A Sportsman's Sketches: Works of Ivan Turgenev 1

by Ivan Turgenev

  ‘I don’t know what breed it is, but it’s a good dog.’

  ‘Ah! and do you go out with the hounds too?’

  ‘Yes, I have two leashes of hounds.’

  Tuman smiled and shook his head.

  ‘That’s just it; one man is devoted to dogs, and another doesn’t want them for anything. According to my simple notions, I fancy dogs should be kept rather for appearance’ sake … and all should be in style too; horses too should be in style, and huntsmen in style, as they ought to be, and all. The late count — God’s grace be with him! — was never, I must own, much of a hunter; but he kept dogs, and twice a year he was pleased to go out with them. The huntsmen assembled in the courtyard, in red caftans trimmed with galloon, and blew their horns; his excellency would be pleased to come out, and his excellency’s horse would be led up; his excellency would mount, and the chief huntsman puts his feet in the stirrups, takes his hat off, and puts the reins in his hat to offer them to his excellency. His excellency is pleased to click his whip like this, and the huntsmen give a shout, and off they go out of the gate away. A huntsman rides behind the count, and holds in a silken leash two of the master’s favourite dogs, and looks after them well, you may fancy…. And he, too, this huntsman, sits up high, on a Cossack saddle: such a red - cheeked fellow he was, and rolled his eyes like this…. And there were guests too, you may be sure, on such occasions, and entertainment, and ceremonies observed…. Ah, he’s got away, the Asiatic!’ He interrupted himself suddenly, drawing in his line.

  ‘They say the count used to live pretty freely in his day?’ I asked.

  The old man spat on the worm and lowered the line in again.

  ‘He was a great gentleman, as is well - known. At times the persons of the first rank, one may say, at Petersburg, used to visit him. With coloured ribbons on their breasts they used to sit down to table and eat. Well, he knew how to entertain them. He called me sometimes. “Tuman,” says he, “I want by to - morrow some live sturgeon; see there are some, do you hear?” “Yes, your excellency.” Embroidered coats, wigs, canes, perfumes, eau de Cologne of the best sort, snuff - boxes, huge pictures: he would order them all from Paris itself! When he gave a banquet, God Almighty, Lord of my being! there were fireworks, and carriages driving up! They even fired off the cannon. The orchestra alone consisted of forty men. He kept a German as conductor of the band, but the German gave himself dreadful airs; he wanted to eat at the same table as the masters; so his excellency gave orders to get rid of him! “My musicians,” says he, “can do their work even without a conductor.” Of course he was master. Then they would fall to dancing, and dance till morning, especially at the écossaise - matrador. … Ah — ah — there’s one caught!’ (The old man drew a small perch out of the water.) ‘Here you are, Styopka! The master was all a master should be,’ continued the old man, dropping his line in again, ‘and he had a kind heart too. He would give you a blow at times, and before you could look round, he’d forgotten it already. There was only one thing: he kept mistresses. Ugh, those mistresses! God forgive them! They were the ruin of him too; and yet, you know, he took them most generally from a low station. You would fancy they would not want much? Not a bit — they must have everything of the most expensive in all Europe! One may say, “Why shouldn’t he live as he likes; it’s the master’s business” … but there was no need to ruin himself. There was one especially; Akulina was her name. She is dead now; God rest her soul! the daughter of the watchman at Sitoia; and such a vixen! She would slap the count’s face sometimes. She simply bewitched him. My nephew she sent for a soldier; he spilt some chocolate on a new dress of hers … and he wasn’t the only one she served so. Ah, well, those were good times, though!’ added the old man with a deep sigh. His head drooped forward and he was silent.

  ‘Your master, I see, was severe, then?’ I began after a brief silence.

  ‘That was the fashion then, your honour,’ he replied, shaking his head.

  ‘That sort of thing is not done now?’ I observed, not taking my eyes off him.

  He gave me a look askance.

  ‘Now, surely it’s better,’ he muttered, and let out his line further.

  We were sitting in the shade; but even in the shade it was stifling. The sultry atmosphere was faint and heavy; one lifted one’s burning face uneasily, seeking a breath of wind; but there was no wind. The sun beat down from blue and darkening skies; right opposite us, on the other bank, was a yellow field of oats, overgrown here and there with wormwood; not one ear of the oats quivered. A little lower down a peasant’s horse stood in the river up to its knees, and slowly shook its wet tail; from time to time, under an overhanging bush, a large fish shot up, bringing bubbles to the surface, and gently sank down to the bottom, leaving a slight ripple behind it. The grasshoppers chirped in the scorched grass; the quail’s cry sounded languid and reluctant; hawks sailed smoothly over the meadows, often resting in the same spot, rapidly fluttering their wings and opening their tails into a fan. We sat motionless, overpowered with the heat. Suddenly there was a sound behind us in the creek; someone came down to the spring. I looked round, and saw a peasant of about fifty, covered with dust, in a smock, and wearing bast slippers; he carried a wickerwork pannier and a cloak on his shoulders. He went down to the spring, drank thirstily, and got up.

  ‘Ah, Vlass!’ cried Tuman, staring at him; ‘good health to you, friend!

  Where has God sent you from?’

  ‘Good health to you, Mihal Savelitch!’ said the peasant, coming nearer to us; ‘from a long way off.’

  ‘Where have you been?’ Tuman asked him.

  ‘I have been to Moscow, to my master.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘I went to ask him a favour.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘Oh, to lessen my rent, or to let me work it out in labour, or to put me on another piece of land, or something…. My son is dead — so I can’t manage it now alone.’

  ‘Your son is dead?’

  ‘He is dead. My son,’ added the peasant, after a pause, ‘lived in

  Moscow as a cabman; he paid, I must confess, rent for me.’

  ‘Then are you now paying rent?’

  ‘Yes, we pay rent.’

  ‘What did your master say?’

  ‘What did the master say! He drove me away! Says he, “How dare you come straight to me; there is a bailiff for such things. You ought first,” says he, “to apply to the bailiff … and where am I to put you on other land? You first,” says he, “bring the debt you owe.” He was angry altogether.’

  ‘What then — did you come back?’

  ‘I came back. I wanted to find out if my son had not left any goods of his own, but I couldn’t get a straight answer. I say to his employer, “I am Philip’s father”; and he says, “What do I know about that? And your son,” says he, “left nothing; he was even in debt to me.” So I came away.’

  The peasant related all this with a smile, as though he were speaking of someone else; but tears were starting into his small, screwed - up eyes, and his lips were quivering.

  ‘Well, are you going home then now?’

  ‘Where can I go? Of course I’m going home. My wife, I suppose, is pretty well starved by now.’

  ‘You should — then,’ Styopushka said suddenly. He grew confused, was silent, and began to rummage in the worm - pot.

  ‘And shall you go to the bailiff?’ continued Tuman, looking with some amazement at Styopka.

  ‘What should I go to him for? — I’m in arrears as it is. My son was ill for a year before his death; he could not pay even his own rent. But it can’t hurt me; they can get nothing from me…. Yes, my friend, you can be as cunning as you please — I’m cleaned out!’ (The peasant began to laugh.) ‘Kintlyan Semenitch’ll have to be clever if — ’

  Vlass laughed again.

  ‘Oh! things are in a sad way, brother Vlass,’ Tuman ejaculated deliberately.

  ‘Sad! No!’ (Vlass’s voice broke.) ‘How hot it
is!’ he went on, wiping his face with his sleeve.

  ‘Who is your master?’ I asked him.

  ‘Count Valerian Petrovitch.’

  ‘The son of Piotr Ilitch?’

  ‘The son of Piotr Ilitch,’ replied Tuman. ‘Piotr Hitch gave him Vlass’s village in his lifetime.’

  ‘Is he well?’

  ‘He is well, thank God!’ replied Vlass. ‘He has grown so red, and his face looks as though it were padded.’

  ‘You see, your honour,’ continued Tuman, turning to me, ‘it would be very well near Moscow, but it’s a different matter to pay rent here.’

  ‘And what is the rent for you altogether?’

  ‘Ninety - five roubles,’ muttered Vlass.

  ‘There, you see; and it’s the least bit of land; all there is is the master’s forest.’

  ‘And that, they say, they have sold,’ observed the peasant.

  ‘There, you see. Styopka, give me a worm. Why, Styopka, are you asleep — eh?’

  Styopushka started. The peasant sat down by us. We sank into silence again. On the other bank someone was singing a song — but such a mournful one. Our poor Vlass grew deeply dejected.

  Half - an - hour later we parted.

  IV

  THE DISTRICT DOCTOR

  One day in autumn on my way back from a remote part of the country I caught cold and fell ill. Fortunately the fever attacked me in the district town at the inn; I sent for the doctor. In half - an - hour the district doctor appeared, a thin, dark - haired man of middle height. He prescribed me the usual sudorific, ordered a mustard - plaster to be put on, very deftly slid a five - rouble note up his sleeve, coughing drily and looking away as he did so, and then was getting up to go home, but somehow fell into talk and remained. I was exhausted with feverishness; I foresaw a sleepless night, and was glad of a little chat with a pleasant companion. Tea was served. My doctor began to converse freely. He was a sensible fellow, and expressed himself with vigour and some humour. Queer things happen in the world: you may live a long while with some people, and be on friendly terms with them, and never once speak openly with them from your soul; with others you have scarcely time to get acquainted, and all at once you are pouring out to him — or he to you — all your secrets, as though you were at confession. I don’t know how I gained the confidence of my new friend — any way, with nothing to lead up to it, he told me a rather curious incident; and here I will report his tale for the information of the indulgent reader. I will try to tell it in the doctor’s own words.

  ‘You don’t happen to know,’ he began in a weak and quavering voice (the common result of the use of unmixed Berezov snuff); ‘you don’t happen to know the judge here, Mylov, Pavel Lukitch?… You don’t know him?… Well, it’s all the same.’ (He cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes.) ‘Well, you see, the thing happened, to tell you exactly without mistake, in Lent, at the very time of the thaws. I was sitting at his house — our judge’s, you know — playing preference. Our judge is a good fellow, and fond of playing preference. Suddenly’ (the doctor made frequent use of this word, suddenly) ‘they tell me, “There’s a servant asking for you.” I say, “What does he want?” They say, “He has brought a note — it must be from a patient.” “Give me the note,” I say. So it is from a patient — well and good — you understand — it’s our bread and butter. … But this is how it was: a lady, a widow, writes to me; she says, “My daughter is dying. Come, for God’s sake!” she says; “and the horses have been sent for you.” … Well, that’s all right. But she was twenty miles from the town, and it was midnight out of doors, and the roads in such a state, my word! And as she was poor herself, one could not expect more than two silver roubles, and even that problematic; and perhaps it might only be a matter of a roll of linen and a sack of oatmeal in payment. However, duty, you know, before everything: a fellow - creature may be dying. I hand over my cards at once to Kalliopin, the member of the provincial commission, and return home. I look; a wretched little trap was standing at the steps, with peasant’s horses, fat — too fat — and their coat as shaggy as felt; and the coachman sitting with his cap off out of respect. Well, I think to myself, “It’s clear, my friend, these patients aren’t rolling in riches.” … You smile; but I tell you, a poor man like me has to take everything into consideration…. If the coachman sits like a prince, and doesn’t touch his cap, and even sneers at you behind his beard, and flicks his whip — then you may bet on six roubles. But this case, I saw, had a very different air. However, I think there’s no help for it; duty before everything. I snatch up the most necessary drugs, and set off. Will you believe it? I only just managed to get there at all. The road was infernal: streams, snow, watercourses, and the dyke had suddenly burst there — that was the worst of it! However, I arrived at last. It was a little thatched house. There was a light in the windows; that meant they expected me. I was met by an old lady, very venerable, in a cap. “Save her!” she says; “she is dying.” I say, “Pray don’t distress yourself — Where is the invalid?” “Come this way.” I see a clean little room, a lamp in the corner; on the bed a girl of twenty, unconscious. She was in a burning heat, and breathing heavily — it was fever. There were two other girls, her sisters, scared and in tears. “Yesterday,” they tell me, “she was perfectly well and had a good appetite; this morning she complained of her head, and this evening, suddenly, you see, like this.” I say again: “Pray don’t be uneasy.” It’s a doctor’s duty, you know — and I went up to her and bled her, told them to put on a mustard - plaster, and prescribed a mixture. Meantime I looked at her; I looked at her, you know — there, by God! I had never seen such a face! — she was a beauty, in a word! I felt quite shaken with pity. Such lovely features; such eyes!… But, thank God! she became easier; she fell into a perspiration, seemed to come to her senses, looked round, smiled, and passed her hand over her face…. Her sisters bent over her. They ask, “How are you?” “All right,” she says, and turns away. I looked at her; she had fallen asleep. “Well,” I say, “now the patient should be left alone.” So we all went out on tiptoe; only a maid remained, in case she was wanted. In the parlour there was a samovar standing on the table, and a bottle of rum; in our profession one can’t get on without it. They gave me tea; asked me to stop the night. … I consented: where could I go, indeed, at that time of night? The old lady kept groaning. “What is it?” I say; “she will live; don’t worry yourself; you had better take a little rest yourself; it is about two o’clock.” “But will you send to wake me if anything happens?” “Yes, yes.” The old lady went away, and the girls too went to their own room; they made up a bed for me in the parlour. Well, I went to bed — but I could not get to sleep, for a wonder! for in reality I was very tired. I could not get my patient out of my head. At last I could not put up with it any longer; I got up suddenly; I think to myself, “I will go and see how the patient is getting on.” Her bedroom was next to the parlour. Well, I got up, and gently opened the door — how my heart beat! I looked in: the servant was asleep, her mouth wide open, and even snoring, the wretch! but the patient lay with her face towards me, and her arms flung wide apart, poor girl! I went up to her … when suddenly she opened her eyes and stared at me! “Who is it? who is it?” I was in confusion. “Don’t be alarmed, madam,” I say; “I am the doctor; I have come to see how you feel.” “You the doctor?” “Yes, the doctor; your mother sent for me from the town; we have bled you, madam; now pray go to sleep, and in a day or two, please God! we will set you on your feet again.” “Ah, yes, yes, doctor, don’t let me die…. please, please.” “Why do you talk like that? God bless you!” She is in a fever again, I think to myself; I felt her pulse; yes, she was feverish. She looked at me, and then took me by the hand. “I will tell you why I don’t want to die; I will tell you…. Now we are alone; and only, please don’t you … not to anyone … Listen….” I bent down; she moved her lips quite to my ear; she touched my cheek with her hair — I confess my head went round — and began to whisper….
I could make out nothing of it…. Ah, she was delirious!… She whispered and whispered, but so quickly, and as if it were not in Russian; at last she finished, and shivering dropped her head on the pillow, and threatened me with her finger: “Remember, doctor, to no one.” I calmed her somehow, gave her something to drink, waked the servant, and went away.’

  At this point the doctor again took snuff with exasperated energy, and for a moment seemed stupefied by its effects.

  ‘However,’ he continued, ‘the next day, contrary to my expectations, the patient was no better. I thought and thought, and suddenly decided to remain there, even though my other patients were expecting me…. And you know one can’t afford to disregard that; one’s practice suffers if one does. But, in the first place, the patient was really in danger; and secondly, to tell the truth, I felt strongly drawn to her. Besides, I liked the whole family. Though they were really badly off, they were singularly, I may say, cultivated people…. Their father had been a learned man, an author; he died, of course, in poverty, but he had managed before he died to give his children an excellent education; he left a lot of books too. Either because I looked after the invalid very carefully, or for some other reason; any way, I can venture to say all the household loved me as if I were one of the family…. Meantime the roads were in a worse state than ever; all communications, so to say, were cut off completely; even medicine could with difficulty be got from the town…. The sick girl was not getting better. … Day after day, and day after day … but … here….’ (The doctor made a brief pause.) ‘I declare I don’t know how to tell you.’ … (He again took snuff, coughed, and swallowed a little tea.) ‘I will tell you without beating about the bush. My patient … how should I say?… Well, she had fallen in love with me … or, no, it was not that she was in love … however … really, how should one say?’ (The doctor looked down and grew red.) ‘No,’ he went on quickly, ‘in love, indeed! A man should not over - estimate himself. She was an educated girl, clever and well - read, and I had even forgotten my Latin, one may say, completely. As to appearance’ (the doctor looked himself over with a smile) ‘I am nothing to boast of there either. But God Almighty did not make me a fool; I don’t take black for white; I know a thing or two; I could see very clearly, for instance, that Alexandra Andreevna — that was her name — did not feel love for me, but had a friendly, so to say, inclination — a respect or something for me. Though she herself perhaps mistook this sentiment, any way this was her attitude; you may form your own judgment of it. But,’ added the doctor, who had brought out all these disconnected sentences without taking breath, and with obvious embarrassment, ‘I seem to be wandering rather — you won’t understand anything like this…. There, with your leave, I will relate it all in order.’