The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
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argaining with her. I shall tell her the fair price; if she’ll give it – good; if<br />
not, let her go.’<br />
‘Do you know her – this lady?’ asked Gemma.<br />
‘I have never seen her.’<br />
‘And when will you come back?’<br />
‘If our negotiations come to nothing – the day after to-morrow; if they<br />
turn out favourably, perhaps I may have to stay a day or two longer. In<br />
any case I shall not linger a minute beyond what’s necessary. I am leaving<br />
my heart here, you know! But I have said what I had to say to you,<br />
and I must run home before setting off too… . Give me your hand for<br />
luck, Frau Lenore – that’s what we always do in Russia.’<br />
‘<strong>The</strong> right or the left?’<br />
‘<strong>The</strong> left, it’s nearer the heart. I shall reappear the day after to-morrow<br />
with my shield or on it! Something tells me I shall come back in triumph!<br />
Good-bye, my good dear ones… .’<br />
He embraced and kissed Frau Lenore, but he asked Gemma to follow<br />
him into her room – for just a minute – as he must tell her something of<br />
great importance. He simply wanted to say good-bye to her alone. Frau<br />
Lenore saw that, and felt no curiosity as to the matter of such great<br />
importance.<br />
Sanin had never been in Gemma’s room before. All the magic of love,<br />
all its fire and rapture and sweet terror, seemed to flame up and burst into<br />
his soul, directly he crossed its sacred threshold… . He cast a look of<br />
tenderness about him, fell at the sweet girl’s feet and pressed his face<br />
against her waist… .<br />
‘You are mine,’ she whispered: ‘you will be back soon?’<br />
‘I am yours. I will come back,’ he declared, catching his breath.<br />
‘I shall be longing for you back, my dear one!’<br />
A few instants later Sanin was running along the street to his lodging.<br />
He did not even notice that Pantaleone, all dishevelled, had darted out of<br />
the shop-door after him, and was shouting something to him and was<br />
shaking, as though in menace, his lifted hand.<br />
Exactly at a quarter to one Sanin presented himself before Polozov.<br />
<strong>The</strong> carriage with four horses was already standing at the hotel gates. On<br />
seeing Sanin, Polozov merely commented, ‘Oh! you’ve made up your<br />
mind?’ and putting on his hat, cloak, and over-shoes, and stuffing<br />
cotton-wool into his ears, though it was summer-time, went out on to the<br />
steps. <strong>The</strong> waiters, by his directions, disposed all his numerous purchases<br />
in the inside of the carriage, lined the place where he was to sit<br />
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