Chvabrine began to fumble in his pockets, and ended by
declaring
he had
forgotten the key.
forgotten the key.
Pushkin - Daughter of the Commandant
"
"Take me to her," said the usurper, rising.
It was impossible to hesitate. Chvabrine led Pugatchef to Marya
Ivanofna's room. I followed them. Chvabrine stopped on the stairs.
"Tzar," said he, "you can constrain me to do as you list, but do not
permit a stranger to enter my wife's room. "
"You are married! " cried I, ready to tear him in pieces.
"Hush! " interrupted Pugatchef, "it is my concern. And you," continued
he, turning towards Chvabrine, "do not swagger; whether she be your wife
or no, I take whomsoever I please to see her. Your lordship, follow me. "
At the door of the room Chvabrine again stopped, and said, in a broken
voice--
"Tzar, I warn you she is feverish, and for three days she has been
delirious. "
"Open! " said Pugatchef.
Chvabrine began to fumble in his pockets, and ended by declaring he had
forgotten the key.
Pugatchef gave a push to the door with his foot, the lock gave way, the
door opened, and we went in. I cast a rapid glance round the room and
nearly fainted. Upon the floor, in a coarse peasant's dress, sat Marya,
pale and thin, with her hair unbound. Before her stood a jug of water
and a bit of bread. At the sight of me she trembled and gave a piercing
cry. I cannot say what I felt. Pugatchef looked sidelong at Chvabrine,
and said to him with a bitter smile--
"Your hospital is well-ordered! " Then, approaching Marya, "Tell me, my
little dove, why your husband punishes you thus? "
"My husband! " rejoined she; "he is not my husband. Never will I be his
wife. I am resolved rather to die, and I shall die if I be not
delivered. "
Pugatchef cast a furious glance upon Chvabrine.
"You dared deceive me," cried he. "Do you know, villain, what you
deserve?
"Take me to her," said the usurper, rising.
It was impossible to hesitate. Chvabrine led Pugatchef to Marya
Ivanofna's room. I followed them. Chvabrine stopped on the stairs.
"Tzar," said he, "you can constrain me to do as you list, but do not
permit a stranger to enter my wife's room. "
"You are married! " cried I, ready to tear him in pieces.
"Hush! " interrupted Pugatchef, "it is my concern. And you," continued
he, turning towards Chvabrine, "do not swagger; whether she be your wife
or no, I take whomsoever I please to see her. Your lordship, follow me. "
At the door of the room Chvabrine again stopped, and said, in a broken
voice--
"Tzar, I warn you she is feverish, and for three days she has been
delirious. "
"Open! " said Pugatchef.
Chvabrine began to fumble in his pockets, and ended by declaring he had
forgotten the key.
Pugatchef gave a push to the door with his foot, the lock gave way, the
door opened, and we went in. I cast a rapid glance round the room and
nearly fainted. Upon the floor, in a coarse peasant's dress, sat Marya,
pale and thin, with her hair unbound. Before her stood a jug of water
and a bit of bread. At the sight of me she trembled and gave a piercing
cry. I cannot say what I felt. Pugatchef looked sidelong at Chvabrine,
and said to him with a bitter smile--
"Your hospital is well-ordered! " Then, approaching Marya, "Tell me, my
little dove, why your husband punishes you thus? "
"My husband! " rejoined she; "he is not my husband. Never will I be his
wife. I am resolved rather to die, and I shall die if I be not
delivered. "
Pugatchef cast a furious glance upon Chvabrine.
"You dared deceive me," cried he. "Do you know, villain, what you
deserve?
