Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 155: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

151. THE RED HOUSE AT ST. PETERSBURGH. (Continued from page 144.) —i—— At midnight Vaninka returned with her father. An inward fever liad preyed upon her all the evening, so that she had never appeared so beautiful ; and she had, consequently, been oppressed with the homage of the most distinguislied and most gallant noblemen of the court, t On entering, she found Annouschka in the vestibule, The young girl was waiting to take her mistress’s cloak ;. and, in giving it, Vaninka interrogated her with one of. those looks that convey more than lanzuage can utter. ‘‘ All is finished,” said the fenime-de-chambre, in an under tone. ’ aren breathed as if a mountain had been removed from her reast. f But, whatever power Vaninka had over herself, slie could not longer sustain the presence of her father ; and, pleading the fatizue she had undergone during the evening, declared herself unable to remain to sup with him. iy She retired to her chamber ; and, no sooner was the door closed, than she tore the flowers from her, brow, and the jewels’ from her neck—catsed the corset that suffucated her to be cut irom her person—and, throwing herself on the bed, writhed and wept. in the agony of grief. ; -Annouschka, however, thanked God for this burst of feeling ; the calmness of her mistress had been more. frightful than her despair. | This first crisis passed, Vaninka could*pray. . She passed an hour on her. kuees ; and then, at the pressing in- stance of her faithful attendant, she went to bed, at the foot_of which Afinouschka seated herself. But neither slept, though, by the dawn of day, Vaninka had found some relief in tears. at b -Annouschka was charged to recompense her brother. Too large a’sum given at one time to a slave would have been re~ marked; she therefore, cotitented herself with telling him that when he had need of money he had only to ask her for it. Gregory, profitting by his liberty, and wishing to make the most of his thousandrables, bonght a little tavern, situated outside the, city canal, where, thanks to his address, and the acquaintance he had ationg the servants of the best familres in St. Petersburg, he began to carry on an excellent business ; so that, in a little time; “‘The Red House,” which constituted the name and colour of Gregory’s estabtishment, was in great repute. Another slave fulfilled his duties near the person of the general ; and, but for the absence of Foedor, all went on in the customary order at the hotel of Count Tehermayloff. Two months thus passed away, without any one having con- ceived. the least suspicion of what had liappened ; when, one morning, before the usual breakfast-hour, the general sent a requst to his daughter to come down to him. Vanirika trembled with fear, for, since that fatal. night, every- thing was a subject of terror to her. . I She obeyed her father, however; and, collecting all her strength, she proceeded to his cabinet. r The count was alone, but, at the first glance, Vaninka saw that she had notliing to fear from this interview. The general was waiting for her with that paternal:expression which his countenance always assumed when ia the presence of his daughter. She consequently approached him with her habitual calmness ; _ and, inclining: before the general, gave him her forehead to kiss. He then motioned her to be seated, and presented her with an open letter. Vaninka, astonished, regarded her father for a moment, and then turned lier eyes on the letter. It contuined the news of the death of the man to whom she had been engaged ; he had been killed inaduel. The geueral watched the effect of the Jetter in the face of his daughter; and, however much power Vaninka had over herself, so many different morse, assailed her, on learning that she ha ; become free, that slié could not entirely dissemble under the emotions by which she was t 7. Bie centr perceived it, and attributed the feeling to the love whieh he Jong since suspected his daughter entertained for the » aide-de-camip. * ' Ee ae eee cake T see that all is for the best !” ‘ How, my father ?” inquired Vaninka, thoughts, so much bitter regret, such poignant re- . “ Without doubt,” continued the general. ‘‘ Has not Foedor banished himself because he loves you 2?” * Yes,’”? murmured the young girl. ‘* Well, now he must return,” said the general. - Vaninka remained mute, her eyes fixed, and her lips trembling. At length she reiterated, ** Return 2” ** Doubtless, return,” rejoined her father. ‘‘ We shall either be very unfortuuate,’’ he continued smiling, ‘‘ or we shall soon find one in the house who knows were he is hid. Tell me, then, Vaninka— tell me the place of his exile, and [ will charge myself with the rest.” ** Nobody knows where Foedor is,” murmured Vaninka, in a hollow voice ; ‘‘ nobody, but God—nobody !” The general was astounded. - What,” said he, “has he sent no account of himself since the day he disappeared ?”” Vaninka shook her head mournfully ; her heart was so crushed that she could not speak. The general became still more grave. ““ Do you fear some misfortune, then ?”’ he said. ’ ‘I fear there is no more happiness for me in this world!” cried Vaninka, giving way to the violence of her grief; and she presently auded, ** Let me retire, my father; I am ashamed of what I bave said.’’ sas The general; who only saw in the exclamation of Vaninka an expression of regret for having suffered an avowal of her love to escape her lips, kissed his daughter’s torebhead, and permitted her to withdraw, hoping, inspite of the gloomy air with which she lad spoken of Foedor, that it was-possible to find him. In fact, he went that same day to the emperer, told him of tlic love of Foedor for his daughter, and requested him, since death had freed her from her first engagement, that he might dispose of her hand in favour of the youftg aide-de-cainp. d The emperor consented; and the general then solicited a new avouly Paul was in one of his fits of benevolence, and seemed disposed to rant it. x e The general said that for two months Foedor had disappeared, and that everybody, including Vaninka, was ignorant of the place of his retreat; and the favour lie sought was, that the emperor would order seareh to be made for him. . The emperor, on the instant, sent for the chief of the police, to give the necessary orders. Six weeks passed by, however, without leading to any result. Vaninka; since the day of the letter, was more melancholy and more gloomy thanever. Vainly, from tiie to time, did the: general endeavour to inspire her with some hope; Vaninka, on such oecasions, only shook her head and retired, and at length the general refrained from speaking to her of Foedor. But it was’ not so in the house. The young aide-de-camp was beloved by the.domestics, and, with the exception of Gregory, there was not one that was not anxious for bis welfare. Wheti. tlfey learned, tlierefore, that he liad not been sent on a mission by the general, but that he had most unaccountably disappeared, the matter becaine the constant subject of conversation in |theante-chamber, the kitchen, and ‘the stables. * 91 There was also another place where the subject in question occu- pied considerable attéution; that was, amongst the) guests of Gregory’s ‘* Red House.” “ : Indeed, ever since the day-on which he: heard of the mysterious departure, the ex-barber had his suspicions. He was quite sure of having seen Foedor enter the chamber of Vaninka, and, unless the aide-de-camp had gone out. while he (Gregory) went to seek the general, he coula not compreliend how it was that the general had not found him with Vaninka. . | One thing also appeared to have some coincidence with this event —namely, the expenses which Demetrius had incurred since that period, which expenses were very extraordinary in a slave. But this slave was the brother of the cherished foster-sister of Vaninka, so that, without being quite sure, Gregory already suspected the source whence the money came. » oil iy Another thing confirmed him still more in his suspicions, which was, that Demetrius, who had remained, not only his most faithful friend, but had become one of his best customers, never spoke of Foedor, was silent when others spoke of the young man before him, and, if he were interrogated, never made any other reply, however pressing the inquiry might be, thracPinlitel eV KS CONN