The Diary of a Superfluous Man and Other Stories Part 9

"Listen,"--added Vasily Ivanovitch, rising to his feet:--"I know everything; you understand me, and I order you to marry Olga without delay, to-morrow."

"But excuse me, excuse me,"--returned Rogatchyoff, without rising from his seat;--"you order me? I myself have sought the hand of Olga Ivanovna, and there is no need to order me. I must confess, Vasily Ivanovitch, somehow, I don't understand you...."

"Thou dost not understand?"

"No, really, I don't understand, sir."

"Wilt thou give me thy word to marry her to-morrow?"

"Why, good gracious, Vasily Ivanovitch .... have n't you yourself repeatedly postponed our marriage? If it had not been for you, it would have taken place long ago. And even now I have no idea of refusing. But what is the meaning of your threats, of your urgent demands?"

Pavel Afanasievitch wiped the perspiration from his face.

"Wilt thou give me thy word? Speak! Yes, or no?"--repeated Vasily with pauses between his words.

"Certainly ... I give it, sir, but ...."

"Good. Remember.... And she has confessed everything."

"Who has confessed?"

"Olga Ivanovna."

"But what has she confessed?"

"Why do you dissimulate with me, Pavel Afanasievitch? Surely, I 'm not a stranger to you."

"How am I dissimulating? I don't understand you, I don't understand you, positively I don't understand you. What could Olga Ivanovna confess?"

"What? You bore me! You know well what."

"May G.o.d slay me if ...."

"No, I will slay thee--if thou dost not marry her .... dost understand?"

"What!...." Pavel Afanasievitch leaped to his feet, and stood before Vasily.--"Olga Ivanovna .... you say ...."

"Thou 'rt clever, my good fellow, very clever, I must admit." Vasily, with a smile, tapped him on the shoulder.--"In spite of the fact that thou art so mild of aspect ...."

"My G.o.d, O G.o.d!... You will drive me mad... What do you mean to say?

Explain yourself, for G.o.d's sake!"

Vasily bent over him and whispered something in his ear.

Rogatchyoff cried out:--"What?.... how?"

Vasily stamped his foot.

"Olga Ivanovna? Olga?..."

"Yes .... your betrothed bride...."

"My betrothed bride .... Vasily Ivanovitch .... she .... she .... But I will have nothing to do with her!"--shouted Pavel Afanasievitch. "I 'll have none of her! What do you take me for? To deceive me--to deceive me!... Olga Ivanovna, is n't it sinful of you, are n't you ashamed?...."

(Tears gushed from his eyes.)--"I thank you, Vasily Ivanovitch, I thank you.... And now I 'll have nothing to do with her! I won't! I won't!

don't speak of such a thing!.... Akh, good heavens!--that I should have lived to see this day! But it is well, it is well!"

"Stop behaving like a baby,"--remarked Vasily Ivanovitch, coldly.--"Remember, you have given me your word that the wedding shall take place to-morrow."

"No, that shall not be! Enough, Vasily Ivanovitch, I say to you once more--for whom do you take me? You do me much honour; many thanks, sir.

Excuse me, sir."

"As you like!"--retorted Vasily.--"Get your sword."

"Why?"

"This is why."

Vasily drew out his slender, flexible French sword, and bent it slightly against the floor.

"You mean .... to fight .... with me?..."

"Precisely so."

"But, Vasily Ivanovitch, pray, enter into my position! How can I--judge for yourself--after what you have told me?... I am an honest man, Vasily Ivanovitch; I am a n.o.bleman."

"You are a n.o.bleman, you are an honest man,--then be so good as to fight with me."

"Vasily Ivanovitch!"

"You appear to be a coward, Mr. Rogatchyoff?"

"I am not in the least a coward, Vasily Ivanovitch. You have thought to frighten me, Vasily Ivanovitch. 'Come, now,' you said to yourself, 'I 'll scare him, and he 'll turn cowardly; he will instantly consent to anything.'.... No, Vasily Ivanovitch, I 'm the same sort of n.o.bleman as yourself, although I have not received my education in the capital, it is true; and you will not succeed in terrifying me, excuse me."

"Very good,"--retorted Vasily:--"where is your sword?"

"Eroshka!"--shouted Pavel Afanasievitch.

A man entered.

"Get my sword--yonder--thou knowest where it is--in the garret .... and be quick about it...."

Eroshka withdrew. Pavel Afanasievitch suddenly turned extremely pale, hastily took off his dressing-gown, put on a kaftan of a reddish hue with large stra.s.s b.u.t.tons .... wound a neckcloth round his neck....

Vasily watched him, and examined the fingers of his right hand.

"So how is it to be? Are we to fight, Pavel Afanasievitch?"

"If we must fight, we must,"--returned Rogatchyoff, hastily b.u.t.toning his waistcoat.

"Hey, Pavel Afanasievitch, heed my advice: marry .... why shouldst thou not?... But I, believe me ...."