"THE QUEEN OF SPADES" "A tale of Old St. Petersburg" "In 1806 the craze for gambling had spread througout Russia." "Faro - a simple card game similar to our Snap - was all the fashion, and fortunes were won and lost on the turn of a card." "As a result there arose many superstitions concerning the cards- one of these was the evil influence of THE QUEEN OF SPADES" "For heaven's sake, don't play the Queen of Spades." "She's unlucky." "What does it matter?" "They're all unlucky for me tonight." "But you could back any Spade." "My win, your win." "My win, your win." "My win, your win." "Mine." "The unlucky card!" "What a fool to risk the Queen?" "Your win." "Goodnight, Andrey Andreevich." "Thank you." " Oh, d... d... don't go, Petrov." " Don't leave us." " No, I'll be getting to bed." " Well, have a glass of wine first!" " All my year's pay gone." " Oh, never mind." "You'll have another year's pay in another year's time." "Petrov, I challenge you." "I challenge you to one more hand." "Fyodor, no, no." "It's getting too late." "Gentlemen, let's drink." "There's food on the side tables." "Help yourself." "I wanna go on playing.!" "I don't care if I lose every kopeck!" " Who'll play for double stake?" " Oh, sit down, we'll have another hand later." "I don't need a scare." "Leave me alone." "Hey, why doesn't he play?" "Yes!" "You, Sir." "Standing here every night like a French spy watching us." "Haven't the engineers quarters of their own?" "Don't listen to him, Herman, it's only the wine talking." "I want an answer to my question!" "Stop it, Fyodor!" "Captain Suvorin is here as my guest." "He has every right not to play if he doesn't care to?" "Well, I beg your pardon." "But tell me this, Sir, if you are so interested to come here night after night, why do you never touch a card?" "Tell us!" "Yes, I've often wondered how he can resist playing." "You trying to work out a system?" "Play interests me very much." "But I cannot afford to risk the necessary in the hopes of winning the... superfluous." "Mashenka!" "I show them all one day." " Why this Herman Suvorin come here every night?" " Yes, why?" "He never plays cards." "He is a sort of a man who'll be afraid to stake anything unless he was sure of winning." " Can anyone be sure of winning?" " No." "Who was that you were telling us about." "Your grandmother, Fyodor?" "The Countess Ranevskaya?" " She's a wonderful old woman." "Is it true that she's over a hundred?" " Are you speeking of old Countess Ranevskaya?" " Why?" "Do you know her?" "No, but I soon shall." "My aunt is going to persuade her to ask General Volkoninov to make me his aide-de-camp." "Oh, really?" "My aunt swears she's the most grotesque creature you ever saw." "With the high powdered wig, like they use to wear 50 years ago, and a crinoline to match." "I believe she is a witch." " Nonsense!" " Why, that's absolute rubbish." "But it is true, isn't it, that the old Countess had the secret of how to win at cards." "It's certainly true, that on one occasion she won an immense amount of money." "By selling her soul with the Devil?" "For a secret like that, I'd sell mine!" "The secret of how to win at cards?" "Get to bed, drunkard." "Yes, Sir." "Shut the stove." "Good night, Sir." " Get out." " Good night, Your Honor." "I'm..." "I'm sorry about Fyodor Pavlich'es behavior tonight." " I came to apologize." " Thank you." "Oh, you seem less put out by it than I was." "Perhaps you prefer me not to come to your card parties?" "Oh, no." "Of course not." "Why should I?" "I mean..." "We embarrass you?" "See, I'm only a poor captain of engineers." "You're rich aristocrats." "Guard's officers." "Oh no, I think you're exagerrating things a bit." "You see, poor old Fyodor was..." "well, he was well in his cups and..." "Herman, why not come back?" " Don't you like listening to the Gypsies?" " Gypsies?" "Why not call them what they are?" "Oh, don't be quite so hard on them." "What chance have they got in such circumstances?" "You never blame anyone, do you?" "No, not if I can help it." "I believe all human beings are fundamentally good." "I'm convinced of it." "Ah, yes." "Yes... and I believe also, that evil is a force, a mighty force that is abroad in the world to take possession of men's souls." "If they would allow us to." "I'm not interested in properties good and evil." "To me they are beside the point." "Why don't you come back, Herman?" "No." "But aren't you fascinated by that Gypsy dancer, Mashenka?" " Yes, I've seen her." " But don't you agree?" "I've told you I'm not interested in that sort of woman." "Then perhaps you'll... come as my guest?" "You're very kind, but no, thank you." "Ok, Herman, I know you have to be careful about money." "But after all, we have been paid today and you needn't spend much." "I cannot afford to spend anything." "You are always too proud to accept anything from anyone, aren't you?" "Oh well, deuce take it, you're quite right." "It's senseless to go back there." "I can do with some sleep." " Good night." " Good night." "So they've paid you at last, have they?" "It must be almost a year." "Ten months." "And you want to keep one of these things?" "I've taken enough for my needs." "Well, I've never saved a kopeck in my life." "I've spent it all on food and drink and women." "So, here I am, 54 and a wretched notary." "Vodka?" "But I am content, yes." "If I was to be put into the ground tomorrow," "I wouldn't grumble." "I've had everything I want out of the life God's been very good to me." "Everything a man can want." " Well, I haven't." " Oh, you've done very well." " You're a captain!" " Yes." "In Engineers... at my age." "Over here no one can get promotion, unless he's rich." "Or unless he has some important and powerful relatives to use their influence on his behalf." "Exception men are spiteful and never get a chance to succeed." "Look at France." "Napoleon Bonaparte." "He was a general at 26." "My advice to you is to be content." "As I am." "Take life as you find it." "I'd rather take it by the throat, and force it to give me what I want." "You've forgotten your receipt" "I've deducted 5 roubles for my fee if that's agreeable." "As you wish." "THE CAMPAIGNS OF /NAPOLEON BONAPARTE" "This is a very rare book." "I wouldn't recommend it to everyone." "It tells of strange things that some say are better left alone." "How much is it?" "Three roubles." "That's a lot, I know." "But there are plenty of people who believe in things neither looked for nor heard of." "What mean these premonitions?" "These hauntings?" "These apparitions?" "These tales of horror in a far site in time and space?" "Believe me there are things to be seen that the eye has not seen, and things to be heard the ear has not heard." "Who knows what you may learn from it." "Why, you might end up by gaining a fortune, or losing your precious soul?" "THE STRANGE SECRETS /of the Count de Saint Germain" "Containing the true stories /of people who sold their souls" "in return for wealth, /power or influence... /Chapter IV /The Secret Of The Cards" "Countess R***." "Countess Ranevskaya?" "!" "In the year 1746... /Sixty years ago... /...the Count de St. Germain /arrived in St. Petersburg." "He chose for his residence a deserted palace/on the outskirts of the City," "and soon there were strange rumours /about the weird dwelling" "and its mysterious occupant." "It was certainly true /that in the vaults of the palace" "he had a curious collection /of wax figures," "which, /so it was whispered," "contain the souls of those /who had fallen under his evil influence." "He would derive intense pleasure /from modelling the wax figures" "of his intended victims," "each one of who was chosen /with deliberate appreciation." "Thus the Countess Ranevskaya, acknowledged /the most beautiful woman in Russia," "came to excite his attention." "He had learned that /in spite of her jealous husband" "all the men of fashion vied with /each other for her favours." "Go now." "Later." "Countess." "Who is it?" " What do you want?" " I think you need my master's help." "I need no one's help." "You will, Countess." "You will need it tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Can he see into the future then?" "He can see a long way." " Who is he?" " He is known as St. Germain." "You will find him at the Dolgoruki Palace. [Palace of Long-Handed]" "When the last of the guests had left" "the Countess went down /the secret stairway" "to admit the young stranger / she had promissed to meet." "She alone had the key /to the hidden door." "But in the early hours /of the morning..." "What are you doing?" "Where is the money?" "I beg you, I beseech you." "The money is not mine." "My husband will find out." "Do you wish to ruin me?" "I have no wish but to save myself from ruin, Countess." "Give me the key." "Who are you, pray?" "A common thief parading as a gentleman?" "You should take more care, madam, with your amourous escapades." "My husband!" "Anna!" " Give me the key." " Is anything the matter?" "Anna!" "Why don't you answer me?" "She was haunted by the fear of scandal." "The money belonged /to her husband's regiment." "Somehow she must /replace it without delay" "in her despair she remembered /the strange message from St. Germain." "She had no alternative but /to answer the mysterious summons." "Nothing else could save her." "She would sell her soul... /...anything... /to save herself." "She went to the Dolgoruki palace." "Oh!" "St. Germain gave her the secret /of the three... /winning cards." "In return she made a solemn vow" "that no one else /would ever know the secret." "Holy Virgin, have mercy." "Have mercy on me." "One hour later she was /on the way to the gaming rooms." "Accept this pledge." "She played the three cards /in succession." "She won a fortune." "But the horrors of her visit /to St. Germain" "left a mark on her soul" "for the rest of her life." "Please, sir, spare a kopeck." "Please." "Please, sir, spare a kopeck." "Please." "Please, sir, spare a kopec." "Please." "Please." "Who owns that house?" "Countess Ranevskaya." "Not often she gives a ball." "Countess Ranevskaya." "Is she still alive?" "Will you do me a favor?" " I like the army." " Oh." " That's very good for me." " What is it?" " Well..." "You see, it's..." " A secret of the heart?" "Yes..." "Yes." "Do you know the young woman in the house?" "Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "Of course I know her." "This is her dress I've got here now." "Wants us to make it look new, poor thing." "As if we could work miracles." "Is there a chance of meeting Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "Oh, I don't know." "The old Countess never lets her out of her sight." "It's: "come here", "do this", "do that" all day long." "This coat of mine..." "Look, the seam here, could you?" "Lizaveta." "Anna Fiodorovna..." "Why do you come creeping into the room?" "Like the rest of them in this house." "A sudden shock may bring on a heart attack, you hope." "You think me capable of such wicked thoughts, Anna Fiodorovna?" "Would it not be better for me to go?" "Go?" "And where could you go, pray?" "Is that the gratitude you give your benefactress?" "For taking a poor orphan into her care?" "You cannot want me here if you think I wish for your death." "Why are you dressed up like that, pray?" "Who are you intending to captivate?" "The Prince, my grandson was announced just now." "You said we're going for a drive, Anna Fiodorovna." "Drive in this weather?" "It's calm out." "There's not a breath of..." "What's that you say?" "It's calm out and quite mild." "Nothing of the sort!" "It's windy and bitterly cold." " You don't wish to go then?" " I should think not." "Sit down and read to me." " But Anna Fiodorovna..." " But, but." "Always objections." "I was about to remind you that Prince Fyodor is here." "Ehm, well..." "Now get the book." " What we'll be reading?" " "Don Juan", Countess." " I think it's on the shelf..." " Love stories, love stories..." "Always reading love stories." "What are you doing there?" "Not there!" "Not there!" "Close it!" "Close it!" "I say close it!" "How dare you!" "You wicked, wicked girl!" "I am sorry, Anna Fiodorovna." "I had no idea there was anything there." "I..." "Where is the key to that out door?" "Give it to me!" "But I have no key, Anna Fiodorovna, I don't know..." "You're using that circuit to admit them to your own room." " How can you insist..." " Lies!" "And duplicity!" "There's no one in this house speaks the truth, not anyone!" "You would see, Lizaveta Ivanowna." "We shall find the key missing." "No, there it is.." "... after all." "Prince Krikulin and Prince Narumov." "Quick, give me my stick!" "Give me my stick." "How do you do, grand'mama?" "Allow me to present my friend, Andrei Andreitch, Prince Narumov." "Be seated." "And you too, Fyodor." "No, no, no!" "Oh, my poor little wonderful." "Yes, I know Narumov." "Narumov, yes, I remember your dear mother quite well." "Princess Daria Pietrovna." "That was my grandmother, Countess." "Your grandmother?" "Oh yes, yes of course." "I was forgetting." "What have you been reading lately, Fyodor?" "You must bring me some of the latest French novels." "But not one where the heroine drowns herself for love." "Varva." " Varvarushka." " What is it, my little one?" "Oh, there, tell old Varvarushka all about it." "I know I won't demand anymore, but she is so cruel, Varvarushka darling." "Why should she be so cruel?" "She's old." "She's near the grave and she hasn't found peace for her soul." "I was so happy once." "Home, my mother, my father..." "So happy." " You will be again, poor lonely heart." " Will I?" "Sometimes I feel I'll never leave this house." "I know... little caged bird." "But you'll see, be patient and some day, soon perhaps, you'll meet someone who will love you very much." "And he will help you to be free and happy again." "Where is that dolt taking us?" "This is not the way to the bird market." "It's the way we always come, Anna Fiodorovna." "Well, it looks quite different to me." "Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "Andrei Narumov." "I came with Fyodor Pavlich the other day." "I hoped to be presented to you, but you, you ran away." "Yes, of course, Prince Narumov." "May I accompany you?" "Yes, if you wish." "I have to buy some more little birds to Countess'es aviary." "Your honour." "Yes, your honour?" "I hate to see caged birds." "How can one enjoy their singing?" "If I ever come into a fortune, I shall buy all the little birds." "Everyone of them." "And I shall set them free and watch them fly away into the clouds." "Quick tell Lizaveta Ivanovna to come at once." "I cannot be kept waiting here all day." "Yes, Excellency." "Will you be at the opera next week?" " Yes, indeed." " Do you think I might see you there?" "Please do, if you wish." "Then perhaps we may continue our conversation." "Do you think, Lizaveta Ivanovna, I might come to your box with Prince Fyodor?" "I do, yes, indeed I do." "Please excuse me, now I daren't keep the Countess is waiting." "Come on, Andrei, drink up." "What's the matter with you?" "Oh, nothing." "Nothing at all." " You've got all symptoms of a man in love." " Have I?" "Do I know her?" "Well, in a sense, yes." "You remember your grandmother's young companion?" "What, Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "But she's a pathetic little creature." "Is she?" "Oh, I'm sorry." "I didn't know you knew her." "Where on Earth did you manage to see her?" "I..." "I met her accidentally one day in the bird market." "She was buing some canaries for your grandmother." "My dear fellow, you are not really serious about this, are you?" "Yes." "I've never been more serious in my life." "Come on, have a drink." "Come in." "Hello, Suvorin." "I wondered why you stopped comming to our card parties." "Why don't come tonight?" "No thank you, I'm not interested in cards at the moment." " Oh, forget hard work for once." " Oh, I'm not working, I'm writing a love letter." "You, writing a love letter?" "But you've never written one in your life, have you?" "Well, a few." "Well, not properly, no, but I..." "I know now what it's like to be in love." "Well then, tell me how would you..." "compose a letter of this sort." "I mean, what burning phrases would you use, uh?" "I should say:" "I love you to distraction." "Your dark eyes have driven away my rest and peace." "Oh, if you could but love me." "I've got a letter for you." "But this can't be for me." " But it is." " No, it couldn't be." "I don't know this person." "Herman Suvorin." "I've never heard of him in my life." "Well, it's.. it's addressed to you. [there's a slight stutter here]" " No." "No, there must be some mistake." " Of course it's for you." "You read it through properly and see." "Why have you torn it up if it isn't for you?" " Oh, you must go now." " Well, what shall I say?" "Haven't you got a message for him?" "Tell him please not to write me again." "I love you to distraction." "Your dark eyes have driven away /my rest and peace. /..." "Lizaveta." "If you could but love me." "To Lizaveta Ivanovna." "I revere you..." "I esteem and admire you..." "You are dearer to me than language has the power of telling." "You are... dearer to me... than language... has the power... of telling..." "IMPERIAL THEATRE... /ORPHEUS" "Don't touch my arm like that." "I shall be black and blue." "Well, that will do." "That's enough." "No, no, don't fish at me, my dear, I'm quite capable of walking by myself." "I'll be waiting for you /at the entrance of the opera house." "Who's there?" "Who's this?" "It's I, grand'maman." "Now don't disturb yourself." "I cannot endure people creeping about behind me." "How are you, my dear boy?" "Lisa, make room for the Prince." "No, please, I can see well enough from here." "If you don't meet me tonight I shall kill myself, and you'll be responsible for my death." "Fyodor Pavlich, you're makin fun of me." " No, I assure you you've made a conquest." " Well, who is it, then?" "A very charming friend of mine." " Is he in the army?" " Yes." " The Engineers?" " No, he's in the Horse Guards with me." "Don't you recall the occasion when I brought him to the Countess's house and we heard you crying on the staircase?" "Yes, of course." "Oh, so that's who it is." "But why the Engineers, Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "Oh, I'm..." "No particular reason." "Come now, you're blushing." " I've discovered your litte secret." " Nothing of the sort, there's no secret at all." " What are you whispering about?" " About the music, grand'maman." "Well pull up your chair, you can't see from there." "I do not like that dress, Lizaveta." "A girl of your age should not expose herself like that when we're both together." "Now, man, you must make yourself as agreeable as possible to the Countess." " Flatter her a little." " What, aunt Katia?" "Flatter, flatter her a little." "Oh yes, I see." "What sort of thing should I say?" "Well, use your wits, my dear boy." "What would you say to some charming young girl?" "I don't know, aunt Katia." "Pay her some compliments." "Be gay and amusing." " Countess Ranevskaya." " Yes." "I have my nephew with me." "He is the grandson of your old friend, Count Dobrinsky." "He's been pleading me to present him to you." " Oh, where is he?" " Ah, Niki!" "Niki!" "Well, so you're Dobrinsky's grandson." "Yes, but I should never have known it." "He was the handsomest man in the imperial guard." "And I daresay he still is." "I didn't really know my grandpa, Countess." "I can just remember a great fat man with a purple face, who was always hitting the servants with a stick and making us all laugh." "It must be 15 years since he died but I can still remember his coffin being carried out." " What is the boy saying?" " Yes, it was most unfortunate." "Most unfortunate." "Why unfortunate, aunt Katia?" "After all he was nearly 80." "What else could you expect at that age?" "We shall be seeing you at the ball tomorrow." "Young lout!" "Oh, Andrei." "Who's that?" "Make room for Prince Narumov, my dear." "What's the matter with you tonight?" "Please, it's quite all right." "I can see it just well from here." "How hot it is in here." "Quite stifling." "Are you feeling unwell?" "It's my head." "I feel faint." "I think I'll just sit in the foyer for a while." " Yes, of course." "May I escort you?" " No, I assure you it's only the heat." "I shall recover in a few moments." " But I think that..." " No, I insist." "I insist." "That probably accounts for the young Baron's interest." " Lizaveta." " I can't meet you here." " Why are you scared to meet?" " Someone is bound to see you." " I must speak to you." " They'll be looking for me at any moment." "Please." "Listen, Lizaveta." "That was no idle threat in my letter." "If I cannot go on seeing you, there is one solution for me: death." "Death?" "Yes, I'd rather die here at your feet, than live without you." "Death is nothing to me." "You're frightening me when you talk like that." "Oh, well then I be silent." "Only I beg; don't send the man out of this room." "The sight of you is all the consolation he has left." "Why don't want to make demands upon you, but" "I must, unless I carry out my threats have leave to see you." "When and where?" "I can never leave the house alone." "Promotion?" "And how can you get promotion?" "My coat." "How can you get promotion?" "Unless you win the favor of some general, you stupid boy." "I was only trying to be gay and amusing, aunt Katia." "Gay and amusing?" "Don't talk to me about gay and amusing." "You must get away from this life." "You must do as I say." "When do you go out with the Countess, Lizaveta?" " Tomorrow night, or..." "Tomorrow." " And what time do you return?" " At three." "I'll slip into the house at midnight, and wait." "Will there be any servants about?" "No, they all retire to sleep awaiting our return." "Help me, Lizaveta." "Where can I wait?" "Where can I conceal myself?" "No." "No, please, forget what I've said." "I must have been out of my senses..." " Lizaveta..." " Would you please let me go now." "I love you." "Do you believe me?" " Yes." " Then do as I say?" "And tell me how to find my way inside the house." "I think I'll go and see how she is, Fyodor." "I feel uneasy." "You don't need to anger her." "Don't worry, she will back before long." "I cross the hall and come right to the servant's staircase?" "Yes." "Seven rooms at the top." "Wait for me there." "And the Countess bedchamber, you say, is on the first floor beyond the drawing room." "Yes, be quite sure you don't go that way." "I must go back now." "I'm frightened." " Please, let us wait." " Why, there's nothing to be frightened of." "And please put the candle in your bedroom window." "If it isn't there I shall know something has gone wrong." "Where is captain Suvorin?" "Captain?" "His honor will be back... in a minute, your excellency." "Forward march!" "To Lizaveta Ivanovna" "I revere you." "I esteem and admire you." "You are dearer to me than language /has the power of telling..." "LETTER TO A YOUNG LADY OF QUALITY /To **** I revere you..." "Andrei!" "What a surprise." "I want an explanation from you." "What are your relations with Lizaveta Ivanov Toleodovsky?" "What?" "Come now, no play-acting, please." "I saw you together at the opera house last night." "And since when do I have to explain my actions to you?" "What are your intentions towards Lizaveta Ivanovna?" "I insist on knowing." "Now, what's the reason for this sudden outburst?" "Just because you see me with the girl in foyer at the opera house?" "You're planning a cold blooded seduction." "Why else should you meet Lizaveta Ivanovna so secretly?" "Don't interfere with my plans, you  insolent young puppy." "I'm warning you, Suvorin." "I shall hold your responsible for any ill that may befall her." "So what is Lizaveta doing?" "Go, go and find out." "Oh, no, not both of you." "Go away, go away, go away." "You're just... just your mother's girl." "Yes, now take care of Wolfie." "And see that she doesn't get near Vodka." "Where is Vodka?" "Where is the dog?" "Sergei!" "I could be set on by thieves at my own door for all my servants care." "Stiopka doesn't like the dog, your excellency." "It's always crowding at him." "See that it's brought up here instantly." "Lizaveta Ivanovna." "How much longer am I to be kept waiting?" "Have you taken leave of your senses, Liza?" "Don't stand there." "What have you been doing?" "I'm sorry, Anna Fiodorovna," "I forgot my reticule." "I wonder..." "Do you think I might be excused from coming to the ball?" "And what is it now?" "Another of those swooning fits we were treated to like at the opera last night?" "And what are those flowers in your hair?" "Modesty of demeanor is all that is required of you." "Then come now." "They've been waiting for me at the ball this half hour." "Hurry up!" "Don't keep us here all night." "Is the Countess, uh...?" "I don't want to disturb her." "General Volkoninov, Countess." "What's that?" "General Volkoninov!" "But I know perfectly well who it is, thank you." "It's no occasion to shout at me." "Well, general, I trust you're enjoying good health." "Splendid!" "Splendid!" "And you?" " Excellent." "Excellent." " Capital." "Prince Narumov, Countess." "Oh, Narumov." "And how is my old friend, your mother?" "She is in an excellent health, Countess, and sends you her regards." "Capital, capital." "I've come to beg the honor of a dance with Lizaveta Ivanovna, Conutess." "Oh, well, now, that's unfortunate." "She's not in a very good health." "She's not feeling very well tonight." "Oh yes, I am, Countess." "Will you excuse me?" "No, no, no." "That's impossible." "I cannot be left sitting here by myself." "I expect Princess Ivashin to join me later." "Perhaps then Lizaveta will be well enough to dance." "Lizaveta Ivanovna, are you doing everything in your part deliberately to try and provoke me?" "All this evening you have been complaining you're feeling ill and faint and begging me to let you go home." "In the next instant you're ready to dance around like a zany with the first person who chooses to ask?" " Why did you send me here tonight?" " I knew it." " You knew what?" " You wouldn't get to dance." "Why?" "You don't know my grandmother." "She hates being left alone." "She always gets her own way." " Yes, and she's the most exasperating..." " Now, listen, Andrei, she is an old woman and she is afraid of death." "Mind you, she's got far too much courage ever to show it to anybody." "Lizaveta, is it cold in here?" "Cold?" "No, I don't think so." "Put my shawl round me." "I feel cold." "Come on, now!" "You come back!" "Ladies and gentlemen." "Please, take your partners for the mazurka." "Lizaveta Ivanovna," "I must speak to you after the dance." "Yes, of course." "What about?" "Please, it's most important." "It's about Herman Suvorin." " But Lizaveta..." " I don't wish to discuss it." "I know nothing of your relation toward Suvorin." "Please, I beg you, do not trust him." "He is dangerous." "You presume too much on your slight acquaintance with me, Prince." "Please..." "Liza..." "Liza, if anything should happen to you, I'd never forgive myself for failing to warn you." "I'm truly amazed that one officer should try to defame another, as you have done to me." "Good night, Prince." "Vasilyi, are you there?" "The Countess is back." "Good night, Countess." "Herman?" "Now..." "Now you sleep tonight." "You must go to bed." "I cannot sleep..." "I cannot sleep." "Good night, Anna Fiodorovna." "God be with you." "May the power of the holy cross protect you." "Holy Virgin... have mercy on me." "Have mercy on me, Holy Virgin." "Have mercy on me." "Have mercy on me." "Holy Virgin." "Don't cry out!" "Don't be alarmed, please!" "Don't be alarmed." "I don't mean you any harm." "I've come to ask a favor of you." "That's all." "A favor." "It'll cost you nothing, but to me it will bring happiness" "for the rest of my life." "I want the secret of the cards." "That's all." "Come!" "What is it?" "The three cards." "The names of the three cards." "Please." "Oh, it's no use pretending you don't know anything about it." "I know you've been given the secret, and I know... who gave it to you." "Please..." "Just think of those three words aloud, and I trouble you no more." "I go." "What good is the secret to you?" "For whom are you keeping it?" "For your grandson?" "He's rich enough." "What would another fortune mean to him, a wastrel and a spendthrift?" "But I'm not a man of that sort." "I know the value of money." "I could do great things," "I tell you, great things, if only I had money." "For the love of God..." "If you have any human feeling in your breast, you can't refuse me." "I beg." "I beseech." "I know why you won't speak." "The secret is connected with some terrible sin." "That's it, isn't it?" "But I make a bargain with you." "Tell me your secret and I take your sin upon my soul!" "Do you hear me?" "!" "I mean it!" "A bargain!" "I'll take your sin upon my own soul!" "You speak!" "Speak to me, you old bitch!" "Or by God I make you!" "I'll ask for the last time." "Are you going to tell me the secret of the cards?" "Or are you..." "No." "Herman." "Where have you been?" "What is it?" "Are you ill?" "Herman..." "What has happened?" "I..." "I've been to the Countess'es room." "Did she see you?" "She's dead." "What did you say?" "She's dead." " But I must go to her." " Then you want us to be discovered?" "What are we going to do?" "Herman." "What are we going to do?" "If only you hadn't taken the passage to the left." "I did it deliberately." "Deliberately?" "She had a secret." "I wanted the secret." " I don't understand." " But she died... and took the secret with her." "You... wanted her secret?" "It was the reason of your vigils outside my window?" "She...." " She cheated me." " But your letters?" " Your... wonderful letters?" " A fortune was within my grasp." "Your lies then... all lies." "And she refused to speak." "Oh, what have I done?" "Holy Mother, what have I done?" "She deserved to die." "No!" "No." "No, I never meant to kill her." "The pistol is not loaded." "Look." "Don't come near me!" "Get out of here!" "If you've any sense of decency, spare me your sight." "But it is nearly dawn." "The servants will be up." "How do I leave the house?" "I don't know." "Oh, yes." "There's a secret staircase in the Countess'es room, and you can get out to the street." "How do I find it?" "It's a part of a bookcase." "Press... the carving of the sixth shelf." "The key is on the dressing table." "Murder?" "The sixth bookshelf." "The six..." "The dead shall give up /their secrets" "The dead shall give up their secrets" "I've commaded to grant your request." "Three, seven, ace." "I forgive you my death /on condition," "that you marry my ward, /Lizaveta Ivanovna." "Three... seven ace." "Three... seven ace." "It's the cards." "The secret... of the cards." "To your health." "Now would you just mind signing that, please?" "Thank you." "47.000 roubles." "Well, there you are." "That's quite a fortune." "Yes." "And what about of a little something for myself, eh?" "Oh, and I deserved it, yeah." "It wasn't easy realizing all that money, at so short a notice." "Now, what you gonna do with it?" "Something foolish, I'll be bound!" "I know you quiet ones, when you decide to break out." "Vodka and Gypsy girls." "Here's luck." "I wish I were in your shoes." "Careful now." "Good bye, my little one." "My darling." " Think of old Varvarushka sometimes." " Of course, I shall do so, my darling." "We shall never see each other in this life again." "May God bless and keep you, and the power of the holy cross protect you." "Goodbye." "Lizaveta..." "Lizaveta Ivanovna." "I have something to tell you." "Please, let me pass." "But it's of the utmost importance to you." " Why have you come back to torment me like this?" " Not to torment you, Lizaveta." "I have come back to ask your forgiveness." "Forgive me, Lizaveta." "What you done to me I forgive you." "But for the Countess'es death I can never forgive either you or myself." " Lizaveta..." " I don't want to listen to you." " I'm going away." " No, you can't." "You can't." "Lizaveta, listen to me." "Please, please, listen to me." "I admit when I first saw you at the window with my plans you were nothing to me." "A stranger." "My love was faint." "But it all has changed now." "Don't you see, Lizaveta?" "I love you." "Yes." "I love you." "And I'm asking you to be my wife." "No." "You're nothing but a murderer to me." "Think of me what you like, only marry me." "Oh, I see." "You don't want to be the wife of Herman Suvorin, because I'm only a humble captain engineers." "Don't you make a mistake!" "That'll all be different tomorrow." "For tonight..." "I shall come into a vast fortune." "I despise you." "You fool... stay as you are then... at faint companion, a drudge!" "But you'll come crawling tomorrow, I tell you." "With all the rest of them." "All these people of St. Petersburg begging for admission to my house." "And I let you crawl." "All of you." "When I remember my sufferings , my wish." "And I stamp on you!" "Liza..." "Lizaveta, What's happened?" "Here, calm yourself." "Oh, he was mad." "I'm sure he is." "Suvorin." "Herman Suvorin." "No, no!" "Stay with me!" "Don't go up there." "Andrei!" "Andrei!" "He's gone." "Liza..." "Liza, you can't leave like this." "Let me take you to my parents house." "I wish only your happiness, you know that." "I must tell you..." "I cannot keep it to myself any longer." "He killed the Countess." "He threatened her with a pistol." "She died of fright." "It's my fault." "I'm..." "I'm sorry, I wouldn't listen to..." "Liza..." "Liza..." "I'll take care of you, if you let me." " No, Suvorin..." " Oh, don't worry about him." "I promise you, he will never trouble you again." "Oh, take care, Andrei." "Please." "He is evil." "It was like looking into the eyes of Satan." "Marusia, Herman!" "I'll make you pay for this," "Prince Narumov." "You may choose your weapons." "I shall." " But I make one condition." " Yes?" "That you play a "Hand of Faro" with me tonight." "He wants to play." "Accept, accept, Andrei Andreich." "I accept." "I'll take the bank." "How much?" "47.000 roubles." "What?" "But... nobody here has never staked more than 250 roubles at a time." "You accept?" "Oh, yes, yes, I accept." "But I must ask you to put your money on the table." "47.000." "I was not prepared to play on such a scale tonight." "I must ask you to accept my note of hand." "47.000 roubles." "Three." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your..." "I win." "Another one." " Wery well." " How much?" "94.000." "94.000 roubles." "Seven." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "I win." "And the last one?" "188.000?" "I accept." "188.000 roubles." "It's 376.000." "Ace." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your win." "My win." "Your..." "Ace wins." "Your queen is lost!" "Three, seven, ace." "Be content, as I am." "Take life as it comes." "I'd rather take it /by the throat... /and force it to give me /what I want." "Three, seven, ace." "" " Your queen is lost!" "" " Three, seven, ace." "Your queen is lost!" "" " I should come to a vast fortune!" "Or lose your precious soul." "- should come to a vast fortune!" "Or lose your precious soul." "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Gentlemen, stop!" "Herman..." "Three... seven... ace." "Herman." "Come." "Three.." "seven..." "Queen?" "Three... seven..." "Ace?" "Three.." "seven... subtitled by ignatz and Orion1"