Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

Zinaida Gippius, 1906 painting by Leon Bakst
Gippius took her cigarette holder from her mouth, blew a smoke ring, and, waving the
cigarette with a dismissive gesture, she sighed, "Thank God, my Italian is not very good, and
the Germans are boors. I prefer French."
Alexandra smiled sweetly and thanked her in French for the invitation to her salon of
which she claimed to have heard already in Munich.
Gippius’ French turned out to be deplorable. She changed back to Russian. With raised
eyebrows, extending her hand holding the cigarette towards Vladimir she said. "And you,
young beginner, I have read some of the pieces you just published. Bog prostit, stikhi o lyubi!
--God forgive, love poems! At one time we all went through a great love affair—though not with
the daughter of a serf! Are you a Socialist or a follower of the old Tolstoy?"
Vladimir winced. With a poisonous smile she registered her cheap hit.
On her wink, one of the young men handed her a copy of Vladimir’s slim volume of
poetry. Holding the book in her left hand, Gippius turned her head sideways and blew a cloud
of smoke. The young men smiled smugly in expectation of the coup de grace.
Convinced that Alexandra understood no Russian, Gippius continued. "Well, what are
you planning next? You are still very young and innocent." She waved her cigarette holder in
Alexandra’s direction. "Maybe an erotic experience with Anna Karenina would help you,
provided she allow that."
Vladimir froze.
The Horse continued, fully aware that she was cutting Vladimir to the core. "Erotic
poems sell like hotcakes these days, and they don’t even have to be good. But to make an
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