All that day I spent in speculating about Fustov, about Susanna, and
about her relations. I had a vague feeling of something like a family
drama. As far as I could judge, my friend was not indifferent to
Susanna. But she? Did she care for him? Why did she seem so unhappy? And
altogether, what sort of creature was she? These questions were
continually recurring to my mind. An obscure but strong conviction told
me that it would be no use to apply to Fustov for the solution of them.
It ended in my setting off the next day alone to Mr. Ratsch's house.
I felt all at once very uncomfortable and confused directly I found
myself in the dark little passage. 'She won't appear even, very likely,'
flashed into my mind. 'I shall have to stop with the repulsive veteran
and his cook of a wife.... And indeed, even if she does show herself,
what of it? She won't even take part in the conversation.... She was
anything but warm in her manner to me the other day. Why ever did I
come?' While I was making these reflections, the little page ran to
announce my presence, and in the adjoining room, after two or three
wondering 'Who is it? Who, do you say?' I heard the heavy shuffling of
slippers, the folding-door was slightly opened, and in the crack between
its two halves was thrust the face of Ivan Demianitch, an unkempt and
grim-looking face. It stared at me and its expression did not
immediately change.... Evidently, Mr. Ratsch did not at once recognise
me; but suddenly his cheeks grew rounder, his eyes narrower, and from
his opening mouth, there burst, together with a guffaw, the exclamation:
'Ah! my dear sir! Is it you? Pray walk in!'
I followed him all the more unwillingly, because it seemed to me that
this affable, good-humoured Mr. Ratsch was inwardly wishing me at the
devil. There was nothing to be done, however. He led me into the
drawing-room, and in the drawing-room who should be sitting but Susanna,
bending over an account-book? She glanced at me with her melancholy
eyes, and very slightly bit the finger-nails of her left hand.... It was
a habit of hers, I noticed, a habit peculiar to nervous people. There
was no one else in the room.
'You see, sir,' began Mr. Ratsch, dealing himself a smack on the haunch,
'what you've found Susanna Ivanovna and me busy upon: we're at our
accounts. My spouse has no great head for arithmetic, and I, I must own,
try to spare my eyes. I can't read without spectacles, what am I to do?
Let the young people exert themselves, ha-ha! That's the proper thing.
But there's no need of haste.... More haste, worse speed in catching
fleas, he-he!'
Susanna closed the book, and was about to leave the room.
'Wait a bit, wait a bit,' began Mr. Ratsch. 'It's no great matter if
you're not in your best dress....' (Susanna was wearing a very old,
almost childish, frock with short sleeves.) 'Our dear guest is not a
stickler for ceremony, and I should like just to clear up last week....
You don't mind?'--he addressed me. 'We needn't stand on ceremony with
you, eh?'
'Please don't put yourself out on my account!' I cried.
'To be sure, my good friend. As you're aware, the late Tsar Alexey
Nikolavitch Romanoff used to say, "Time is for business, but a minute
for recreation!" We'll devote one minute only to that same business...
ha-ha! What about that thirteen roubles and thirty kopecks?' he added in
a low voice, turning his back on me.
'Viktor took it from Eleonora Karpovna; he said that it was with your
leave,' Susanna replied, also in a low voice.
'He said... he said... my leave...' growled Ivan Demianitch. 'I'm on the
spot myself, I fancy. Might be asked. And who's had that seventeen
roubles?'
'The upholsterer.'
'Oh... the upholsterer. What's that for?' 'His bill.'
'His bill. Show me!' He pulled the book away from Susanna, and planting
a pair of round spectacles with silver rims on his nose, he began
passing his finger along the lines. 'The upholsterer,.. the
upholsterer... You'd chuck all the money out of doors! Nothing pleases
you better!... Wie die Croaten! A bill indeed! But, after all,' he added
aloud, and he turned round facing me again, and pulled the spectacles
off his nose, 'why do this now? I can go into these wretched details
later. Susanna Ivanovna, be so good as to put away that account-book,
and come back to us and enchant our kind guest's ears with your musical
accomplishments, to wit, playing on the pianoforte... Eh?'
Susanna turned away her head.
'I should be very happy,' I hastily observed; 'it would be a great
pleasure for me to hear Susanna Ivanovna play. But I would not for
anything in the world be a trouble...'
'Trouble, indeed, what nonsense! Now then, Susanna Ivanovna, eins, zwei,
drei!'
Susanna made no response, and went out.