‘They are gone!’ she bawled, before I had time to inquire whether Gagin
was at home.
‘Gone?…’ I repeated. ‘What do you mean by gone? Where?’
‘They went away this morning at six o’clock, and didn’t say where. Wait
a minute, I believe you’re Mr. N----, aren’t you?’
‘I’m Mr. N----, yes.’
‘The mistress has a letter for you.’ The maid went upstairs and
returned with a letter. ‘Here it is, if you please, sir.’
‘But it’s impossible … how can it be?…’ I was beginning. The servant
stared blankly at me, and began sweeping.
I opened the letter. Gagin had written it; there was not one word from
Acia. He began with begging me not to be angry at his sudden departure;
he felt sure that, on mature consideration, I should approve of his
decision. He could find no other way out of a position which might
become difficult and dangerous. ‘Yesterday evening,’ he wrote, ‘while
we were both waiting in silence for Acia, I realised conclusively
the necessity of separation. There are prejudices I respect; I can
understand that it’s impossible for you to marry Acia. She has told me
everything; for the sake of her peace of mind, I was bound to yield
to her reiterated urgent entreaties.’ At the end of the letter he
expressed his regret that our acquaintance had come to such a speedy
termination, wished me every happiness, shook my hand in friendship,
and besought me not to try to seek them out.
‘What prejudices?’ I cried aloud, as though he could hear me; ‘what
rubbish! What right has he to snatch her from me?…’ I clutched at my
head.
The servant began loudly calling for her mistress; her alarm forced me
to control myself. One idea was aflame within me; to find them, to find
them wherever they might be. To accept this blow, to resign myself to
such a calamity was impossible. I learnt from the landlady that they
had got on to a steamer at six o’clock in the morning, and were going
down the Rhine. I went to the ticket-office; there I was told they had
taken tickets for Cologne. I was going home to pack up at once and
follow them. I happened to pass the house of Frau Luise.… Suddenly I
heard some one calling me. I raised my head, and at the window of the
very room where I had met Acia the day before, I saw the burgomaster’s
widow. She smiled her loathsome smile, and called me. I turned away,
and was going on; but she called after me that she had something for
me. These words brought me to a halt, and I went into her house. How
can I describe my feelings when I saw that room again?…
‘By rights,’ began the old woman, showing me a little note; ‘I oughtn’t
to have given you this unless you’d come to me of your own accord, but
you are such a fine young man. Take it.’