She
listened
with a feeling of terror
and disgust.
and disgust.
Pushkin - Queen of Spades
"
"At church, perhaps, or on the street. "
The conversation was interrupted at this point, to the great regret of
the young girl. The words of Tomsky made a deep impression upon her, and
she realized how imprudently she had acted. She was thinking of all this
and a great deal more when the door of her apartment suddenly opened,
and Herman stood before her. She drew back at sight of him, trembling
violently.
"Where have you been? " she asked in a frightened whisper.
"In the bedchamber of the Countess. She is dead," was the calm reply.
"My God! What are you saying? " cried the girl.
"Furthermore, I believe that I was the cause of her death. "
The words of Tomsky flashed through Lisa's mind.
Herman sat down and told her all.
She listened with a feeling of terror
and disgust. So those passionate letters, that audacious pursuit were
not the result of tenderness and love. It was money that he desired. The
poor girl felt that she had in a sense been an accomplice in the death
of her benefactress. She began to weep bitterly. Herman regarded her in
silence.
"You are a monster! " exclaimed Lisa, drying her eyes.
"I didn't intend to kill her; the pistol was not even loaded.
"How are you going to get out of the house? " inquired Lisa. "It is
nearly daylight. I intended to show you the way to a secret staircase,
while the Countess was asleep, as we would have to cross her chamber.
Now I am afraid to do so. "
"Direct me, and I will find the way alone," replied Herman.
She gave him minute instructions and a key with which to open the street
door.
"At church, perhaps, or on the street. "
The conversation was interrupted at this point, to the great regret of
the young girl. The words of Tomsky made a deep impression upon her, and
she realized how imprudently she had acted. She was thinking of all this
and a great deal more when the door of her apartment suddenly opened,
and Herman stood before her. She drew back at sight of him, trembling
violently.
"Where have you been? " she asked in a frightened whisper.
"In the bedchamber of the Countess. She is dead," was the calm reply.
"My God! What are you saying? " cried the girl.
"Furthermore, I believe that I was the cause of her death. "
The words of Tomsky flashed through Lisa's mind.
Herman sat down and told her all.
She listened with a feeling of terror
and disgust. So those passionate letters, that audacious pursuit were
not the result of tenderness and love. It was money that he desired. The
poor girl felt that she had in a sense been an accomplice in the death
of her benefactress. She began to weep bitterly. Herman regarded her in
silence.
"You are a monster! " exclaimed Lisa, drying her eyes.
"I didn't intend to kill her; the pistol was not even loaded.
"How are you going to get out of the house? " inquired Lisa. "It is
nearly daylight. I intended to show you the way to a secret staircase,
while the Countess was asleep, as we would have to cross her chamber.
Now I am afraid to do so. "
"Direct me, and I will find the way alone," replied Herman.
She gave him minute instructions and a key with which to open the street
door.
