第21章

“Atthismomentfoldingdoorswerethrownopen，andsupperwasannounced。Iofferedmyarm，sheroseandtookitinsilence。 Thissilenceshemaintainedduringthefirstpartofthemeal，despiteherhusband’sbrilliantconversationandalmostuproariousspirits。Butbyandbyabrightcolormountedtohercheeksandlustertohereyes。IsupposeyouwillthinkmehorriblyunpoeticalifIaddthatshedrankseveralglassesofchampagneoneaftertheother，afactwhichperhapsmayaccountforthechange。 “Atanyrateshespokeandlaughedandlookedlovely，andIdidnotwonderthatthebaroncouldhardlykeephiseyesoffher。Butwhetheritwasherwifelyanxietyornot——itwasevidenthermindwasnotateasethroughitall，andIfanciedthatherbrightnesswasfeverish，hermerrimentslightlyhysterical。 “Aftersupper——anexquisiteoneitwas——weadjournedtogether，inforeignfashion，tothedrawing-room；thebaronthrewhimselfintoachairand，somewhatwiththeairofapasha，demandedmusic。Hewasflushed；theveinsofhisforeheadwereswollenandstoodoutlikecords；thewinedrunkattablewaspotent:eventhroughmyphlegmaticframeitranhotly。 “Shehesitatedamomentortwo，thendocilelysatdowntothepiano。ThatshecouldsingIhavealreadymadeclear:howshecouldsing，withwhatpathos，passion，aswellasperfectart，I hadneverrealizedbefore。 “Whenthesongwasendedsheremainedforawhile，witheyeslostindistance，verystill，saveforherquickbreathing。Itwasclearshewasmovedbythemusic；indeedshemusthavethrownherwholesoulintoit。 “Atfirstwe，theaudience，paidhertherarecomplimentofsilence。Thenthebaronbrokeforthintoloudapplause。’Brava，brava！thatwasreallysaidconamore。Adeliciouslovesong，delicious——butFrench！YoumustsingoneofourSlavmelodiesforMarshfieldbeforeyouallowustogoandsmoke。’ “Shestartedfromherreveriewithaflush，andafterapausestruckslowlyafewsimplechords，thenbeganoneofthosestrangelysweet，yetintenselypatheticRussianairs，whichgiveoneacuriousrevelationoftheprofound，endlessmelancholylurkinginthenationalmind。 “’Whatdoyouthinkofit？’askedthebaronofmewhenitceased。 “’WhatIhavealwaysthoughtofsuchmusic——itisthatofahopelesspeople；poetical，crushed，andresigned。’ “Hegavealoudlaugh。’Heartheanalyst，thepsychologue——why，man，itisalovesong！Isitpossiblethatwe，uncivilized，aretruerrealiststhanourhyperculturedWesternneighbors？Havewegonetotherootofthematter，inoursimpleway？’ “Thebaronessgotupabruptly。Shelookedwhiteandspent；therewerebistercirclesroundhereyes。 “’Iamtired，’shesaid，withdrylips。’Youwillexcuseme，Mr。 Marshfield，Imustreallygotobed。’ “’Gotobed，gotobed，’criedherhusbandgayly。Then，quotinginRussianfromthesongshehadjustsung:’Sleep，mylittlesoftwhitedove:mylittleinnocenttenderlamb！’Shehurriedfromtheroom。Thebaronlaughedagain，and，takingmefamiliarlybythearm，ledmetohisownsetofapartmentsforthepromisedsmoke。 Heensconcedmeinanarmchair，placedcigarsofeverydescriptionandaTurkishpipereadytomyhand，andalittletableonwhichstoodcut-glassflasksandbeakersintemptingarray。 “AfterIhadselectedmycigarwithsomeprecautions，Iglancedathimoveracarelessremark，andwasstartledtoseeasuddenalterationinhiswholelookandattitude。 “’Youwillforgiveme，Marshfield，’hesaid，ashecaughtmyeye，speakingwithspasmodicpoliteness。’ItismorethanprobablethatIshallhavetosetoutuponthischaseIspokeofto-night，andI mustnowgoandchangemyclothes，thatImaybereadytostartatanymoment。Thisisthehourwhenitismostlikelythesehellbeastsaretobegotat。Youhaveallyouwant，Ihope，’ interruptinganoutbreakofferocitybyaneffortafterhisformercourtesy。 “Itwascurioustowatchthemanoftheworldstrugglingwiththeprimitiveman。 “’But，baron，’saidI，’Idonotatallseethefunofstickingathomelikethis。Youknowmypassionforwitnessingeverythingnew，strange，andoutlandish。Youwillsurelynotrefusemesuchanopportunityforobservationasamidnightwolfraid。Iwilldomybestnottobeinthewayifyouwilltakemewithyou。’ “Atfirstitseemedasifhehadsomedifficultyinrealizingthedriftofmywords，hewassoengrossedbysomeinnerthought。ButasIrepeatedthem，hegaveventtoaloudcachinnation。 “’Byheaven！Ilikeyourspirit，’heexclaimed，clappingmestronglyontheshoulder。’Ofcourseyoushallcome。Youshall，’ herepeated，’andIpromiseyouasight，ahuntsuchasyouneverheardordreamedof——youwillbeabletotelltheminEnglandthesortofthingwecandohereinthatline——suchwolvesarerarequarry，’headded，lookingslylyatme，’andIhaveanewplanforgettingatthem。’ “Therewasalongpause，andthenthereroseinthestillnesstheunearthlyhowlingofthebaron’shounds，acheerfulsoundwhichonlytheirowner’ssomewhatloudconverseoftheeveninghadkeptfrombecomingexcessivelyobtrusive。 “’Harkatthem——thebeauties！’criedhe，showinghisshort，strongteeth，pointedlikeadog’sinawidegrinofanticipativedelight。 ’Theyhavebeenkeptonprettyshortcommons，poorthings！Theyarehungry。Bytheway，Marshfield，youcansittighttoahorse，Itrust？Ifyouweretorolloff，youknow，thesesplendidfellows——theywouldchopyouupinasecond。Theywouldchopyouup，’herepeatedunctuously，’snap，crunch，gobble，andtherewouldbeanendofyou！’ “’IfIcouldnotrideadecenthorsewithoutbeingthrown，’I retorted，alittlestungbyhismanner，’aftermyrecentthreemonths’torturewiththeGuardCossacks，Ishouldindeedbeahopelesssubject。Donotthinkoffrighteningmefromtheexploit，butsayfranklyifmycompanywouldbedispleasing。’ “’Tut！’hesaid，wavinghishandimpatiently，’itisyouraffair。 Ihavewarnedyou。Goandgetreadyifyouwanttocome。Timepresses。’ “Iwasdeterminedtobeofthefray；mybloodwasup。Ihavehintedthatthebaron’sTokayhadstirredit。 “Iwenttomyroomandhurriedlydonnedclothesmoresuitableforroughnightwork。Mylastcarewastoslipintomypocketsabraceofdouble-barreledpistolswhichformedpartofmytravelingkit。 WhenIreturnedIfoundthebaronalreadybootedandspurred；thiswithoutmetaphor。Hewasstretchedfulllengthonthedivan，anddidnotspeakasIcamein，orevenlookatme。Chewinganunlitcigar，witheyesfixedontheceiling，hewasevidentlyfollowingsomeabsorbingtrainofideas。 “Thesilencewasprofound；timewentby；itgrewoppressive；atlength，weariedout，Ifell，overmychibouque，intoadozefilledwithpuzzlingvisions，outofwhichIwasawakenedwithastart。 Mycompanionhadsprungup，verylightly，tohisfeet。Inhisthroatwasanodd，half-suppressedcry，grewsometohear。Hestoodontiptoe，witheyesfixed，asthoughlookingthroughthewall，andIdistinctlysawhisearspointintheintensityofhislistening。 “Afteramoment，withhasty，noiselessenergy，andwithouttheslightestceremony，heblewthelampsout，drewbacktheheavycurtainsandthrewthetallwindowwideopen。Arushoficyair，andthebrightraysofthemoon——gibbous，Iremember，inherthirdquarter——filledtheroom。Outsidethemisthadcondensed，andtheviewwasunrestrictedoverthewhiteplainsatthefootofthehill。 “Thebaronstoodmotionlessintheopenwindow，calloustothecoldinwhich，afteraminute，Icouldhardlykeepmyteethfromchattering，hisheadbentforward，stilllistening。Ilistenedtoo，with’allmyears，’butcouldnotcatchasound；indeedthesilenceoverthegreatexpanseofsnowmighthavebeencalledawful；eventhedogsweremute。 “Presently，far，faraway，cameafainttinkleofbells；sofaint，atfirst，thatIthoughtitwasbutfancy，thendistincter。Itwasevenmoreeeriethanthesilence，Ithought，thoughIknewitcouldcomebutfromsomepassingsleigh。Allatoncethatceased，andagainmydullersensescouldperceivenothing，thoughIsawbymyhost’scraningneckthathewasmoreonthealertthanever。ButatlastItooheardoncemore，thistimenotbells，butasitwerethetreadofhorsesmuffledbythesnow，intermittentanddull，yetdrawingnearer。AndthenintheinnersilenceofthegreathouseitseemedtomeIcaughtthenoiseofclosingdoors；butherethehounds，asifsuddenlybecomingalivetosomedisturbance，raisedthesamefearsomeconcertofyellsandbarkswithwhichtheyhadgreetedmyarrival，andlisteningbecameuseless。 “Ihadrisentomyfeet。Myhost，turningfromthewindow，seizedmyshoulderwithafiercegrip，andbademe’holdmynoise’；forasecondortwoIstoodmotionlessunderhisirontalons，thenhereleasedmewithanexultantwhisper:“Nowforourchase！“andmadeforthedoorwithaspring。Hastilygulpingdownamouthfulofarrackfromoneofthebottlesonthetable，Ifollowedhim，and，guidedbythesoundofhisfootstepsbeforeme，gropedmywaythroughpassagesasblackasErebus。 “Afteratime，whichseemedalongone，asmalldoorwasflungopeninfront，andIsawKossowskiglideintothemoonlitcourtyardandcrossthesquare。WhenItoocameouthewasdisappearingintothegapingdarknessoftheopenstabledoor，andthereIovertookhim。 “Amanwhoseemedtohavebeensleepinginacornerjumpedupatourentrance，andledoutahorsereadysaddled。Inobediencetoagrufforderfromhismaster，asthelattermounted，hethenbroughtforwardanotherwhichhehadevidentlythoughttoridehimselfandheldthestirrupforme。 “Wecamedelicatelyforth，andtheCossackhurriedlybarredthegreatdoorbehindus。Icaughtaglimpseofhisworn，scarredfacebythemoonlight，ashepeepedafterusforasecondbeforeshuttinghimselfin；itwasstrickenwithterror。 “Thebarontrottedbrisklytowardthekennels，fromwhencetherewasnowissuingatrulyinfernalclangor，and，asmysteedfollowedsuitofhisownaccord，Icouldseehowheproceededdexterouslytounboltthegateswithoutdismounting，whilethebeastswithindashedthemselvesagainstthemandtorethegroundintheirfuryofimpatience。 “Hesmiled，asheswungbackthebarriersatlast，andhis’beauties’cameforth。Sevenoreightmonstrousbrutes，houndsofakindunknowntome:fulvousandsleekofcoat，tallontheirlegs，square-headed，long-tailed，deep-chested；withterriblejawsslobberingineagerness。Theyleapedaroundandupatus，muchtoourhorses’distaste。Kossowski，stillsmiling，lashedatthemunsparinglywithhishuntingwhip，andtheyresponded，notwithyellsofpain，butwithsnarlsoffury。 “Managinghisrestlesssteedandhiscruelwhipwithconsummateease，myhostdrovetheunrulycrewbeforehimoutoftheprecincts，thenhaltedandbentdownfromhissaddletoexaminesomeslightprintsinthesnowwhichled，notthewayIhadcome，buttowardwhatseemedanotheravenue。Inasecondortwothehoundsweregatheredroundthisspot，theirgreatsnake-liketailsquivering，nosetoearth，yelpingwithexcitement。Ihadsomeadotomanagemyhorse，andmyeyesightwasfarfrombeingaskeenasthebaron’s，butIhadthennodoubthehadcomealreadyuponwolftracks，andIshudderedmentally，thinkingofthesleighbells。 “SuddenlyKossowskiraisedhimselffromhisstrainedposition； underhislowfurcaphisface，withitsfixedsmile，lookedscarcelyhumaninthewhitelight:andthenwebrokeintoahandcanterjustasthehoundsdashed，inacompactbody，alongthetrail。 “Butwehadnotgonemorethanafewhundredyardsbeforetheybegantofalter，thenstraggled，stoppedandranbackandaboutwithdismalcries。Itwascleartometheyhadlostthescent。Mycompanionreinedinhishorse，andmine，luckilyawell-trainedbrute，haltedofhimself。 “Wehadreachedabendinabroadavenueoffirsandlarches，andjustwherewestood，andwherethehoundseverreturnedandmetnosetonoseinfranticconclave，thesnowwastrampledandsoiled，andalittlefartheronplanedinagreatsweep，asifbyaturningsleigh。Beyondwasadouble-furrowedtrackofskaitsandregularhoofprintsleadingfaraway。 “BeforeIhadtimetoreflectuponthebearingofthisunexpectedinterruption，Kossowski，asifsuddenlypossessedbyadevil，felluponthehoundswithhiswhip，floggingthemuponthenewtrack，utteringthewhilethemostsavagecriesIhaveeverheardissuefromhumanthroat。Thedisappointedbeastswerenothingloathtoseizeuponanothertrail；afterasecondofhesitationtheyhadunderstood，andwereoffuponitatatearingpace，weafterthematthebestspeedofourhorses。 “Someunformedideathatweweregoingtoescort，orrescue，benightedtravelersflickereddimlyinmymindasIgallopedthroughthenightair；butwhenImanagedtoapproachmycompanionandcalledouttohimforexplanation，heonlyturnedhalfroundandgrinnedatme。 “Beforeuslaynowthewhiteplain，scintillatingunderthehighmoon’srays。Thatlightisdeceptive；Icouldbesureofnothinguponthewideexpansebutofthedark，leapingfiguresofthehoundsalreadyspreadoutinastragglingline，somerightahead，othersjustinfrontofus。Inashorttimealsotheicywind，cuttingmyfacemercilesslyasweincreasedourpace，wellnighblindedmewithtearsofcold。