"I stood for a long time, with the sword pressed against his back,
where it would have pierced his heart," she murmured in my ear, while
she clung to me. "I wanted to kill him, but I could not do it. Then I
found the yemschik's whip, but I had not the strength to strike. Do
you wonder why I left the house? The yemschik came to get me. He
brought a note, signed by you. It said that my brother had been
wounded, and was at my house; that it was safe for me to go there now.
I hastened. I ran to the droshka, and sprang inside before I knew
that it was occupied. Durnief was there. He seized me. Something was
wrapped around my head, and I lost consciousness, I think. Then I heard
sounds, as if men were fighting, and I crawled from the overturned
droshka, and saw you two struggling together, in the snow. I was
dazed, frightened, and very weak. I did not remember what had happened;
I did not recognize you. I thought, at first, that it was Durnief whom
I should assist, and I stood there, watching the struggle for a long
time, trying to remember. Then recollection came, for I heard your
voice. It recalled to me my senses. I remembered who Dubravnik was. Is
it not strange that I should have forgotten? Even for a moment, is it
not strange that I should have forgotten?"
"No, dear, no," I replied.
"Then I found the sword, in the snow. I remembered that I wanted to
kill Durnief, and I put the point against his back. But I could not
press upon it. I tried, but I could not do it. It was horrible,
Dubravnik, horrible. I tried a second time, and the point of the sword
was actually piercing his clothing, when my eyes fell upon the whip. I
secured it. There! See! He is reviving. Seize him, for he must not
escape."