THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES PG3421 ) -D93 1872 UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHA _ tT bi 10000471687 This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the last date stamped under “Date Due.” If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the library. RET. DATE RET. a LA Digitized by he intemet Ar hive BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Leisure Hour Series. FATHERS AND SONS. Translated from the Russian, by EuGENE SCHUYLER, Ph.D. SMOKE. Translated from the Author’s French version, by Won. F. West, A.M LIZA. Translated from the Russian, by W. R. S. Rarstron. ON THE EVE. Translated from the Russian, by C. E. TURNER. DIMITRI ROUDINE. Translated from the French and German versions. ‘ ae SPRING FLOODS. Translated by Mrs. Sopyrze MIcHELL Butts; A LEAR OF THE STEPPE. Translated by Wma. HAND Browne. Together in one volume. VIRGIN SOIL. Translated with the author’s sanction, by S. PERRY. ° BELISUREOHOCR SERIES. SMOKE PA RUSSIAN NOVEL SESe. / 4 BY IVAN TURGENIEFF / O47 ) Translated from the Authors French Version BY WM. FF. WEST, A.M: NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1873 sntered according to Act of Congress in the year 1872, By HOLT & WILLIAMS in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Trow’s PRINTING AND BooKBINDING Co., PRINTERS, 205-213 Hast 12th St., NEW YORK. 4 ” Zoo-EH CAZOOK CLABBER DPoG-FISH CADOON he SMOKE, eh the afternoon of the roth of August, 1862, a great crowd was gathered in front of the celebrated Con- versation House at Baden-Baden. The weather was de- lightful. The green trees, the neat white houses of the pretty town, and the grand old mountains which towered above hen, all seemed rejoicing in the bright sunshine. Nature wore a smiling face, and her joyous and holiday look was reflected in the features of all, whether old or young, homely or beautiful. Even the painted and powdered faces of the Parisian lorettes did not detract from the general gayety of the scene; their bright ribbons and feathers, and the glittering ornaments of gold and steel on their hats and veils, called to mind- the bright colors of spring flowers and the fluttering of gayly- tinted wings. Here the comparison must end, how- 4 le 7 T1364 4 Smoke. ever, for the harsh tones of their French jargon bore no _ resemblance to the sweet voices of the birds. The other surroundings of the place wore their usual look. The pavilion orchestra was playing now a potpourri from Zraviata, now a Strauss waltz, or the Russian — romanza, Dites-lui, arranged for the band by the oblig- ing chapel-master. Around the green tables in the gambling hall were to be found the customary faces,with their stupefied, greedy and fierce expression, that ¢hzéf’s Zook, which the gambling fever imprints upon the most noble features. There could be seen the stout propri- | etor of Tambof, dressed in the most elegant bad taste, and almost crazy with excitement, (as his father used to be when beating his serfs.) His eyes seemed start- ing from his head, and he leaned anxiously forward above the table, regardless of the cold smiles of the croupters, while he threw down his. louis, each time too late to play, thus losing whatever chance there might be of gain. This, however, did not prevent him in the evening from repeating, with a great show of sympathy, the sayings of Prince Coco, the most celebrated among the nobility of the opposition party; the same Prince Coce who, at Paris, in the salon of Princess Mathilde, Smoke. 5 and in the Emperor’s presence, so neatly said: ‘‘ Mad- - ame, in Russia, the property-holder has lost all his rights.” As usual, our dear countrymen and countrywomen = : were grouped about ‘‘the Russian Tree;” they met each other with that dignified nxonchalance, that noble air which naturally belongs to beings standing on the high- est rounds of the social ladder; but once seated all conversation ceased, and they endeavored to kill time, ~ either by doing nothing at all, or by laughing at the stale, flat,and unrefined jokes of a@sBohemian from Paris, a prating clown, who wore a miserable little beard upon his chin, and ugly shoes on his flat feet. His jokes, © which were taken from old almanacs, from Charivari and Z7intamarre, he retailed to these Russian princes, who replied by shouts’ of laughter, thus bearing witness to the great superiority of foreign wit, and to their own poverty of invention. Notwithstanding, these were the flower of our society, the most refined types of our coun- trymen. There was Count X., our incomparable dilet- tante, a great musical nature, who discourses vomanzas so divinely, though he can not read without stumbling, and his singing resembles that of a Parisian barber. There was our irresistible baron Z., expert in everything ; P 6 Smoke. editor, statesman, orator and scholar. There was Prince Y., a friend of religion and ofthe people, who had built up a colossal fortune, by buying a license to manufacture brandy, and then making it from belladonna. There was the brilliant General O., who had conquered some one or something, but who did not know how to control or properly present himself. There was P., an amusing fellow, who was thought to be an invalid and a man of great discernment, but who was réally as strong as an ox and stupid as a log; he was faithful to the traditions of the Countess Vorotinski, and devoted himself to ‘‘ the practice of deportment,” walking on his heels slowly and affectedly, training his otherwise expressionless features into a look of sleepy surliness, interrupting those speaking to him with a yawn, laughing through his nose, looking carefully at his fingers and nails, or suddenly pushing his hat from the back of his head to his eyebrows and w7ce- versa. ‘There were statesmen and diplomatists of Euro- pean renown, men of thought and culture, who believed that Irish bulls were issued by the Pope, and that the poor-tax was levied oz the poor; and, finally, there were the ardent but timid adorers of the stage, the young lions with hair carefully parted behind, with truly magnificent Smoke. ” side-whiskers, and wearing clothes of London cut. It seemed as though nothing was wanting to put these gen- tlemen on a footing with the Paris clown, but it was never- theless a fact that our ladies slighted them. Even the Countess C., the renowned leader of fashion, nicknamed by malicious tongues ‘‘the queen of the wasps,” and ** Medusa in bonnet strings,” gave the preference, in the clown’s absence, to the Italians, the Moldavians, the shrewd Americans, the witty secretaries of foreign embas- sies, or even to the young German barons, all of whom were hovering near her. About this star revolved the Princess Babette, in whose arms Chopin expired, (there are a thousand ladies in Europe who had the same honor); the Princess Annette, who would be irresistible, if she did not so Strongly resemble a stout country washerwoman ; the unlucky Princess Pachette, whose husband had just been appointed provincial governor, when suddenly, God only knows why, he had beaten the mayor of his native town and run off with 20,900 roubles belonging to the crown; and last but not least, the noisy Mademoiselle Zizi, and the tearful Mademoiselle Zozo: these ladies all coldly turned their backs upon their countrymen. Letus too, hereleave them, and turn away from this celebrated 8 Smoke. tree, under the shade of which are displayed so many brilliant costumes, their extravagance exceeded only by their bad taste. May God lighten the burden of ennui which they conceal. = % * CHAPTER II. . Ashort distance from the “ Russian tree,” a man of about thirry was seated by a little table of the Café We- ber. He was of medium height, of slight but well knit frame, and his handsome and manly face was well bronzed by the sun. Both his hands rested lightly on his cane, _and he wore a careless look, as though a stranger to those about him, and perfectly indifferent to their opinion. His large brown eyes glanced expressively over the sur- rounding scene, now half closing as though dazzled by the sunlight, and now following some eccentric figure, at the sight of which his face would break into a pleasant smile. He wore a coat of German make, and a gray felt hat shaded his broad brow. At the first glance, he seemed an honorable and energetic young man, with not too poor an opinion of himself, such a person as we often meet? with in the world. He appeared to be taking a rare holi- als pees ine NT A TOTNES ASAE Om tt es ene” Ae AREER IHG Nee i: a @ 10 Smoke. day, and to enjoy the picture before his eyes, the more from its contrast to those scenes with which he had been familiar. He was a Russian: by name Gregory Mikhail. ovitch* Litvinof. We must make the acquaintance of this young man, and as a preliminary step thereto, will glance briefly .at the early portion of his life, which had not thus far proved a very eventful one. . His father was a clerk belonging to the mercantile class. and lived in a country town. His mother was of a noble family, gentle and eee, yet energetic; she was younger than her husband by twenty years, and exerted all her power and influence to improve his mind and manners. Thanks to her, he be- gan to dress in good taste, and to behave properly; he stopped swearing, and was respectful to scientific and learned men, though he would not take the trouble to read himself; he even attempted to walk with a slower step, and to converse in a more subdued tone. Some- times his former nature would get the upper hand, and he would mutter between his teeth, when some one of- *It is customary in Russia to connect the father’s name with that of the thild. Mikhailovitch means Michael’s son, Smoke. 12 fended him, ‘¢How Ishould like to thrash that fellow!” but would immediately add, ‘‘ No doubt it isso... we must think of the matter.” His wife conducted her household affairs after the fashion of Western Europe; she kept her servants at a distance, -and would not allow any one to play the glutton at her table. Neither she nor her husband knew how to manage her estate, which had been much neglected, and was of great extent, com- ¥ prising prairies, woods and a lake, on the shore of which a factory had of late years been built by a gentle- | man of more ene rgy than prudence. This factory had.} done well in the hands of a crafty merchant, but had _ afterward run down under the management of an nn | German manufacturer. Madame Litvinof, however, was satisfied so long as she was not losing money, or running into debt. Unfortu- nately her health failed her, and she died of consumption, the very year in which her son entered the University, of Moscow. ‘Circumstances which will be related “imcthe course of our story, prevented Gregory Litvinof from fin- ishing his university course, and hezeturned to the coun~ try, where he passed some time in idle seclusion. He _) found that the gentlemen of his neighborhood bore him 4 ae ‘i ‘ ASE > ’ a 12 Smoke. no good-will, and they finally caused him to be drafted in the so-called voluntcers of 1955. Litvinof barely es- caped with his life from an attack of typhus fever in the Crimea, where he was quartered in a mud hut for six months, without seeing a soldier of the Allies; he after- wards filled an elective office in his native province, and igs finally settled down to the study and practice of agricul- [ture He perceived that his mother’s estate, so badly managed by his father, did not yield a tenth part of the revenue which might be obtained from it; but he also understood that in order to properly direct it himself, he needed study and experience, and to gain these he de- {termined to travel; he spent nearly four years in Meck- lenburg, Silesia and at Carlsruhe; he visited Belgium and England, worked hard and made acquaintances. This was no pleasant task to him, but he kept at it faith- fully till it was finished, and now, feeling confidence in himself and in the future, and knowing that he could be of service to his neighbors, and perhaps even to his coun- try, he was on his way home, whither he had been called "by his father, who was completely demoralized by eman- cipation, and the changes following in its train. But why does he stop at Baden? Smoke. bees He is at Baden, because he is there awaiting the arrival of his cousin, Tatiana Petrovna Chestof, to whom he is betrothed. He had known her from childhood, and had | passed the early summer with her at Dresden, where she resided with her aunt. His love for the young girl had been founded upon deep respect; and as he had finished his preparatory labors, and a new career was opening be- fore him, he had offered himself to her for better or for worse, as the English say. She had accepted him, and he had hurried back te Carlsruhe to pack up his books and papers. But why, you again ask, is he at Baden. z Because Tatiana’s aunt,.Capitoline Markovna Chestot, an old maid of fifty, very odd in her manners, but kind and self-sacrificing, a, free thinker (she read Strauss, but concealed it from her niece), a lover of the people, and hater of the aristocracy, had not been able to resist the temptation of taking one look at the fashionable world, as seen at Baden-Baden. Capitoline Markovna dressed in the plainest manner, and wore her white hair short; she was secretly much troubled with thoughts of luxury and elegance, and therefore took great pleasure in loudly 14 Smoke. inveighing against all such vanities. Why then not gratify the old lady’s whim? These facts explain why Litvinof was so contented, and why he glanced about him with so confident an air. His path in life lay clearly before him, free from every ob- stacle, and he was proud of this happy fortune, which he looked upon as having been carved out by his own hon- est hands. 4 CHAPTER III. “‘Bzh! bah! bah! so you are here!” cried a shrill voice in his ear, while a heavy hand rested on his shoulder. He raised his head and recognized one of his few Muscovite acquaintances, a certain Bambaef, a good enough fellow, but very shiftless withal. His cheeks and nose had a soft look, as thou gh they had been well boiled, his greasy hair was in disorder, and his whole appear- ance was flabby in the extreme. Always penniless, and always an enthusiast on one subject or another, Rostislaf Bambaef went about the world without purpose, but cer- tainly not without noise. ‘Well! this is unexpected,” he continued, opening wide his eyes and pouting his thick lips, above which a thin, dyed moustache was visible, ‘‘ here we meet in Baden-Baden! But what brings you here?” “I have been here four days.” = 16 Smoke. ‘Where do you come from?” ‘What difference does that make to you?” ‘* What difference does it make! Butperhaps you are not aware that Goubaref too is here? He arrived yester- day from Heidelberg. Of course you know him?” “‘T have heard of him.” “Ts that all? I must introduce you to hiin at once. The idea of not knowing such aman! But here is my friend Vorochilof. Perhaps you are not acquainted with him? Allow me to introduce you to each other. You ~ are both learned men. Vorochilof here is a phoenix.” vr While thus speaking, Bambaef turned toward a fine looking young man, with a fresh and ruddy face, but with a look too sedate for his age. Litvinof rose and bowed to ‘‘ the phoenix,” who, to judge from the gravity of his countenance, did not seem particularly flattered by this unexpected introduction. ; ‘‘T said a phcenix, and I did not use too strong a word,” Continued Bambaef. “‘ Go to the College of St. Petersburg, and look at the roll of merit. What name occupies the first place? That of Simon lakovleviteh Vorochilof! But we must visit Goubaref at once, He isa man whom I revere, and I am not the only one... . Smoke. 17 IEvery one who can appreciate true mierit, reveres him. What a great work he is now writing !” *“On what subject?” asked Litvinof. “On every subject, my friend. It isa work after the manner of Buckle, but much more profound and compre- hensive. Everything will be explained and all questions settled by it.” ‘* Have you read it?” “Oh! no, I have not read it, in fact what I have told you is a secret that you must not repeat; but then we may expect everything from Goubaref!” Here Bambaef sighed and crossed his arms. ‘* Ah! if there were only two or three more such heads in Russia! You will find, Gregory Mikhailovitch, that whatever you may have stud- ied in the last few years during which I have lost sight ot you, or whatever your convictions now may be, you can learn much from Goubaref. Unfortunately, he is here only for a short time. We must visit himat once. Come on! come on!” : ) As these words were spoken, a young fop, with curly a hair, wearing a hat ornamented with a sky-blue rib- bon, passed by and cast upon Bambaef a scornfil look Litvinof was provoked. — 18 Smoke. ** Why are you so noisy?” hesaid. ‘ One would think you were shouting in the chase.. But I have not dined yet.” ; ‘‘Indeed,” said Bambaef, ‘‘then we can all dine to; ~ gether at Weber’s. It will be charming. You have money enough to pay for me?” he added in a low tone. ** Yes, but—” ‘Oh! no thanks! it will give us great pleasure to pass the hour with you.” ‘‘ Ah!” cried Bambaef suddenly, ‘*the band are playing the finale from Ernani. How beautiful! Ok! som... . mo Carlo. It brings tears to my eyes. Come, Simon Iakovlevitch, let us go.” Vorochilof, who had remained during all this time, standing stiff and motionless, lowered his eyes in a digni- fied way and muttered something to himself, but did not refuse the proposition; Litvinof also resigned himself to his fate. Bambaef took him by the arm, but before en- tering the café, beckoned to Isabelle, the well-known flower-girl of the Jockey Club, to bring him a bouquet. The aristocratic flower-girl did not stir; she did not care to serve such a shabby customer. On being motioned to by Vorochilof, however, she came forward, when he picked out from her basket a little bunch of violets, at the same i Smoke. 19 time throwing her a forin. He evidently thceught his generosity would surprise her, but it had not the least effect. Vorochilof was elegantly and stylishly dressed, but the experienced eye of the young girl at once detected the absence in ‘him of the true aristocratic air, After taking their places in the main hall at Weber’s and ordering dinner, our friends began to converse. Bam- baef with much warmth, again dilated in a noisy and de- monstrative manner upon the great merits of Goubaref; soon, however, he ceased speaking, and began to sigh, as he swallowed glass after glass of nines Vorochilof ate ‘and drank sparingly, seeming to have but little appetite. Having first questioned Litvinof concerning his work and studies, he began to expatiate upon his own opinions, less in relation to Litvinot’s pursuits, than with reference to various ‘‘ questions,” which he himself introduced. Sud- denly he began to speak in an excited and rapid manner, with many gestures, emphasizing every syllable, like «a graduate delivering an oration at commencement. The further he advanced in his discourse, the more eloquent and enthusiastic he became. No one interrupted him ; he seemed to be veading a composition or dissertation. ‘The names of learned contemporaries, the exact dates of @ = : OC at SECRET even me ee tenon | | | ‘ | 20 Smoke. their births and deaths, the titles of their latest woiks, r-name after name, glided rapidly from his lips, causing him an inward joy, which his eyes could not conceal. Voro- chilof held in contempt all that was old; he respected only the latest discoveries of science. To quote a work of Dr. Zauerbengel on the Prisons of Pennsylvania, or the article on the Vedas in the last number of the Asiatic Journal (he always said Journal, though he did not un- derstand English) made him very happy. Litvinof list- ened, without being able to determine what his especial acquizements were. Now he was speaking of the records of the Celtic race in history ; this took him back to ancient times, and he spoke concerning the marbles of A©gina and of Onatas, the predecessor of Phidias, whom he called Jonathan, thus giving his discourse a flavor, half Biblical and half American ; then he suddenly launched into poli- tical economy, calling Bastiat a simpleton, of no more real merit than Adam Smith and the rest of the physio- © crats.” ‘*Physiocrats? rather aristocrats!” interposed Bam- baefin a low tone. Vorochilof succeeded finally, how- ever, in surprising even Bambaef himself, by speaking of Macaulay as a writer who was behind the age. © As to Smoke. 21 Gnéist and Riehl, he declared they were not worth mentioning, and shrugged his shoulders, which gesture Bambaef hastened to imitate at once. **He is speaking thus, without any object in view, before strangers in a café,” thought Litvinof as he looked upon the violent gestures of his new acquaintance, ‘‘and he does not see the absurdity of his position! Poor fellow ! he seems very inexperienced.” At last Vorochilof stepped: his voice, which had become as shrill and hoarse as that of a young rooster, was suddenly hushed. Bambaef then recited a few lines of poetry, and again burst into tears, to the great dismay of an English family, sitting at the table on the right, and the amusement oi two women of the town, who were dining with an old looking, young man at the table on the left. The waiter brought the bill, and our friends rose from the table. ‘** Now,” cried Bambaef, springing on a chair, ‘‘a cup of coffee, and we are off! These are the kind of men we have in Russia,” he added, as they reached the door, pointing with his coarse, red hand to Vorochilof and Litvinof. . Yes, these are the kind of men we have, thought Litvinof. Vorochilof had already put on his air of 22 Smoke. dignity ; he smiled coldly, as he struck his heels together in a military manner. Five minutes afterward, our three friends arrived at the hotel where Stephen Nicolaevitch Goubaref was stopping. As they were going up the staircase, they met a lady of commanding appearance, whose face was partly con- cealed by a short veil. As her glance fell upon Litvinof, she started; the blood rushed +0 her face, and then retreating, left it as pale as marble. Litvinof had not noticed her, and she walked rapidly away. - © no a. CHAPTER IV. As our friends entered the handsomely furnished and well lighted apartments of Goubaref, Bambaef drew Litvinof forward, saying: ‘‘ Permit me to introduce my friend, Gregory Litvinof, a true Russian and the prince of good fellows.” He then added, speaking in a low tone to Litvinof, “this is the man himself, this is Goubaref.” | Litvinof looked attentively upon him, but was not par- ticularly impressed by his appearance. Goubaref was a small man, with coarse features, thick neck, long beard, and downcast eyes, dull looking, but with an air of respectability about him. He was dressed in morning gown and slippers, and looking up, on being addressed, smiled and said: ‘‘Mm—mm—lI am very glad to make your popeatetanes een turning his back on Litvinof and stroking his. beard, he began, “asain to his habit, - 24 Smoke. to walk up and down the room with the soft tread ofa cat. There were two other persons with him in the E room; the one, a lady with dark complexion, bright and staring eyes, and a slight mustache upon her upper lip, .an advocate of the rights of woman; the other, a stc1t gentleman, who sat by himself in one corner of the room. ‘*Now, my dear Matrena Semenovna,” said Goubaref, turning toward this lady, without introducing Litvinof, * so on with what you had begun to tell us.” a eC his lady, who was kn6wn as Madame Soukhantchikof, was a widow without encumbrances or fortune, who had, for the last two years, been carrying her Penates from “- one country to another. She immediately resumed her narrative with a singular volubility. “‘ Well, he presented himself before the prince, and said to him: ‘ Your Excellency is in a situation to assist me; I ask you to consider the purity of my motives. Is it possible that, in this country, any one can be persecuted for his honest opinions?? Now, what do you suppose this prince, fee refined and elevated statesman did ?” **What did he do?” asked Goubaref, lighting a cigar- ette with an abstracted air, Smoke. 258) The lady straightened up and stretched out her bony hand: ‘He called his servant and said to him: ‘Take _ off that man’s coat, and keep it for yourself: I make you a present of it,’” ** Did the servant take it off?” cried Bambaef, striking his hands together. ** He took it off and kept it. This was done by Prince Barnaoulof, the rich and famous noble, representative of the government, with extraordinary powers. What can we expect after that?” The angular form of Madame Soukhantchikof trembled with emotion, her face worked nervously, and her eyes seemed starting from their sockets, a danger to which they were always liable, whatever might be the subject of the conversation. ** It is an outrage that cries for vengeance,” said Bam- baef. ‘* There is no punishment severe enough for him.” Seine... -ebime, 1. ~Lhey»y.are! all) corrupt,’; sre- marked Goubaref without raising his voice. ‘‘ We do not want to punish them, but we must take other measures.” ‘¢ But is this true?” asked Litvinof. 26 Smoke. ** True?” cried Madame Soukhantchikof. ‘*It is im-. possible to doubt it.”—-She gave the word impossible such energetic emphasis, that she bent herself almost double. —‘* The most truthful man in the world told me of it. You know him—Stephen Nikolaitcht; it was Helistratoi Capiton, who was a witness of this disgraceful scene.” ‘Which Helistratof?” asked Goubaref. ‘‘ The one who used to be in Kazan?” ‘‘The same. I know there was a story about, that he had taken bribes from the brandy manufacturers, but who started this story? Pélikanof, whose word no one be- lieves, for it is well known that he is nothing but a spy.” “ Excuse me, Matrena Semenovna,” cried Bambaef, * Pelikanof is a friend of mine, he cannot be a spy.” savies, yes, he is a spy.” pac xcuse MG: 0 ssa “A spy! aspy!” cried Madame Soukhantchikof. ‘ ‘No, no! itis notso. You might say it of Tenteleef, perhaps,” muttered Bambaef. Madame Soukhantchikof stopped for a moment to take breath ; Bambaef profited by this opportunity. ‘I have it from good authority,” he said, ‘‘ that when he was sent for by the Secret Council, he threw himself at the feet of Smoke. 37 Countess Blasenkrampf, crying: ‘Help me, save me!’ Pelikanof has never done anything so mean as that.” ** Tenteleef” . . . muttered Goubaref, ‘‘I must make a note of that.” Madame Soukhantchikof shrugged her shoulders with inexpressible disdain. ‘‘ They are both of them bad enough,” said she. ‘‘I have a still better story though to tell you about Tenteleef. He always has been a terrible tyrant, you know, though he calls himself a friend of emancipation.. One day he was in a drawing-room in Paris, when Mrs. Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle ‘Tom’s Cabin, you know, entered. Being exceedingly vain, Tenteleef asked the host to present him to Mrs. Stowe. As soon as she heard his name, she rebuked him with these words: ‘How dare you show yourself before the author of Uncle Tom! Leave at once!’ and she gave him a slap in the face. And what do you think? Tenteleef caught up his hat and ran away.” ** That is a little exaggerated, perhaps,” said Bambaef. ‘«She told him to leave, there is no doubt of that, but she did not slap him.” | ‘‘She slapped him, she slapped him in the face!” Madame Soukhantchikof repeated, in convulsive tones. ‘‘T am not in the habit of making up my stories So these people are your friends?” 23 Smoke. “Excuse me, Matrena Semenovna, I did not say I was intimate with Tenteleef; I was only speaking of Pelika- nof.”’ “If Tenteleef is not your friend, Mikhneef is, per- haps.” ‘What has he done?” asked Bambaef with some anxiety. | “Done? As if you did not know! He said openly, at the corner of Nevski Prospekt and Ascension street, that ail the liberals ought to be imprisoned; and when an old comrade, who was ‘very poor, once asked him if he could dine with him, he replied: ‘No, I have invited two counts to dinner to-day; off with you!’” \ “Excuse me, but that is not true,” cried Bambaef. “Not true! not true! In the first place, Prince Vakhrouchine, who also dined with your Mikhneef .. . ” ‘Prince Vakhrouchine,” interrupted Goubaref in a severe tone, ‘is my first cousin, though I do not allow him to call on mé. We will not talk of him, if you please.” “In the second place,” continued. Madame Soukhant- chikof, bowing humbly at Goubaref’s remark, ‘‘ Prascovia Iakolevna, herself, told me of it.” % “You have given excellent authority. She and Sarkisof are both manufacturers of news.” Smoke. 29 **Excuse me, Sarkisof is a liar, that is true; he even stole the pall from his father’s coffin, but there is no com- parison between him and Prascovia Iakolevna. Do you: . remember how nobly she left her husband? But, I know you are always ready . . 4 ““Come, we have had enough of these disputes, Matrena Semenovna,” interrupted Goubaref, ‘“‘let us occupy ourselves with higher subjects.. You know that the sacred fire is always burning where] am. Have you read Mademotselle de la Quintinie? It ig an excellent book, and expresses your own ideas!” **T never read novels now,” replied Madame Soukhant- chikof drily. “Why?” ‘Because I think it is a waste of time; I am at present deeply interested in sewing machines.” ** What machines?” asked Litvinof. “Sewing, sewing machines... Every woman must obtain one of these sewing machines, and then they must all form a society; in this way they will soon become perfectly independent. Otherwise they can never gain their freedom. This is a very important social question. We discussed it thoroughly with Boleslas Stadnitzki. He is a great nature, this Stadnitzki, but he treats these subjects too lightly. In fact, he is stupid in regard to them.” eae one remeaune 005 eee | 30 Smoke. ‘The time will come, when they will all have to render an account,” said Goubaref slowly, in a tone that was partly magisterial and partly prophetic. “Yes, yes,” said Bambaef, ‘‘they will have to render auaccount. Stephen Nicolaevitch,” he added in a low wzice, ‘is the work progressing?” *‘Tam collecting the materials,” returned Goubaref with a frown; then turning toward Litvinof, who had begun to grow tired of this crowd of unfamiliar names and this storm of wordsy he asked: ‘‘ What are you en- gaged in now?” Litvinof satisfied his curiosity. “Ah! natural science. Mm Segue aT ec 6 VEE useful as a discipline for the mind, but of no other value! We have more important work before us now. Will you permit me to ask what your opinions are?” ** My opinions ?” ‘* Yes, your political opinions, I mean.” Litvinof smiled. ‘*To tell the truth, I have no particular opinions on the subject.” At this reply the stout gentleman seated in the corner suddenly raised his eyes and looked fixedly at Litvinof. “How can that be?” asked Goubaref, with an air of . 4 Smoke. 31 affected politeness. ‘‘ Have you never thought of the subject, or are you tired of it?” "TI think that it is almost too early for us Russians to have many political opinions, or to imagine that we have them. Mind, I do not use the word /olitical in its true sense... ....:?? *“Ah! yes, you are one of those who do not believe themselves ready for the new order of affairs,” said Goubaref in the same tone as before; then approaching Vorochilof, he asked him if he had read the pamphlet which he had lent him. To Litvinot’s surprise, Vorochilof had not uttered a word since they had first entered the room; he had con- tented himself with frowning and looking about in a dignified manner (he generally either did all the talking or was silent altogether). On being addressed he squared his shoulders with a military air, advanced a step and nodded his head affirmatively. ** Well! were you pleased with it?” “Yes, so far as concerned his premises, but I could not entirely agree with his conclusions.” “ Andrew Ivanovitch praised the pamphlet, in speak- ing of itto me. You will please state in what particulars you differ from it.” * Are your orders that this shall be done in writing?” Ree CTEEIOIE Ae 32 Smoke. This question seemed greatly to surprise Goubaref; he had not expected it; however, after a moment’s refiec- tion, he replied: ‘Yes, in writing, and Ishould also like to have, at the same time, your ideas concerning . . . associations.” * “Do you require them after the method of Lassale or that of Schultze-Delitzsch?” “Mmm... in both ways. Please remember, too, that the financial part of the question is a very important one for us. The workingman’s bank is yet undeveloped. We must study and understand this matter thoroughly. As regards the portion allotted to the peasants... ” ‘‘ What is your opinion, Stephen Nicolaevitch, on this subject?” asked Vorochilof with respectful delicacy in his tone. § “Mmm... The Commune!” said Goubaref with an increase of gravity in his tone, as biting his beard, he directed his lurid and steady gaze upon one of the tables. The Commune... you understand, is a great name! What do these incendiary fires mean. . . these measures _ which the government has taken against Sunday-schools, reading-rooms, and newspapers? What does the refusal of the peasants to sign the papers which close their rela- tions with their former masters mean? What has just happened in Poland? Do you not see whither every- Smoke. 33 thing is tending? Do you notsee...mm... that we. must now mingle with the people and become acquainted with their ideas?” Goubaref became excited; his face grew fiery red, and his breath came quick and short; his eyes were still cast’ down, and he kept biting his beard as he muttered: ‘‘Do you notsee...” ‘*Evseef is a scoundrel!” suddenly cried Madame Soukhantchikof, to whom Bambaef had been speaking in a low tone, out of consideration for the master of the house. Goubaref turned quickly on his heel, and began to walk up and down the room. New guests began to arrive, and at a late hour the room was filled. Among the new comers was the M. Evseef, who had been so rudely spoken of by Madame Soukhantchikof a few minutes before. She met him very cordially, and when the party broke up requested him to accompany her home, _ There was also a certain Pichtchalkin, a model justice of the peace, one of the kind of men that Russia, perhaps, really needs, slightly gifted and informed, indeed, but conscientious, patient, and just. The peasants of his province lauded him to the skies, and he was not wanting in a proper respect for himself. | There were also present a few officers, who were profit 34 Smoke. ing by a short leave of absence to take a pleasure trip through Europe, without, however, forgetting for a mo- ment either their colonel or their own advanced grade; also two students from Heidelberg, one of whom looked about him with a scornful air, while the other laughed convulsively, both seeming to be ill at ease. After them there glided in a small-sized Frenchman, who had a very miserable look; he was in the habit of boasting to his comrades, mostly travelling salesmen, that he was attract- ing the attention of various Russian countesses; what he wanted mainly now was an invitation to supper. Last of all appeared a certain Titus Bindasof, apparently a rough but good-hearted, convivial fellow, really a cowardly bully, friend of Russian merchants and Parisian lorettes; bald, toothless, and a drunkard. He entered the room flushed and excited, saying that he had left his last cent with that rascal ofa Benazet, whereas he had actually just won sixteen florins. It was very curious to witness the respectful manner with which they all surrounded Goubaref: they asked him questions and begged him to answer them; to which he responded by a kind of lowing sound, a turn of the eye, or a few words without sense or connection, which everyone seized upon as an expression . of the highest wisdom. He rarely took part in the con- versation, but the others did not let it flag. It happened Smoke. 35 more than once that three or four were all talking ex- citedly at the same moment; each one was delighted and perfectly understood the rest. The party lasted till near midnight, and a great number and variety of subjects were discussed. Madame Soukhantchikof spoke of Garibaldi, of a certain Charles Ivanovitch who was flogged by his dependants, of Napoleon III., of the work of woman, of Pleskachef the merchant, who starved a dozen of his workingwomen, and for so doing was awarded a medal with the inscription: ‘‘ For his usefulness to society,” of the proletariat, of the Georgian Prince Tchinktcheoulidzef, who blew his wife from a cannon’s ~ ? mouth, and of the future of Russia. Pichtchalkin also spoke of the future of Russia, of the brandy monopolists, of the significance of nationalities, and of his horror of platitudes. Suddenly, Vorochilof, being no longer able to contain himself, named in one breath at the risk of choking, Draper, Firchow, M. Chelgounof, Bichat, Helmholtz, Starr, Stur, Reiminth, John Muller the physiologist, John Muller the historian, concerning which two he evidently was in some confusion, Taine, Renan, M. Chtchapof, and then Thomas Nash, Peele, Greene, *¢ Who are all these people?” muttered Bambaef, com. pletely overcome. Fe 36 Smoke. ‘** They are the predecessors of Shakespeare; they com pare with him as the Alps do with Mont Blanc,” replied Vorochilof in a loud tone, and then he also passed to the future of Russia. Bambaef, too, thought it his duty to expatiate on this subject, and painted this future in brilliant colors; Russian music particularly excited his enthusiasm ; he found in it something ‘‘ magnificent,” and in order to illustrate this, attacked a song composed by Varmalof, but was immediately interrupted by the general remark that it was the J/iserere from Trovatore, that he was singing so abominably. Under cover of the confusion, a short officer spoke against the Russian Uterature, another recited several satirical verses from L’Etincelle, a St. Petersburg paper. Titus Bindasof was still more frank: he declared that he would like to break the heads of all those knaves. All were smoking, and the air of the room had become difficult to breathe: all had shouted themselves hoarse, their eyes were blood- shot and their faces covered with perspiration. Bottles of beer were brought in and emptied in a trice., ‘‘ Where __was I?” said one. ‘‘ With whom was I talking?” asked another; ‘‘and what was it about?” In the midst of this tumult, Goubaref was all the time walking and strok. ing his beard: now he listened for an instant to what was being said, now he dropped a few words as he was pass- Smoke. 37 ing by; all present felt that he was not only the host, but also the great personage of the evening. At ten o’clock, Litvinof, who was suffering from fatigue and headache, quietly slipped from the room, which was now in great confusion. Madame Soukhantchikof had just mentioned another outrage attempted by Prince Barnaoulof: he had tried to cut off some one’s ear. The evening breeze gently fanned his temples and cooled his fevered face. ‘‘ What kind of a meeting was that?” he thought, as he entered a gloomy path. ‘* Why were they so noisy and excited? What do they want to do?” He shrugged his shoulders, and entering the Café Weber, took up the paper and ordered an ice. The paper was full of the Italian question, and the ice seemed execrable. He was about starting for his room, when a stranger ap- proached and saying in Russian that he hoped he was not intruding upon him, took a seat at his table. —_Litvi- nof at once recognized him as the gentleman whom he had seen earlier in the evening, sitting so quietly in Goubaref’s room; the one who had cast so penetrating a glance upon him when the conversation turned on his political opinions, During the whole evening he had not spoken a word, but now, sitting down by Litvinof, ke turned upon him a look of kindness mingled with timidity. CHAPTER..V. “*T was not introduced to you at the rooms ot M. Gou- baref, where I had the honor to meet you this evening,” said he, ‘‘but now, if you will permit me, I wil) introduce { myself. My name is Potoughine; I am a retired officer | of the court, having served at St. Petersburg under the Secretary of the Treasury. I hope you do not deem it Strange . . . Iam notin the habit of making acquaiut- ances in this way... but you... ” Here Potoughine stopped short, and asked the waiter for a small glass of kirchwasser. “To give me cour- age,” he added with a smile. Litvinof looked attentively at this new acquaintance, Savile to himself, as he did so: ‘He is not at all like the others.” 3 He did, indeed, appear very different from any of those whom Litvinof had met during this eventful evening, He was broad-shouldered and deep-chested and not very tall; his hair was in disorder; his eyes looked out from Smoke, 39 under their bushy brows, with an intelligent but some- what melancholy expression ; his mouth was well shaped; his teeth were bad; his Russian nose resembled a potato inits form. His manner was rough and awkward, but he seemed far from being a common-place character. He was carelessly dressed; his coat hung upon him likea sack, and his necktie was twisted out of place. Litvinof, though surprised, was pleased with this new acquaint- ance. He understood at once that this was not a man who made friends at hap-hazard. He made a powerful¢ impression on Litvinof; he inspired him simultaneously with respect, sympathy, and a kind of involuntary com- passion. *“T hope I do not intrude upon you,” he repeated, in a subdued and somewhat hoarse voice, which corresponded well with his general appearance. “No, indeed!” replied. Litvinof, ‘‘I am very much pleased to meet you.” “Thank you ! the acquaintance also gives me pleasure. I have often heard you spoken of, and I am acquainted with your werk and plans. I need not say that I highly approve of them. I was not surprised to see you so quiet this evening.” i. “T thought that you also talked very little, if at all,” responded Litvinof. 40 Suoke. Potoughine sighed. ‘The others talked too much; I was listening to them. Well,” he added after a moment’s silence, as he lifted his eyebrows in a comical manner, ‘‘how did you like the confusion of tongues at our tower of Babel?” **'You may well call it the confusion of tongues! I constantly wanted to ask those gentlemen what they were making such a clamor about.” Potoughine sighed again. ‘The most ludicious feature of all is that they have so much confidence in themselves. Formerly we should have spoken of them as the blind instruments of some © superior power; in these times we must use severer terms. Ido not accuse them of wrong, remember; nay, | more, they are all, with very few exceptions, excellent people. I have heard, for instance, from good authority, reports concerning Madame Soukhantchikof that do her great credit. She gave everything she possessed in the world to two nieces who were very poor. Even if a de- —sire for notoriety did partly influence her, yet, I must confess, the act was a noble one. I cannot say a word against M. Pichtchalkin; in course of time the peasants of his province will certainly present him with a silver .cup, of the shape and size of a watermelon, and al- though he will reply that he has not merited such an S707. 41 honor, he most certainly will have done so. Your friend. M. Bambaef, has a heart of gold; itis true that he resembles the poet Iazikof, who, it is said, writes of the pleasures of wine and idleness, without leaving his -work for a moment, or drinking anything but water. Bambaef’s enthusiasm has no definite aim, but he is en- thusiastic none the less for that. M. Vorochilof also is a worthy gentleman; like all of his school, he considers science and civilization as having been appointed his aides-de-camp ; he is a great talker, but forgets that he is very young. These people are all good enough, but the trouble is they amount to nothing; the provisions are of the first quality, but you can not swallow a mouth- ful of them.” _ Litvinof listened to Potoughine with redoubled at- . tention. His. easy and confident way of speaking showed him to be a master of the art of conversation. _He loved to talk and knew how to talk; but, like a man who feels that he has outgrown all vanity, he always waited until a fit occasion or subject of conversation was presented. **'Yes, yes,” he continued in that tone, sad without bitterness, which was peculiar to him, ‘‘these facts are very strange. Here is another point which I will ask you to notice. Let ten Englishmen meet together and ~~ 42 Smoke. they will at once begin to talk about the subniarine tele- graph, the revenue, the price of cotton, the possibility of tanning ratskins; some subject in fact that is positive and definite. Bring ten Germans together and they will at once enter naturally upon the Schleswig-Holstein question and the unity of Germany. Take ten French- men, and no matter how they may try to ace it, they = will eventually arrive at a discussion of the fair sex. If ten Russians, however, meet together, the conversation immediately turns, as you have noticed this evening, upon the greatness of Russia and her brilliant future, while in tracing her origin they go back to the eggs of Leda. They squeeze, and suck upon and chew this un- fortunate subject as boys do india-rubber, . . . and with | the same result. They can not touch upon it without al- luding to the corruption of the West. The West touches us on all sides, and how terribly corrupt it is! This would not be so bad if we really did despise it; but, no, this is all boasting and falsehood. “We cry out against . the West and yet cannot live without its approval. I — know a middle-aged man, the father of a family, who was driven almost to despair because, being once in a restaurant in Paris, he asked for a piece of beefsteak with some potatoes, while a real Frenchman who sat near him cried out: Waiter, steak and potatoes! My Smoke. 43° friend was covered with shame and immediately re- peated: Steak and potatoes! and always afterward told his friends that this was the proper mode of expres- sion.” ** Please tell me,’’said Litvinof, ‘‘ to what you attribute the undeniable influence that Goubaref exerts over those about him? To his talents or to his acquirements ?” ‘“ No, he possesses neither the one nor the other.” ““Ts it owing to his character, then?” “‘No, he has no character, either; he has great force of will, however, and we Slaves, asa general rule, have but little of it. M. Goubaref has taken it into his head to become the head of the party, and has accomplished it. This is owing to our nature. The government has delivered us from slavery; but the customs of slavery have become so impressed upon us that we cannot throw them off at once. In all things and everywhere, we need a master. Generally this master is a living being; some- times it is a peculiar tendency, as, for instance, the mania | for the natural sciences at the present time. Why is this? What causes lead us thus voluntarily to subject ourselves? It is inexplicable, but nevertheless it is true. The most important fact with us is, that we must have a master. Weare the true serfs. We are slaves in out” pride, as well as in our abasement. As soon as a new > a aeecsntneceanssine oe 5 44 | Smoke. | _master appears, we leave the old one. To-day it is James, to-morrow Thomas. Quick, make a bow to James, an obeisance to Thomas. We boast of being masters of our opinions, but instead of holding our own, like men, with the sword, we can only strike like servants with the fist, and that only as the master gives his permission. Moreover, we are a susceptible people; it is easy to in- fluence us. This is the reason why M. Goubaref has reached the top of the ladder. He has always struck at the same spot, and has finally succeeded in piercing it. A man who has a good opinion of himself, who has great self-confidence, who gives commands, is the one who is wanted: he must be right, and must be listened to. All our parties are begun thus. The first who seizes the sceptre retains it.” The color gradually deepened in Potoughine’s cheeks, and his eyes became more and more bright and expres- | sive; harsh as his words might seem, however, there was no trace of vindictive feeling in them, but simply an ex- pression of true and sincere sadness. ‘* How did you make Goubaref’s acquaintance?” asked > Litvinof. 3 ‘‘T have known him for along time. Your question reminds me of another of our peculiarities. Here is a writer, who has devoted his life to a warfare in prose and Smoke. 45 verse against drunkenness and the brandy manufacture ; suddenly, one fine day, he buys a couple of distilleries, and supplies a hundred bar-rooms. Anywhere else in the world he would be driven from society; here, not a reproach is heard. M. Goubaref’s case is a similar one: he is a lover of the Slavic race, a democrat, a socialist, and everything of that kind, while his property was, and still is, managed by his brother, a noble of the old stamp. And here is Madame Soukhantchikof, who glories in the fact that Mrs. Beecher Stowe slapped Tenteleef, almost prostrating herself before Goubaref, whose whole merit consists in pretending that he has read profound works, and that he appreciates all their wisdom. You could form an opinion yourself this evening, as to what his con- _ versational powers really are. It was fortunate that he did no more than mutter, for when he is in good humor, he tells villainous, little, cynical stories. It is all I can do to keep my patience when our great Goubaref is thus en- gaged.” **I do not think you seem like a very patient person,” said Litvinof, ‘But allow me to inquire your given name.” : Potoughine drank a little £7rschwasser. “My name is Sozonthe Ivanovitch. This delightful name was given me after one of my relations, an abbot eal Se 46 Smoke -— to whom, however, I owe nothing else. I am, if I may So say, of a priestly race. . As regards my patience, you do wrong to doubt it; I have served for twenty-two years’ under my uncle, the Secretary of State, Irinarche Potoughine. Did you ever know him?” Pano. if *““I must congratulate you on it. Yes, I am very | patient. But let us return to our first point, as my re- spectable brother, the high priest Avvakoum, who was burned under the Czar Theodore, used to say. I can take back nothing, sir, of what I have said, concerning our countrymen. hey are constantly complaining and going about with long faces, and yet are always full of hope. Look at these lovers of the Slavic’race, of whom M. Goubaref is one: they are very worthy people, but __.you always find in them this strange mixture of despair and confidence, and they live only in the werd ‘ future.’ chevy hope for all things, but nothing comes to them, and during ten whole centuries, Russia has originated nothing in government, the arts and sciences, or even in manufactures. But you must be patient, it is all coming |_in the future. If I ask how it will come, I am answered: That we, who are civilized, are good for nothing, while the people . . . oh! the people are great. It will come Smoke 47 thi ough the armiak.* All other idols are destroyed, we must trust in the armiak. But suppose the armiak does not prove equal to your hopes? It surely will; read Madame Kokhanofska and you will no longer doubt! If I were an artist, I would draw the following picture: a civilized man standing before a peasant, bowing low and saying: ‘Cure me, my friend, I am sick unto death; ” the peasant, on the other hand, humbly bowing to the man of civilization, and saying: “ Instruct me, my lord, I am perishing for want of light.” Neither of them, of course, budges an inch. N ow, what is necessary, is to have true resignation and humility, not merely the words for them; we must frankly and fairly borrow what our older brothers have invented long before us. Kellner, noch ein Glasschen Kirsch! VUhope you will not think me intemperate, but the liquor seems to loosen my tongue.” “* After what you have said,” remarked Litvinof with a smile, ‘I do not need to ask to what party you belong, or what your opinion is of Europe.” Potoughine threw back his head. **T admire, and feel extremely indebted to Europe, and do not think it necessary to conceal my opimions. Fora long time... no, for a short time only, I have not been - ® The principal garment of the serfs. 48 Smoke. afraid to express my convictions, just as I saw yot did not hesitate to make yours known to M. Goubaref. 1 have ceased, thank Heaven, trying to assimilate my opinions with those of the person with whom I am talk- ing. In fact, I know of nothing worse than this useless pusilianimity, this cowardly complaisance, which makes the statesman cringe before the first student that he meets, though he really despises him with all his heart. He is thus deceitful from his desire to be popular, but we ordinary mortals do not need to take ‘this course. Yes, I love Europe, or to speak more exactly, I love civiliza- tion, that civilization which is so much despised by us; 1 love it and trust it, and will have no other love, no other faith. This one word civ-il-i-za-tion is perfect, immacu- late and sacred, while all others of the kind, nationality, glory—are soiled with the stain of blood.” ‘‘Do you love Russia, your country, Sozonthe Ivano- vitch?” | ‘