disposition."The general was already, at that time, even before he had inherited the Cheremaieff, immensely rich.He had lands behind Nijni as vast as a province, and it would have been difficult to count the number of moujiks who worked for him on his property.Old Pretroff gave his daughter and did not wish to accept anything in exchange.Feodor wished to settle a large allowance on his wife; her father opposed that, and Matrena sided with him in the matter against her husband, because of Natacha."It all belongs to the little one," she insisted."I accept the position of her mother, but on the condition that she shall never lose a kopeck of her inheritance.""So that," concluded Boris, "if the general died tomorrow she would be poorer than Job.""Then the general is Matrena's sole resource," reflected Rouletabille aloud.