After　a　short　silence　Yanko　continued。
  〃She　is　coming　with　me。　It　is　impossible　for　her　to　remain　here。　Tell　the　old　woman　that　it　is　time　for　her　to　die；　she　has　been　here　a　long　time；　and　the　line　must　be　drawn　somewhere。　As　for　us；　she　will　never　see　us　any　more。〃
  〃And　I？〃　said　the　blind　boy　in　a　plaintive　voice。
  〃What　use　have　I　for　you？〃　was　the　answer。
  In　the　meantime　my　Undine　had　sprung　into　the　boat。　She　beckoned　to　her　companion　with　her　hand。　He　placed　something　in　the　blind　boy's　hand　and　added：
  〃There；　buy　yourself　some　gingerbreads。〃
  〃Is　this　all？〃　said　the　blind　boy。
  〃Well；　here　is　some　more。〃
  The　money　fell　and　jingled　as　it　struck　the　rock。
  The　blind　boy　did　not　pick　it　up。　Yanko　took　his　seat　in　the　boat；　the　wind　was　blowing　from　the　shore；　they　hoisted　the　little　sail　and　sped　rapidly　away。　For　a　long　time　the　white　sail　gleamed　in　the　moonlight　amid　the　dark　waves。　Still　the　blind　boy　remained　seated　upon　the　shore；　and　then　I　heard　something　which　sounded　like　sobbing。　The　blind　boy　was；　in　fact；　weeping；　and　for　a　long；　long　time　his　tears　flowed。　。　。　I　grew　heavy…hearted。　For　what　reason　should　fate　have　thrown　me　into　the　peaceful　circle　of　honourable　smugglers？　Like　a　stone　cast　into　a　smooth　well；　I　had　disturbed　their　quietude；　and　I　barely　escaped　going　to　the　bottom　like　a　stone。
  I　returned　home。　In　the　hall　the　burnt…out　candle　was　spluttering　on　a　wooden　platter；　and　my　Cossack；　contrary　to　orders；　was　fast　asleep；　with　his　gun　held　in　both　hands。　I　left　him　at　rest；　took　the　candle；　and　entered　the　hut。　Alas！　my　cashbox；　my　sabre　with　the　silver　chasing；　my　Daghestan　dagger　　the　gift　of　a　friend　　all　had　vanished！　It　was　then　that　I　guessed　what　articles　the　cursed　blind　boy　had　been　dragging　along。　Roughly　shaking　the　Cossack；　I　woke　him　up；　rated　him；　and　lost　my　temper。　But　what　was　the　good　of　that？　And　would　it　not　have　been　ridiculous　to　com…　plain　to　the　authorities　that　I　had　been　robbed　by　a　blind　boy　and　all　but　drowned　by　an　eighteen…year…old　girl？
  Thank　heaven　an　opportunity　of　getting　away　presented　itself　in　the　morning；　and　I　left　Taman。
  What　became　of　the　old　woman　and　the　poor　blind　boy　I　know　not。　And；　besides；　what　are　the　joys　and　sorrows　of　mankind　to　me　　me；　a　travelling　officer；　and　one；　moreover；　with　an　order　for　post…horses　on　Government　business？
  BOOK　IV　　THE　SECOND　EXTRACT　FROM　PECHORIN'S　DIARY
  THE　FATALIST
  I　ONCE　happened　to　spend　a　couple　of　weeks　in　a　Cossack　village　on　our　left　flank。　　A　battalion　of　infantry　was　stationed　there；　and　it　was　the　custom　of　the　officers　to　meet　at　each　other's　quarters　in　turn　and　play　cards　in　the　evening。
  On　one　occasion　　it　was　at　Major　S's　　finding　our　game　of　Boston　not　sufficiently　ab…　sorbing；　we　threw　the　cards　under　the　table　and　sat　on　for　a　long　time；　talking。　　The　con…　versation；　for　once　in　a　way；　was　interesting。　The　subject　was　the　Mussulman　tradition　that　a　man's　fate　is　written　in　heaven；　and　we　dis…　cussed　the　fact　that　it　was　gaining　many　votaries；　even　amongst　our　own　countrymen。　　Each　of　us　related　various　extraordinary　occurrences；　pro　or　contra。
  〃What　you　have　been　saying；　gentlemen；　proves　nothing；〃　said　the　old　major。　　〃I　presume　there　is　not　one　of　you　who　has　actually　been　a　witness　of　the　strange　events　which　you　are　citing　in　support　of　your　opinions？〃
  〃Not　one；　of　course；〃　said　many　of　the　guests。　〃But　we　have　heard　of　them　from　trustworthy　people。〃　。　。　。
  〃It　is　all　nonsense！〃　someone　said。　　〃Where　are　the　trustworthy　people　who　have　seen　the　Register　in　which　the　appointed　hour　of　our　death　is　recorded？　。　。　。　And　if　predestination　really　exists；　why　are　free　will　and　reason　granted　us？　　Why　are　we　obliged　to　render　an　account　of　our　actions？〃
  At　that　moment　an　officer　who　was　sitting　in　a　corner　of　the　room　stood　up；　and；　coming　slowly　to　the　table；　surveyed　us　all　with　a　quiet　and　solemn　glance。　　He　was　a　native　of　Servia；　as　was　evident　from　his　name。
  The　outward　appearance　of　Lieutenant　Vulich　was　quite　in　keeping　with　his　character。　　His　height；　swarthy　complexion；　black　hair；　piercing　black　eyes；　large　but　straight　nose　　an　attribute　of　his　nation　　and　the　cold　and　melancholy　smile　which　ever　hovered　around　his　lips；　all　seemed　to　concur　in　lending　him　the　appearance　of　a　man　apart；　incapable　of　reciprocating　the　thoughts　and　passions　of　those　whom　fate　gave　him　for　companions。
  He　was　brave；　talked　little；　but　sharply；　confided　his　thoughts　and　family　secrets　to　no　one；　drank　hardly　a　drop　of　wine；　and　never　dangled　after　the　young　Cossack　girls；　whose　charm　it　is　difficult　to　realise　without　having　seen　them。　　It　was　said；　however；　that　the　colonel's　wife　was　not　indifferent　to　those　ex…　pressive　eyes　of　his；　but　he　was　seriously　angry　if　any　hint　on　the　subject　was　made。
  There　was　only　one　passion　which　he　did　not　conceal　　the　passion　for　gambling。　　At　the　green　table　he　would　become　oblivious　of　everything。　He　usually　lost；　but　his　constant　ill　success　only　aroused　his　obstinacy。　　It　was　related　that；　on　one　occasion；　during　a　nocturnal　expedition；　he　was　keeping　the　bank　on　a　pillow；　and　had　a　terrific　run　of　luck。　　Suddenly　shots　rang　out。　　The　alarm　was　sounded；　all　but　Vulich　jumped　up　and　rushed　to　arms。
  〃Stake；　va　banque！〃　he　cried　to　one　of　the　most　ardent　gamblers。
  〃Seven；〃　the　latter　answered　as　he　hurried　off。
  Notwithstanding　the　general　confusion；　Vulich　calmly　finished　the　deal　　seven　was　the　card。　By　the　time　he　reached　the　cordon　a　violent　fusillade　was　in　progress。　　Vulich　did　not　trouble　himself　about　the　bullets　or　the　sabres　of　the　Chechenes；　but　sought　for　the　lucky　gambler。
  〃Seven　it　was！〃　he　cried　out；　as　at　length　he　perceived　him　in　the　cordon　of　skirmishers　who　were　beginning　to　dislodge　the　enemy　from　the　wood；　and　going　up　to　him；　he　drew　out　his　purse　and　pocket…book　and　handed　them　to　the　winner；　notwithstanding　the　latter's　objections　on　the　score　of　the　inconvenience　of　the　payment。　That　unpleasant　duty　discharged；　Vulich　dashed　forward；　carried　the　soldiers　along　after　him；　and；　to　the　very　end　of　the　affair；　fought　the　Chechenes　with　the　utmost　coolness。
  When　Lieutenant　Vulich　came　up　to　the　table；　we　all　became　silent；　expecting　to　hear；　as　usual；　something　original。
  〃Gentlemen！〃　he　said　　and　his　voice　was　quiet　though　lower　in　tone　than　usual　　〃gentle…　men；　what　is　the　good　of　futile　discussions？　You　wish　for　proofs？　　I　propose　that　we　try　the　experiment　on　ourselves：　whether　a　man　can　of　his　own　accord　dispose　of　his　life；　or　whether　the　fateful　moment　is　appointed　beforehand　for　each　of　us。　　Who　is　agreeable？〃
  〃Not　I。　　Not　I；〃　came　from　all　sides。
  〃There's　a　queer　fellow　for　you！　　He　does　get　strange　ideas　into　his　head！〃
  〃I　propose　a　wager；〃　I　said　in　jest。
  〃What　sort　of　wager？〃
  〃I　maintain　that　there　is　no　such　thing　as　predestination；〃　I　said；　scattering　on　the　table　a　score　or　so　of　ducats　　all　I　had　in　my　pocket。
  〃Done；〃　answered　Vulich　in　a　hollow　voice。　〃Major；　you　will　be　judge。　　Here　are　fifteen　ducats；　the　remaining　five　you　owe　me；　kindly　add　them　to　the　others。〃
  〃Very　well；〃　said　the　major；　〃though；　indeed；　I　do　not　understand　what　is　the　question　at　issue　and　how　you　will　decide　it！〃
  Without　a　word　Vulich　went　into　the　major's　bedroom；　and　we　followed　him。　　He　went　up　to　the　wall　on　which　the　major's　weapons　were　hang…　ing；　and　took　down　at　random　one　of　the　pistols　　of　which　there　were　several　of　different　cali…　bres。　　We　were　still　in　the　dark　as　to　what　he　meant　to　do。　　But；　when　he　cocked　the　pistol　and　sprinkled　powder　in　the　pan；　several　of　the　officers；　crying　out　in　spite　of　themselves；　seized　him　by　the　arms。
  〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　they　exclaimed。　〃This　is　madness！〃
  〃Gentlemen！〃　he　said　slowly；　disengaging　his　arm。　　〃Who　would　like　to　pay　twenty　ducats　for　me？〃
  They　were　silent　and　drew　away。
  Vulich　went　into　the　other　room　and　sat　by　the　table；　we　all　followed　him。　　With　a　sign　he　invited　us　to　sit　round　him。　　We　obeyed　in　silence　　at　that　moment　he　had　acquired　a　certain　mysterious　authority　over　us。　　I　stared　fixedly　into　his　face；　but　he　met　my　scrutinising　gaze　with　a　quiet　and　steady　glance；　and　his　pallid　lips　smiled。　　But；　notwithstanding　his　composure；　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　could　read　the　stamp　of　death　upon　his　pale　countenance。　　I　have　noticed　　and　many　old　soldiers　have　cor…　roborated　my　observation　　that　a　man　who　is　to　die　in　a　few　hours　frequently　bears　on　his　face　a　certain　strange　stamp　of　inevitable　fate；　so　that　it　is　difficult　for　practised　eyes　to　be　mistaken。
  〃You　will　die　to…day！〃　I　said　to　Vulich。
  He　turned　towards　me　rapidly；　but　answered　slowly　and　quietly：
  〃May　be　so；　may　be　not。〃　。　。　。
  Then；　addressing　himself　to　the　major；　he　asked：
  〃Is　the　pistol　loaded？〃
  The　major；　in　the　confusion；　could　not　quite　remember。
  〃There；　that　will　do；　Vulich！〃　exclaimed　somebody。　　〃Of　course　it　must　be　loaded；　if　it　was　one　of　those　hanging　on　the　wall　there　over　our　heads。　　What　a　man　you　are　for　joking！〃
  〃A　silly　joke；　too！〃　struck　in　another。
  〃I　wager　fifty　rubles　to　five　that　the　pistol　is　not　loaded！〃　cried　a　third。
  A　new　bet　was　made。
  I　was　beginning　to　get　tired　of　it