He found her in the shop with her mother. Frau Lenore was stooping
down, measuring with a big folding foot-rule the space between the
windows. On seeing Sanin, she stood up, and greeted him cheerfully,
though with a shade of embarrassment.
“What you said yesterday,” she began, “has set my head in a whirl with
ideas as to how we could improve our shop. Here, I fancy we might put a
couple of cupboards with shelves of looking-glass. You know, that’s the
fashion nowadays. And then …”
“Excellent, excellent,” Sanin broke in, “we must think it all over….
But come here, I want to tell you something.” He took Frau Lenore and
Gemma by the arm, and led them into the next room. Frau Lenore was
alarmed, and the foot-rule slipped out of her hands. Gemma too was
almost frightened, but she took an intent look at Sanin, and was
reassured. His face, though preoccupied, expressed at the same time
keen self-confidence and determination. He asked both the women to sit
down, while he remained standing before them, and gesticulating with
his hands and ruffling up his hair, he told them all his story; his
meeting with Polozov, his proposed expedition to Wiesbaden, the chance
of selling the estate. “Imagine my happiness,” he cried in conclusion:
“things have taken such a turn that I may even, perhaps, not have to go
to Russia! And we can have our wedding much sooner than I had
anticipated!”
“When must you go?” asked Gemma.
“To-day, in an hour’s time; my friend has ordered a carriage—he will
take me.”
“You will write to us?”
“At once! directly I have had a talk with this lady, I will write.”
“This lady, you say, is very rich?” queried the practical Frau Lenore.
“Exceedingly rich! her father was a millionaire, and he left everything
to her.”
“Everything—to her alone? Well, that’s so much the better for you. Only
mind, don’t let your property go too cheap! Be sensible and firm. Don’t
let yourself be carried away! I understand your wishing to be Gemma’s
husband as soon as possible … but prudence before everything! Don’t
forget: the better price you get for your estate, the more there will
be for you two, and for your children.”
Gemma turned away, and Sanin gave another wave of his hand. “You can
rely on my prudence, Frau Lenore! Indeed, I shan’t do any bargaining
with her. I shall tell her the fair price; if she’ll give it—good; if
not, let her go.”
“Do you know her—this lady?” asked Gemma.
“I have never seen her.”
“And when will you come back?”
“If our negotiations come to nothing—the day after to-morrow; if they
turn out favourably, perhaps I may have to stay a day or two longer. In
any case I shall not linger a minute beyond what’s necessary. I am
leaving my heart here, you know! But I have said what I had to say to
you, and I must run home before setting off too…. Give me your hand for
luck, Frau Lenore—that’s what we always do in Russia.”
“The right or the left?”
“The left, it’s nearer the heart. I shall reappear the day after
to-morrow with my shield or on it! Something tells me I shall come back
in triumph! Good-bye, my good dear ones….”
He embraced and kissed Frau Lenore, but he asked Gemma to follow him
into her room—for just a minute—as he must tell her something of great
importance. He simply wanted to say good-bye to her alone. Frau Lenore
saw that, and felt no curiosity as to the matter of such great
importance.
Sanin had never been in Gemma’s room before. All the magic of love, all
its fire and rapture and sweet terror, seemed to flame up and burst
into his soul, directly he crossed its sacred threshold…. He cast a
look of tenderness about him, fell at the sweet girl’s feet and pressed
his face against her waist….
“You are mine,” she whispered: “you will be back soon?”
“I am yours. I will come back,” he declared, catching his breath.
“I shall be longing for you back, my dear one!”
A few instants later Sanin was running along the street to his lodging.
He did not even notice that Pantaleone, all dishevelled, had darted out
of the shop-door after him, and was shouting something to him and was
shaking, as though in menace, his lifted hand.
Exactly at a quarter to one Sanin presented himself before Polozov. The
carriage with four horses was already standing at the hotel gates. On
seeing Sanin, Polozov merely commented, “Oh! you’ve made up your mind?”
and putting on his hat, cloak, and over-shoes, and stuffing cotton-wool
into his ears, though it was summer-time, went out on to the steps. The
waiters, by his directions, disposed all his numerous purchases in the
inside of the carriage, lined the place where he was to sit with silk
cushions, bags, and bundles, put a hamper of provisions for his feet to
rest on, and tied a trunk on to the box. Polozov paid with a liberal
hand, and supported by the deferential door-keeper, whose face was
still respectful, though he was unseen behind him, he climbed gasping
into the carriage, sat down, disarranged everything about him
thoroughly, took out and lighted a cigar, and only then extended a
finger to Sanin, as though to say, “Get in, you too!” Sanin placed
himself beside him. Polozov sent orders by the door-keeper to the
postillion to drive carefully—if he wanted drinks; the carriage steps
grated, the doors slammed, and the carriage rolled off.