‘But why is she calling me? She’s shouting again; look, she’s waving to us.’
‘I can see that she’s waving,’ Mr Astley said.
‘Alexey Ivanovich! Alexey Ivanovich! Oh, my heavens, what a blockhead!’ desperate cries resounded from the hotel porch.
We almost ran to the entrance. I stepped on to the porch and … I stopped dead in my tracks in amazement, my legs rooted to the ground.
CHAPTER 9
At the top of the steps of the hotel’s wide porch, carried up the stairs in a chair and surrounded by footmen, maidservants and numerous obsequious hotel staff, and in the presence of the hotel manager himself, who had come out to greet the exalted guest arriving with such fuss and noise, with her own servants and with so many trunks and cases, sat – Grandmother! Yes, it was she herself, the formidable and rich, seventy-five-year-old Antonida Vasilyevna Tarasevichev, landowner and grand lady of Moscow, la baboulinka, about whom telegrams had been dispatched and received, who was dying and did not die, and who suddenly, in person, appeared among us out of the clear blue sky. Although she had lost the use of her legs and was carried in a chair, as always these last five years, she was her usual animated, quick-tempered, complacent self, sitting up straight, loudly and commandingly shouting, scolding everybody – well, she was exactly the same as the couple of times I had the honour of seeing her after entering the general’s household as tutor. Naturally, I stood before her dumbstruck with amazement. She had made me out with her lynx eyes a hundred paces away, when she was being carried in her chair, and she had recognized me and hailed me by name and patronymic,1 which, as was usually the case with her, she had remembered once and for all. ‘And this is the woman they had expected to see in her coffin, buried and leaving behind an inheritance,’ flashed through my mind, ‘but she’ll outlive us all and the whole hotel! But, my God, what’s going to happen to them now, what’s going to happen to the general! She’ll turn the whole hotel upside down!’
‘Well, my dear fellow, why are you standing there, just staring at me with big eyes!’ Grandmother continued to shout at me. ‘Don’t you know how to bow and say hello? Or have you become too proud and don’t want to? Or maybe you don’t recognize me? Do you hear that, Potapych,’ she turned to a grey old man, in tails with a white tie and a rosy bald spot, her butler, who had accompanied her on the journey, ‘do you hear that, he doesn’t recognize me! They’ve buried me! They sent telegram after telegram: is she dead or not? I know everything, you see! And, as you see, I am alive and kicking.’
‘For heaven’s sake, Antonida Vasilyevna, why would I wish you any harm?’ I answered gaily, after coming to my senses. ‘I was merely surprised … And how could one not be surprised, it’s so unexpected …’
‘And what’s there for you to be so surprised about? I got on the train and off I went. It’s comfortable on the train, there’s no jolting. Have you been out for a walk or something?’
‘Yes, I took a walk to the casino.’
‘It’s nice here,’ Grandmother said, as she had a look around, ‘it’s warm and the trees are lush. I like that! Are our people at home? Is the general?’
‘Oh, at this hour everybody is certain to be at home.’
‘So they have customary hours and all the ceremonies? They set the tone. I hear that they keep a carriage, les seigneurs russes!2 They fritter away all their money and then go abroad! And is Praskovya3 with them?’
‘And Polina Alexandrova as well.’
‘And the Frenchy? Well, I’ll see them all for myself. Alexey Ivanovich, show me the way, straight to him. So, are you comfortable here?’
‘So-so, Antonida Vasilyevna.’
‘And you, Potapych, tell that blockhead of a manager to give me a comfortable suite, a good one, not too high up, and take my things there at once. Why are they all crowding round to carry me? Why are they all clambering? What servility! And who is that with you?’ she turned to me once again.
‘This is Mr Astley,’ I answered.
‘And who is Mr Astley?’
‘A traveller, a good friend of mine; he’s acquainted with the general.’
‘An Englishman. That’s why he stares at me with his teeth clenched. However, I like the English. Well, haul me upstairs, right to their rooms; where are they?’
They carried Grandmother; I led the way up the hotel’s wide staircase. Our procession created quite an effect. Everyone whom we met stopped and stared. Our hotel was considered the very best, the most expensive and the most aristocratic at the spa. On the staircase and in the corridors one always met magnificent ladies and important Englishmen. A number made enquiries downstairs of the manager, who, for his part, was deeply impressed. He, of course, answered all who asked that she was an important foreign lady, une russe, une comtesse, grande dame and that she was taking the very same suite that had been occupied a week ago by la grande duchesse de N.4 Grandmother’s commanding and imperious appearance as she was being carried in her chair, was the cause of the great effect. Upon meeting any new face she at once took their measure with a curious glance and questioned me loudly about them all. Grandmother was a large woman, and although she never got up from her chair, one could sense, by looking at her, that she was quite tall. She sat as straight as a board and did not lean against her chair. She held high her large, grey head with its broad and sharp features; she had a somewhat arrogant and even defiant look about her; and it was plain to see that her carriage and gestures were completely natural. Despite her seventy-five years, her complexion was rather fresh-looking and even her teeth were in fairly good shape. She was dressed in a black silk dress and a white cap.
‘I find her extremely interesting,’ Mr Astley whispered to me, as we walked up the stairs together.
‘She knows about the telegrams,’ I thought, ‘and she’s heard about des Grieux, but it seems that she still hasn’t heard much about Mlle Blanche.’ I at once communicated this to Mr Astley.
Sinner that I am! My first surprise had just passed and I was terribly delighted by the thunderbolt that we would set off now at the general’s. It was as if I was being egged on, and I led the way extremely cheerfully.
Our party had taken rooms on the third floor; I did not announce our arrival and did not even knock on the door, but simply threw it open and Grandmother was carried in in triumph. They were all, as if on purpose, gathered together in the general’s study. It was twelve o’clock and the entire party seemed to be planning some sort of excursion – they were going together as a group, some by carriage, others on horseback; moreover, some of their acquaintances had been invited. In addition to the general, Polina and the children and their nanny, there were in the study: des Grieux, Mlle Blanche, again in riding habit, her mother Madame veuve Cominges, the little prince as well as some travelling scholar, a German, whom I saw with them for the first time. The chair with Grandmother was set down in the middle of the study, three paces away from the general. My goodness, I shall never forget the effect this had! Before our entrance the general had been telling some story, and des Grieux was correcting him. It should be noted that Mlle Blanche and des Grieux for two or three days now for some reason had been very solicitous of the little prince – à la barbe du pauvre general,5 and the tone set by the assembled company, though perhaps artificial, was that of a most cheerful and cordial family. At the sight of Grandmother the general suddenly was struck dumb, gaped and stopped short in mid-sentence. He looked at her, wide-eyed, as though he had been bewitched by the gaze of a basilisk. Grandmother also looked at him in silence, without stirring – but what a triumphant, defiant and mocking look it was! They looked at each other like that for a full ten seconds, amidst the profound silence of all those around them. Des Grieux at first froze, but soon feelings of extraordinary anxiety could be glimpsed on his face. Mlle Blanche arched her eyebrows, opened her mouth and stared wildly at Grandmother. The prince and the scholar contemplated the whole scene in profound bewilderment. Polina’s face expressed extreme surprise
and bewilderment, but suddenly she went as white as a sheet; a minute later the blood quickly rushed to her face and coloured her cheeks. Yes, it was a catastrophe for everyone! All I could do was turn my eyes from Grandmother to the others and back again. Mr Astley stood to the side, as was his wont, calm and proper.
‘Well, here I am! Instead of a telegram!’ Grandmother burst out at last, breaking the silence. ‘What, weren’t you expecting me?’
‘Antonida Vasilyevna … Auntie … However in the world …’ muttered the unfortunate general. If Grandmother had waited a few seconds longer before speaking, he might have had a stroke.
‘What do you mean, how in the world? I got on the train and off I went. After all, what’s the railroad for? And you all were thinking that I had already turned up my toes and left you my inheritance? You see, I know that you’ve been sending telegrams from here. I think you must have paid a lot of money for them. It’s not cheap from here. So I threw my legs over my shoulders and came. Is that the Frenchman? Monsieur des Grieux, I believe?’
‘Oui, madame,’ des Grieux rejoined, ‘et croyez, je suis si enchanté … votre santé … c’est un miracle … vous voir ici, une surprise charmante …’6
‘Charmante, my eye; I know you, you clown; I don’t believe even this little bit of what you say!’ and she showed him her little finger. ‘And who’s this?’ she turned, pointing to Mlle Blanche. She was apparently impressed by the striking Frenchwoman in riding habit, holding a whip. ‘Is she from here?’
‘That’s Mlle Blanche de Cominges, and this is her mother, Madame de Cominges; they have taken rooms in this hotel,’ I reported.
‘Is the daughter married?’ Grandmother asked, not standing on ceremony.
‘Mlle de Cominges is not married,’ I answered as respectfully as I could, having purposely lowered my voice.
‘Is she fun to be with?’
At first I didn’t understand her question.
‘You don’t find her company dull? Does she understand Russian? Des Grieux there picked up some bits and pieces when he was in Moscow.’
I explained to her that Mlle de Cominges had never been to Russia.
‘Bonjour!’7 Grandmother said, after suddenly turning to Mlle Blanche.
‘Bonjour, madame,’ Mlle Blanche dropped a formal and elegant curtsey, making haste, under the cover of extraordinary modesty and respect, to show with all the expression of her face and figure her extreme surprise at such a strange question and mode of address.
‘Oh, she’s lowered her eyes, she’s all hoity-toity and puts on airs; you can see what sort of bird she is; some sort of actress. I’m staying here in the hotel downstairs,’ she suddenly turned to the general, ‘I’ll be your neighbour; does that make you happy or not?’
‘Oh, Auntie! Do believe in the sincere feeling … of my pleasure,’ the general rejoined. He had already somewhat regained his senses, and since when the opportunity presented itself he knew how to speak well, importantly and with pretensions to a certain effect, he proceeded to grow expansive now. ‘We were so worried and alarmed by the news of your illness … We have received such despairing telegrams, and suddenly …’
‘Well, lies, lies!’ Grandmother interrupted him at once.
‘But how,’ the general also interrupted quickly and raised his voice, trying not to notice that ‘lies’. ‘Nonetheless, how did you decide to undertake such a journey? You must agree, that at your age and with your health … at the very least, it’s all so unexpected, so our surprise is understandable. But I’m so glad … and we all’ (he began to smile ingratiatingly and with rapture) ‘will try as best we can to make your season here a most pleasant stay …’
‘Well, enough idle chatter; a lot of mindless blather, as usual; I’m quite capable of taking care of myself here. However, I don’t have anything against you; I don’t bear grudges. How, you ask. But what’s so surprising about it? It was the simplest thing imaginable. And why are they all so surprised? How are you, Praskovya. What do you do here?’
‘How do you do, Grandmother,’ Polina said, as she approached her. ‘Was it a long journey?’
‘Well, this one asked something more intelligent than the lot of you – with you it’s all “oh” and “ah”. You see, it was bedrest and bedrest, doctors and more doctors, so I chased the doctors away and summoned the sacristan from St Nicholas’s. He had cured one old woman of the same illness with hay-dust. Well, he helped me; on the third day I was all in a sweat and I got up. Then my Germans gathered round again, put on their spectacles and began to lay down the law: “If you were to go abroad now,” they said, “and take the waters, all your obstructions would be eliminated.” And why ever not, I thought. Then those fools, the Zazhigins, started with their sighing: “You’ll never make it!” they said. Well, and how do you like that! I got ready in a day and on Friday last week I took my maid, and Potapych, and Fyodor the footman, but I sent Fyodor packing in Berlin, because I saw that he wasn’t at all necessary, and I could have made the trip all on my own … I took a private carriage, and there are porters at every station who will carry you wherever you want for twenty kopecks. My, what a suite you’ve taken!’ she concluded, taking a look around. ‘Whose money is paying for this, my dear? After all, everything you have is mortgaged. What a pile of money you must owe this Frenchy alone. You see, I know everything, everything!’
‘I, Auntie …’ the general began, all embarrassed, ‘I’m surprised, Auntie … I think I can without anybody’s supervision … and moreover, my expenses don’t exceed my means, and we are here …’
‘They don’t exceed your means? Listen to him! Then you must have robbed the children of every last kopeck, and you their guardian!’
‘After that, after such words …’ the general began indignantly, ‘I just don’t know …’
‘I dare say, you don’t know! And you most likely don’t ever leave the roulette table? Have you squandered everything?’
The general was so astonished that he nearly choked on the surge of his agitated feelings.
‘Roulette! Me? With my standing … Me? Come to your senses, Auntie, you must still be ill …’
‘Well, lies, lies; most likely they can’t drag you away; it’s all lies! I’ll have a look and see what this roulette is all about this very day. You, Praskovya, tell me where to go and what to see, and Alexey Ivanovich here will show me, and you, Potapych, write down all the places we should go. What is there to see here?’ she suddenly turned to Polina again.
‘Nearby there are the ruins of a castle, and then there’s the Schlangenberg.’
‘What is this Schlangenberg? A grove or something?’
‘No, it’s not a grove, it’s a mountain; there’s a pointe …’8
‘What sort of pointe?’
‘The highest point on the mountain, it’s an enclosed place. The view from there is superb.’
‘Haul my chair up the mountain? Will they manage it?’
‘Oh, porters can be found,’ I answered.
At this moment Fedosya, the nanny, came up to say hello to Grandmother, and she brought the general’s children.
‘Well, there’s no need to start kissing. I don’t like kissing children: all children have snotty noses. Well, how do you like it here, Fedosya?’
‘It’s very, very good, Antonida Vasilyevna, ma’am,’ Fedosya answered. ‘How have you been, ma’am? We’ve been so worried about you.’
‘I know, you’re a simple soul. So who are these people here, all guests?’ she turned again to Polina. ‘Who is that shabby little creature, the one with the glasses?’
‘Prince Nilsky, Grandmother,’ Polina whispered to her.
‘A Russian? And here I thought he wouldn’t understand! Perhaps he didn’t hear! Mr Astley I’ve already seen. And here he is again,’ Grandmother had caught sight of him again. ‘How do you do?’ she turned to him suddenly.
Mr Astley made a bow to her in silence.
‘Well, have you something nice to say to me? Sa
y something! Translate for him, Polina.’
Polina translated.
‘Only that I look at you with great pleasure and rejoice in your good health,’ Mr Astley answered seriously, but with great readiness. It was translated for Grandmother and she evidently liked it.
‘The English always answer so nicely,’ she observed. ‘For some reason I’ve always liked the English, there’s no comparison with the little Frenchies! Come and pay me a visit,’ she again turned to Mr Astley. ‘I will try not to trouble you too much. Translate that for him, and tell him that I am downstairs, downstairs – do you hear, downstairs,’ she repeated to Mr Astley, pointing down with her finger.
Mr Astley was extremely pleased by the invitation.
With an attentive and satisfied gaze Grandmother examined Polina from head to foot.
‘I could love you, Praskovya,’ she said suddenly, ‘you’re a fine girl, better than all of them, and what a temper you have – my, my! Well, and I have a temper, too; turn around, please; is that a hairpiece you have in your hair?’
‘No, Grandmother, it’s my own.’
‘Quite right. I don’t like the stupid fashion nowadays. You’re very beautiful. I would fall in love with you if I were a young gentleman. Why don’t you get married? However, it’s time for me to be going. I want to get some air, because it’s been nothing but the train and the train … Well, are you still angry?’ she turned to the general.
‘Please, Auntie, enough!’ the general took heart as he recollected himself, ‘I understand, at your age …’
‘Cette vielle est tombée en enfance,’9 des Grieux whispered to me.
‘I want to have a look at everything here. Will you let me have Alexey Ivanovich?’ Grandmother continued to the general.
‘Oh, as much as you like, but I myself … and Polina and Monsieur des Grieux … we all, we would all consider it a pleasure to accompany you …’
The Gambler and Other Stories (Penguin ed.) Page 25