The Torrents Of Spring

XXXIII
It takes less than an hour in these days by rail from Frankfort to Wiesbaden;
at that time the extra post did it in three hours. They changed
horses five times. Part of the time Polozov dozed and part of the time he
simply shook from side to side, holding a cigar in his teeth; he talked
very little; he did not once look out of the window; picturesque views
did not interest them; he even announced that ‘nature was the death of
him!’ Sanin did not speak either, nor did he admire the scenery; he had
no thought for it. He was all absorbed in reflections and memories. At
the stations Polozov paid with exactness, took the time by his watch, and
tipped the postillions – more or less – according to their zeal. When they
had gone half way, he took two oranges out of the hamper of edibles,
and choosing out the better, offered the other to Sanin. Sanin looked
steadily at his companion, and suddenly burst out laughing.
‘What are you laughing at?’ the latter inquired, very carefully peeling
his orange with his short white nails.
‘What at?’ repeated Sanin. ‘Why, at our journey together.’
‘What about it?’ Polozov inquired again, dropping into his mouth one
of the longitudinal sections into which an orange parts.
‘It’s so very strange. Yesterday I must confess I thought no more of
you than of the Emperor of China, and to-day I’m driving with you to
sell my estate to your wife, of whom, too, I have not the slightest idea.’
‘Anything may happen,’ responded Polozov. ‘When you’ve lived a bit
longer, you won’t be surprised at anything. For instance, can you fancy
me riding as an orderly officer? But I did, and the Grand Duke Mihail
Pavlovitch gave the order, ‘Trot! let him trot, that fat cornet! Trot now!
Look sharp!’
Sanin scratched behind his ear.
‘Tell me, please, Ippolit Sidorovitch, what is your wife like? What is
her character? It’s very necessary for me to know that, you see.’
‘It was very well for him to shout, “Trot!”’ Polozov went on with sudden
vehemence, ‘But me! how about me? I thought to myself, “You can
take your honours and epaulettes – and leave me in peace!” But … you
asked about my wife? What my wife is? A person like any one else.
Don’t wear your heart upon your sleeve with her – she doesn’t like that.
The great thing is to talk a lot to her … something for her to laugh at. Tell
her about your love, or something … but make it more amusing, you
know.’
‘How more amusing?’
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