e　appointed　number　of　glasses　of　Narzan　water；　and；　after　sauntering　a　few　times　about　the　long　linden　avenue；　I　met　Vera's　husband；　who　had　just　arrived　from　Pyati…　gorsk。　　He　took　my　arm　and　we　went　to　the　restaurant　for　breakfast。　　He　was　dreadfully　un…　easy　about　his　wife。
  〃What　a　terrible　fright　she　had　last　night；〃　he　said。　　〃Of　course；　it　was　bound　to　happen　just　at　the　very　time　when　I　was　absent。〃
  We　sat　down　to　breakfast　near　the　door　leading　into　a　corner…room　in　which　about　a　dozen　young　men　were　sitting。　　Grushnitski　was　amongst　them。　For　the　second　time　destiny　provided　me　with　the　opportunity　of　overhearing　a　conversation　which　was　to　decide　his　fate。　　He　did　not　see　me；　and；　consequently；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　suspect　him　of　design；　but　that　only　magnified　his　fault　in　my　eyes。
  〃Is　it　possible；　though；　that　they　were　really　Circassians？〃　somebody　said。　　〃Did　anyone　see　them？〃
  〃I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth；〃　answered　Grushnitski：　〃only　please　do　not　betray　me。　　This　is　how　it　was：　yesterday；　a　certain　man；　whose　name　I　will　not　tell　you；　came　up　to　me　and　told　me　that；　at　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening；　he　had　seen　somebody　creeping　into　the　Ligovskis'　house。　　I　must　observe　that　Princess　Ligovski　was　here；　and　Princess　Mary　at　home。　　So　he　and　I　set　off　to　wait　beneath　the　windows　and　waylay　the　lucky　man。〃
  I　confess　I　was　frightened；　although　my　com…　panion　was　very　busily　engaged　with　his　break…　fast：　he　might　have　heard　things　which　he　would　have　found　rather　displeasing；　if　Grushnitski　had　happened　to　guess　the　truth；　but；　blinded　by　jealousy；　the　latter　did　not　even　suspect　it。
  〃So；　do　you　see？〃　Grushnitski　continued。　〃We　set　off；　taking　with　us　a　gun；　loaded　with　blank　cartridge；　so　as　just　to　give　him　a　fright。　We　waited　in　the　garden　till　two　o'clock。　　At　length　　goodness　knows；　indeed；　where　he　ap…　peared　from；　but　he　must　have　come　out　by　the　glass　door　which　is　behind　the　pillar；　it　was　not　out　of　the　window　that　he　came；　because　the　window　had　remained　unopened　　at　length；　I　say；　we　saw　someone　getting　down　from　the　balcony。　。　。　　What　do　you　think　of　Princess　Mary　　eh？　　Well；　I　admit；　it　is　hardly　what　you　might　expect　from　Moscow　ladies！　　After　that　what　can　you　believe？　　We　were　going　to　seize　him；　but　he　broke　away　and　darted　like　a　hare　into　the　shrubs。　　Thereupon　I　fired　at　him。〃
  There　was　a　general　murmur　of　incredulity。
  〃You　do　not　believe　it？〃　he　continued。　　〃I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　as　a　gentleman　that　it　is　all　perfectly　true；　and；　in　proof；　I　will　tell　you　the　man's　name　if　you　like。〃
  〃Tell　us；　tell　us；　who　was　he？〃　came　from　all　sides。
  〃Pechorin；〃　answered　Grushnitski。
  At　that　moment　he　raised　his　eyes　　I　was　stand…　ing　in　the　doorway　opposite　to　him。　　He　grew　terribly　red。　　I　went　up　to　him　and　said；　slowly　and　distinctly：
  〃I　am　very　sorry　that　I　did　not　come　in　before　you　had　given　your　word　of　honour　in　confirma…　tion　of　a　most　abominable　calumny：　my　presence　would　have　saved　you　from　that　further　act　of　baseness。〃
  Grushnitski　jumped　up　from　his　seat　and　seemed　about　to　fly　into　a　passion。
  〃I　beg　you；〃　I　continued　in　the　same　tone：　〃I　beg　you　at　once　to　retract　what　you　have　said；　you　know　very　well　that　it　is　all　an　inven…　tion。　　I　do　not　think　that　a　woman's　indifference　to　your　brilliant　merits　should　deserve　so　terrible　a　revenge。　　Bethink　you　well：　if　you　maintain　your　present　attitude；　you　will　lose　the　right　to　the　name　of　gentleman　and　will　risk　your　life。〃
  Grushnitski　stood　before　me　in　violent　agita…　tion；　his　eyes　cast　down。　　But　the　struggle　be…　tween　his　conscience　and　his　vanity　was　of　short　duration。　　The　captain　of　dragoons；　who　was　sit…　ting　beside　him；　nudged　him　with　his　elbow。　Grushnitski　started；　and　answered　rapidly；　with…　out　raising　his　eyes：
  〃My　dear　sir；　what　I　say；　I　mean；　and　I　am　prepared　to　repeat。　。　。　　I　am　not　afraid　of　your　menaces　and　am　ready　for　anything。〃
  〃The　latter　you　have　already　proved；〃　I　an…　swered　coldly；　and；　taking　the　captain　of　dra…　goons　by　the　arm；　I　left　the　room。
  〃What　do　you　want？〃　asked　the　captain。
  〃You　are　Grushnitski's　friend　and　will　no　doubt　be　his　second？〃
  The　captain　bowed　very　gravely。
  〃You　have　guessed　rightly；〃　he　answered。
  〃Moreover；　I　am　bound　to　be　his　second；　because　the　insult　offered　to　him　touches　myself　also。　　I　was　with　him　last　night；〃　he　added；　straightening　up　his　stooping　figure。
  〃Ah！　　So　it　was　you　whose　head　I　struck　so　clumsily？〃　。　。　。
  He　turned　yellow　in　the　face；　then　blue；　sup…　pressed　rage　was　portrayed　upon　his　counte…　nance。
  〃I　shall　have　the　honour　to　send　my　second　to　you　to…day；〃　I　added；　bowing　adieu　to　him　very　politely；　without　appearing　to　have　noticed　his　fury。
  On　the　restaurant…steps　I　met　Vera's　husband。　Apparently　he　had　been　waiting　for　me。
  He　seized　my　hand　with　a　feeling　akin　to　rapture。
  〃Noble　young　man！〃　he　said；　with　tears　in　his　eyes。　　〃I　have　heard　everything。　　What　a　scoun…　drel！　　Ingrate！　。　。　。　　Just　fancy　such　people　being　admitted　into　a　decent　household　after　this！　　Thank　God　I　have　no　daughters！　　But　she　for　whom　you　are　risking　your　life　will　reward　you。　　Be　assured　of　my　constant　discretion；〃　he　continued。　　〃I　have　been　young　myself　and　have　served　in　the　army：　I　know　that　these　affairs　must　take　their　course。　　Good…bye。〃
  Poor　fellow！　　He　is　glad　that　he　has　no　daughters！　。　。　。
  I　went　straight　to　Werner；　found　him　at　home；　and　told　him　the　whole　story　　my　relations　with　Vera　and　Princess　Mary；　and　the　conversation　which　I　had　overheard　and　from　which　I　had　learned　the　intention　of　these　gentlemen　to　make　a　fool　of　me　by　causing　me　to　fight　a　duel　with　blank　cartridges。　　But；　now；　the　affair　had　gone　beyond　the　bounds　of　jest；　they　probably　had　not　expected　that　it　would　turn　out　like　this。
  The　doctor　consented　to　be　my　second；　I　gave　him　a　few　directions　with　regard　to　the　condi…　tions　of　the　duel。　　He　was　to　insist　upon　the　affair　being　managed　with　all　possible　secrecy；　be…　cause；　although　I　am　prepared；　at　any　moment；　to　face　death；　I　am　not　in　the　least　disposed　to　spoil　for　all　time　my　future　in　this　world。
  After　that　I　went　home。　　In　an　hour's　time　the　doctor　returned　from　his　expedition。
  〃There　is　indeed　a　conspiracy　against　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　found　the　captain　of　dragoons　at　Grush…　nitski's；　together　with　another　gentleman　whose　surname　I　do　not　remember。　　I　stopped　a　moment　in　the　ante…room；　in　order　to　take　off　my　goloshes。　They　were　squabbling　and　making　a　terrible　up…　roar。　　'On　no　account　will　I　agree；'　Grushnitski　was　saying：　'he　has　insulted　me　publicly；　it　was　quite　a　different　thing　before'　。　。　。
  〃'What　does　it　matter　to　you？'　answered　the　captain。　　'I　will　take　it　all　upon　myself。　　I　have　been　second　in　five　duels；　and　I　should　think　I　know　how　to　arrange　the　affair。　　I　have　thought　it　all　out。　　Just　let　me　alone；　please。　　It　is　not　a　bad　thing　to　give　people　a　bit　of　a　fright。　　And　why　expose　yourself　to　danger　if　it　is　possible　to　avoid　it？'　。　。　。
  〃At　that　moment　I　entered　the　room。　　They　suddenly　fell　silent。　　Our　negotiations　were　some…　what　protracted。　　At　length　we　decided　the　matter　as　follows：　about　five　versts　from　here　there　is　a　hollow　gorge；　they　will　ride　thither　to…　morrow　at　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　we　shall　leave　half　an　hour　later。　　You　will　fire　at　six　paces　　Grushnitski　himself　demanded　that　con…　dition。　　Whichever　of　you　is　killed　　his　death　will　be　put　down　to　the　account　of　the　Circas…　sians。　　And　now　I　must　tell　you　what　I　suspect：　they；　that　is　to　say　the　seconds；　may　have　made　some　change　in　their　former　plan　and　may　want　to　load　only　Grushnitski's　pistol。　　That　is　some…　thing　like　murder；　but　in　time　of　war；　and　espe…　cially　in　Asiatic　warfare；　such　tricks　are　allowed。　Grushnitski；　however；　seems　to　be　a　little　more　magnanimous　than　his　companions。　　What　do　you　think？　　Ought　we　not　to　let　them　see　that　we　have　guessed　their　plan？〃
  〃Not　on　any　account；　doctor！　　Make　your　mind　easy；　I　will　not　give　in　to　them。〃
  〃But　what　are　you　going　to　do；　then？〃
  〃That　is　my　secret。〃
  〃Mind　you　are　not　caught　。　。　。　six　paces；　you　know！〃
  〃Doctor；　I　shall　expect　you　to…morrow　at　four　o'clock。　　The　horses　will　be　ready　。　。　。　　Good…　bye。〃
  I　remained　in　the　house　until　the　evening；　with　my　door　locked。　　A　manservant　came　to　invite　me　to　Princess　Ligovski's　　I　bade　him　say　that　I　was　ill。
  。　　　　　。　　　　　。　　　　　。　　　　　。
  Two　o'clock　in　the　morning。　。　。　　I　cannot　sleep。　。　。　　Yet　sleep　is　what　I　need；　if　I　am　to　have　a　steady　hand　to…morrow。　　However；　at　six　paces　it　is　difficult　to　miss。　　Aha！　Mr。　Grushnit…　ski；　your　wiles　will　not　succeed！　。　。　。　　We　shall　exchange　roles：　now　it　is　I　who　shall　have　to　seek　the　signs　of　latent　terror　upon　your　pallid　countenance。　　Why　have　you　yourself　appointed　these　fatal　six　paces？　　Think　you　that　I　will　tamely　expose　my　forehead　to　your　aim？　。　。　。
  No；　we　shall　cast　lots。　。　。　　And　then　　then　　what　if　his　luck　should　prevail？　　If　my　star　at　length　should　betray　me？　。　。　。　　And　little　wonder　if　it　did：　it　has　so　long　and　faithfully　served　my　caprices。
  Well？　　If　I　must　die；　I　must！　　The　loss　to　the　world　will　not　be　great；　and　I　myself　am　already　downright　weary　of　everything。