Mr。NicholasB。remainsformetheunfortunateandmiserable（butheroic）beingwhoonceuponatimehadeatenadog。
ItisagoodfortyyearssinceIheardthetale，andtheeffecthasnotwornoffyet。Ibelievethisistheveryfirst，say，realistic，storyIheardinmylife;butallthesameIdon’tknowwhyIshouldhavebeensofrightfullyimpressed。OfcourseIknowwhatourvillagedogslooklike——butstill……No！Atthisveryday，recallingthehorrorandcompassionofmychildhood，IaskmyselfwhetherIamrightindisclosingtoacoldandfastidiousworldthatawfulepisodeinthefamilyhistory。Iaskmyself——isitright？——especiallyastheB。familyhadalwaysbeenhonourablyknowninawidecountry-sideforthedelicacyoftheirtastesinthematterofeatinganddrinking。
Butuponthewhole，andconsideringthatthisgastronomicaldegradationovertakingagallantyoungofficerliesreallyatthedooroftheGreatNapoleon，Ithinkthattocoveritupbysilencewouldbeanexaggerationofliteraryrestraint。Letthetruthstandhere。TheresponsibilityrestswiththeManofSt。
HelenainviewofhisdeplorablelevityintheconductoftheRussiancampaign。ItwasduringthememorableretreatfromMoscowthatMr。NicholasB。，incompanyoftwobrotherofficers——
astowhosemoralityandnaturalrefinementIknownothing——
baggedadogontheoutskirtsofavillageandsubsequentlydevouredhim。AsfarasIcanremembertheweaponusedwasacavalrysabre，andtheissueofthesportingepisodewasrathermoreofamatteroflifeanddeaththanifithadbeenanencounterwithatiger。ApicketofCossackswassleepinginthatvillagelostinthedepthsofthegreatLithuanianforest。
Thethreesportsmenhadobservedthemfromahiding-placemakingthemselvesverymuchathomeamongstthehutsjustbeforetheearlywinterdarknesssetinatfouro’clock。Theyhadobservedthemwithdisgustandperhapswithdespair。Lateinthenighttherashcounselsofhungerovercamethedictatesofprudence。
CrawlingthroughthesnowtheycreptuptothefenceofdrybrancheswhichgenerallyenclosesavillageinthatpartofLithuania。Whattheyexpectedtogetandinwhatmanner，andwhetherthisexpectationwasworththerisk，goodnessonlyknows。
However，theseCossackparties，inmostcaseswanderingwithoutanofficer，wereknowntoguardthemselvesbadlyandoftennotatall。Inaddition，thevillagelyingatagreatdistancefromthelineofFrenchretreat，theycouldnotsuspectthepresenceofstragglersfromtheGrandArmy。Thethreeofficershadstrayedawayinablizzardfromthemaincolumnandhadbeenlostfordaysinthewoods，whichexplainssufficientlytheterriblestraitstowhichtheywerereduced。Theirplanwastotryandattracttheattentionofthepeasantsinthatoneofthehutswhichwasnearesttotheenclosure;butastheywerepreparingtoventureintotheveryjawsofthelion，sotospeak，adog（itismightystrangethattherewasbutone），acreaturequiteasformidableunderthecircumstancesasalion，begantobarkontheothersideofthefence……
Atthisstageofthenarrative，whichIheardmanytimes（byrequest）fromthelipsofCaptainNicholasB。’ssister-in-law，mygrandmother，Iusedtotremblewithexcitement。
Thedogbarked。AndifhehaddonenomorethanbarkthreeofficersoftheGreatNapoleon’sarmywouldhaveperishedhonourablyonthepointsofCossack’slances，orperchanceescapingthechasewouldhavedieddecentlyofstarvation。Butbeforetheyhadtimetothinkofrunningaway，thatfatalandrevoltingdog，beingcarriedawaybytheexcessofhiszeal，dashedoutthroughagapinthefence。Hedashedoutanddied。
Hishead，Iunderstand，wasseveredatoneblowfromhisbody。I
understandalsothatlateron，withinthegloomysolitudesofthesnow-ladenwoods，when，inashelteringhollow，afirehadbeenlitbytheparty，theconditionofthequarrywasdiscoveredtobedistinctlyunsatisfactory。Itwasnotthin——onthecontrary，itseemedunhealthilyobese;itsskinshowedbarepatchesofanunpleasantcharacter。However，theyhadnotkilledthatdogforthesakeofthepelt。Hewaslarge……Hewaseaten……Therestissilence……
Asilenceinwhichasmallboyshuddersandsaysfirmly：
"Icouldnothaveeatenthatdog。"
Andhisgrandmotherremarkswithasmile：
"Perhapsyoudon’tknowwhatitistobehungry。"
Ihavelearnedsomethingofitsince。NotthatIhavebeenreducedtoeatdog。Ihavefedontheemblematicalanimal，which，inthelanguageofthevolatileGauls，iscalledlavacheenragee;Ihavelivedonancientsaltjunk，Iknowthetasteofshark，oftrepang，ofsnake，ofnondescriptdishescontainingthingswithoutaname——butoftheLithuanianvillagedog——never！
IwishittobedistinctlyunderstoodthatitisnotIbutmygrand-uncleNicholas，ofthePolishlandedgentry，ChevalierdelaLegiond’Honneur，&c。&c。，who，inhisyoungdays，hadeatentheLithuaniandog。
Iwishhehadnot。Thechildishhorrorofthedeedclingsabsurdlytothegrizzledman。Iamperfectlyhelplessagainstit。Stillifhereallyhadto，letuscharitablyrememberthathehadeatenhimonactiveservice，whilebearingupbravelyagainstthegreatestmilitarydisasterofmodernhistory，and，inamanner，forthesakeofhiscountry。Hehadeatenhimtoappeasehishungernodoubt，butalsoforthesakeofanunappeasableandpatrioticdesire，intheglowofagreatfaiththatlivesstill，andinthepursuitofagreatillusionkindledlikeafalsebeaconbyagreatmantoleadastraytheeffortofabravenation。
Propatria！
Lookedatinthatlightitappearsasweetanddecorousmeal。
Andlookedatinthesamelightmyowndietoflavacheenrageeappearsafatuousandextravagantformofself-indulgence;forwhyshouldI，thesonofalandwhichsuchmenasthesehaveturnedupwiththeirploughsharesandbedewedwiththeirblood，undertakethepursuitoffantasticmealsofsaltjunkandhardtackuponthewideseas？Onthekindestviewitseemsanunanswerablequestion。Alas！Ihavetheconvictionthattherearemenofunstainedrectitudewhoarereadytomurmurscornfullytheworddesertion。Thusthetasteofinnocentadventuremaybemadebittertothepalate。Thepartoftheinexplicableshouldbeallowedforinappraisingtheconductofmeninaworldwherenoexplanationisfinal。Nochargeoffaithlessnessoughttobelightlyuttered。Theappearancesofthisperishablelifearedeceptivelikeeverythingthatfallsunderthejudgmentofourimperfectsenses。Theinnervoicemayremaintrueenoughinitssecretcounsel。Thefidelitytoaspecialtraditionmaylastthroughtheeventsofanunrelatedexistence，followingfaithfullytoothetracedwayofaninexplicableimpulse。
Itwouldtaketoolongtoexplaintheintimateallianceofcontradictionsinhumannaturewhichmakesloveitselfwearattimesthedesperateshapeofbetrayal。Andperhapsthereisnopossibleexplanation。Indulgence——assomebodysaid——isthemostintelligentofallthevirtues。Iventuretothinkthatitisoneoftheleastcommon，ifnotthemostuncommonofall。I
wouldnotimplybythisthatmenarefoolish——orevenmostmen。
Farfromit。Thebarberandthepriest，backedbythewholeopinionofthevillage，condemnedjustlytheconductoftheingenioushidalgowho，sallyingforthfromhisnativeplace，broketheheadofthemuleteer，puttodeathaflockofinoffensivesheep，andwentthroughverydolefulexperiencesinacertainstable。Godforbidthatanunworthychurlshouldescapemeritedcensurebyhangingontothestirrup-leatherofthesublimecaballero。Hiswasaverynoble，averyunselfishfantasy，fitfornothingexcepttoraisetheenvyofbasermortals。Butthereismorethanoneaspecttothecharmofthatexaltedanddangerousfigure。He，too，hadhisfrailties。Afterreadingsomanyromanceshedesirednaivelytoescapewithhisverybodyfromtheintolerablerealityofthings。HewishedtomeeteyetoeyethevalorousgiantBrandabarbaran，LordofArabia，whosearmourismadeoftheskinofadragon，andwhoseshield，strappedtohisarm，isthegateofafortifiedcity。O
amiableandnaturalweakness！Oblessedsimplicityofagentleheartwithoutguile！Whowouldnotsuccumbtosuchaconsolingtemptation？Neverthelessitwasaformofself-indulgence，andtheingenioushidalgoofLaManchawasnotagoodcitizen。Thepriestandthebarberwerenotunreasonableintheirstrictures。
WithoutgoingsofarastheoldKingLouis-Philippe，whousedtosayinhisexile，"Thepeopleareneverinfault"——onemayadmitthattheremustbesomerighteousnessintheassentofawholevillage。Mad！Mad！Hewhokeptinpiousmeditationtheritualvigil-of-armsbythewellofaninnandkneltreverentlytobeknightedatdaybreakbythefat，slyrogueofalandlord，hascomeverynearperfection。Heridesforth，hisheadencircledbyahalo——thepatronsaintofalllivesspoiledorsavedbytheirresistiblegraceofimagination。Buthewasnotagoodcitizen。
Perhapsthatandnothingelsewasmeantbythewell-rememberedexclamationofmytutor。
Itwasinthejollyyear1873，theverylastyearinwhichIhavehadajollyholiday。Therehavebeenidleyearsafterwards，jollyenoughinawayandnotaltogetherwithouttheirlesson，butthisyearofwhichIspeakwastheyearofmylastschoolboyholiday。ThereareotherreasonswhyIshouldrememberthatyear，buttheyaretoolongtostateformallyinthisplace。
Moreovertheyhavenothingtodowiththatholiday。WhathastodowiththeholidayisthatbeforethedayonwhichtheremarkwasmadewehadseenVienna，theUpperDanube，Munich，theFallsoftheRhine，theLakeofConstance——infactitwasamemorableholidayoftravel。OflatewehadbeentrampingslowlyuptheValleyoftheReuss。Itwasadelightfultime。Itwasmuchmorelikeastrollthanatramp。LandingfromaLakeofLucernesteamerinFluellen，wefoundourselvesattheendofthesecondday，withtheduskovertakingourleisurelyfootsteps，alittlewaybeyondHospenthal。Thisisnotthedayonwhichtheremarkwasmade：intheshadowsofthedeepvalleyandwiththehabitationsofmenleftsomewaybehind，ourthoughtsrannotupontheethicsofconductbutuponthesimplerhumanproblemofshelterandfood。Theredidnotseemanythingofthekindinsight，andwewerethinkingofturningbackwhensuddenlyatabendoftheroadwecameuponabuilding，ghostlyinthetwilight。
AtthattimetheworkontheSt。GothardTunnelwasgoingon，andthatmagnificententerpriseofburrowingwasdirectlyresponsiblefortheunexpectedbuilding，standingallaloneupontheveryrootsofthemountains。Itwaslongthoughnotbigatall;itwaslow;itwasbuiltofboards，withoutornamentation，inbarrack-hutstyle，withthewhitewindow-framesquiteflushwiththeyellowfaceofitsplainfront。Andyetitwasanhotel;ithadevenanamewhichIhaveforgotten。Buttherewasnogold-
laceddoor-keeperatitshumbledoor。Aplainbutvigorousservant-girlansweredourinquiries，thenamanandwomanwhoownedtheplaceappeared。Itwasclearthatnotravellerswereexpected，orperhapsevendesired，inthisstrangehostelry，whichinitsseverestyleresembledthehousewhichsurmountstheunseaworthy-lookinghullsofthetoyNoah’sArks，theuniversalpossessionofEuropeanchildhood。However，itsroofwasnothingedanditwasnotfulltothebrimofslabsidedandpaintedanimalsofwood。Eventhelivetouristanimalwasnowhereinevidence。Wehadsomethingtoeatinalong，narrowroomatoneendofalong，narrowtable，which，tomytiredperceptionandtomysleepyeyes，seemedasifitwouldtiltuplikeasee-sawplank，sincetherewasnooneattheotherendtobalanceitagainstourtwodustyandtravel-stainedfigures。Thenwehastenedupstairstobedinaroomsmellingofpineplanks，andI
wasfastasleepbeforemyheadtouchedthepillow。
Inthemorningmytutor（hewasastudentoftheCracowUniversity）wokemeupearly，andasweweredressingremarked：
"Thereseemstobealotofpeoplestayinginthishotel。Ihaveheardanoiseoftalkinguptill11o’clock？"Thisstatementsurprisedme;Ihadheardnonoisewhatever，havingsleptlikeatop。
Wewentdownstairsintothelongandnarrowdining-roomwithitslongandnarrowtable。Thereweretworowsofplatesonit。Atoneofthemanyuncurtainedwindowsstoodatallbonymanwithabaldheadsetoffbyabunchofblackhairaboveeachearandwithalongblackbeard。Heglancedupfromthepaperhewasreadingandseemedgenuinelyastonishedatourintrusion。By-
and-bymoremencamein。Notoneofthemlookedlikeatourist。
Notasinglewomanappeared。Thesemenseemedtoknoweachotherwithsomeintimacy，butIcannotsaytheywereaverytalkativelot。Thebald-headedmansatdowngravelyattheheadofthetable。Itallhadtheairofafamilyparty。By-and-by，fromoneofthevigorousservant-girlsinnationalcostume，wediscoveredthattheplacewasreallyaboarding-houseforsomeEnglishengineersengagedattheworksoftheSt。GothardTunnel;
andIcouldlistenmyfilltothesoundsoftheEnglishlanguage，asfarasitisusedatabreakfast-tablebymenwhodonotbelieveinwastingmanywordsonthemereamenitiesoflife。
ThiswasmyfirstcontactwithBritishmankindapartfromthetouristkindseeninthehotelsofZurichandLucerne——thekindwhichhasnorealexistenceinaworkadayworld。Iknownowthatthebald-headedmanspokewithastrongScotchaccent。Ihavemetmanyofhiskindsince，bothashoreandafloat。Thesecondengineerofthesteamer"Mavis"，forinstance，oughttohavebeenhistwinbrother。Icannothelpthinkingthathereallywas，thoughforsomereasonsofhisownheassuredmethatheneverhadatwinbrother。Anywaythedeliberatebald-headedScotwiththecoal-blackbeardappearedtomyboyisheyesaveryromanticandmysteriousperson。
Weslippedoutunnoticed。Ourmapped-outrouteledovertheFurcaPasstowardstheRhoneGlacier，withthefurtherintentionoffollowingdownthetrendoftheHasliValley。Thesunwasalreadydecliningwhenwefoundourselvesonthetopofthepass，andtheremarkalludedtowaspresentlyuttered。
Wesatdownbythesideoftheroadtocontinuetheargumentbegunhalfamileorsobefore。IamcertainitwasanargumentbecauseIrememberperfectlyhowmytutorarguedandhowwithoutthepowerofreplyIlistenedwithmyeyesfixedobstinatelyontheground。Astirontheroadmademelookup——andthenIsawmyunforgettableEnglishman。Thereareacquaintancesoflateryears，familiars，shipmates，whomIrememberlessclearly。Hemarchedrapidlytowardstheeast（attendedbyahang-dogSwissguide）withthemienofanardentandfearlesstraveller。Hewascladinaknickerbockersuit，butasatthesametimeheworeshortsocksunderhislacedboots，forreasonswhichwhetherhygienicorconscientiousweresurelyimaginative，hiscalvesexposedtothepublicgazeandtothetonicairofhighaltitudes，dazzledthebeholderbythesplendouroftheirmarble-
likeconditionandtheirrichtoneofyoungivory。Hewastheleaderofasmallcaravan。Thelightofaheadlong，exaltedsatisfactionwiththeworldofmenandthesceneryofmountainsilluminedhisclean-cut，veryredface，hisshort，silver-whitewhiskers，hisinnocentlyeagerandtriumphanteyes。Inpassinghecastaglanceofkindlycuriosityandafriendlygleamofbig，sound，shinyteethtowardsthemanandtheboysittinglikedustytrampsbytheroadside，withamodestknapsacklyingattheirfeet。Hiswhitecalvestwinkledsturdily，theuncouthSwissguidewithasurlymouthstalkedlikeanunwillingbearathiselbow;asmalltrainofthreemulesfollowedinsinglefiletheleadofthisinspiringenthusiast。Twoladiesrodepastonebehindtheother，butfromthewaytheysatIsawonlytheircalm，uniformbacks，andthelongendsofblueveilshangingbehindfardownovertheiridenticalhat-brims。Histwodaughterssurely。Anindustriousluggage-mule，withunstarchedearsandguardedbyaslouching，sallowdriver，broughtuptherear。Mytutor，afterpausingforalookandafaintsmile，resumedhisearnestargument。
Itellyouitwasamemorableyear！OnedoesnotmeetsuchanEnglishmantwiceinalifetime。Washeinthemysticorderingofcommoneventstheambassadorofmyfuture，sentouttoturnthescaleatacriticalmomentonthetopofanAlpinepass，withthepeaksoftheBerneseOberlandformuteandsolemnwitnesses？Hisglance，hissmile，theunextinguishableandcomicardourofhisstriving-forwardappearancehelpedmetopullmyselftogether。
ItmustbestatedthatonthatdayandintheexhilaratingatmosphereofthatelevatedspotIhadbeenfeelingutterlycrushed。ItwastheyearinwhichIhadfirstspokenaloudofmydesiretogotosea。Atfirstlikethosesoundsthat，rangingoutsidethescaletowhichmen’searsareattuned，remaininaudibletooursenseofhearing，thisdeclarationpassedunperceived。Itwasasifithadnotbeen。Lateron，bytryingvarioustonesImanagedtoarousehereandthereasurprisedmomentaryattention——the"Whatwasthatfunnynoise？"sortofinquiry。Lateronitwas——"Didyouhearwhatthatboysaid？
Whatanextraordinaryoutbreak！"Presentlyawaveofscandalisedastonishment（itcouldnothavebeengreaterifIhadannouncedtheintentionofenteringaCarthusianmonastery）ebbingoutoftheeducationalandacademicaltownofCracowspreaditselfoverseveralprovinces。Itspreaditselfshallowbutfar-reaching。
Itstirredupamassofremonstrance，indignation，pityingwonder，bitterironyanddownrightchaff。Icouldhardlybreatheunderitsweight，andcertainlyhadnowordsforananswer。
PeoplewonderedwhatMr。T。B。woulddonowwithhisworryingnephewand，Idaresay，hopedkindlythathewouldmakeshortworkofmynonsense。
WhathedidwastocomedownallthewayfromUkrainetohaveitoutwithmeandtojudgebyhimself，unprejudiced，impartialandjust，takinghisstandonthegroundofwisdomandaffection。AsfarasispossibleforaboywhosepowerofexpressionisstillunformedIopenedthesecretofmythoughtstohimandheinreturnallowedmeaglimpseintohismindandheart;thefirstglimpseofaninexhaustibleandnobletreasureofclearthoughtandwarmfeeling，whichthroughlifewastobeminetodrawuponwithanever-deceivedloveandconfidence。Practically，afterseveralexhaustiveconversations，heconcludedthathewouldnothavemelateronreproachhimforhavingspoiledmylifebyanunconditionalopposition。ButImusttaketimeforseriousreflection。AndImustnotonlythinkofmyselfbutofothers;
weightheclaimsofaffectionandconscienceagainstmyownsincerityofpurpose。"Thinkwellwhatitallmeansinthelargerissues，myboy，"heexhortedmefinallywithspecialfriendliness。"Andmeantimetrytogetthebestplaceyoucanattheyearlyexaminations。"
Thescholasticyearcametoanend。Itookafairlygoodplaceattheexams。，whichforme（forcertainreasons）happenedtobeamoredifficulttaskthanforotherboys。InthatrespectI
couldenterwithagoodconscienceuponthatholidaywhichwaslikealongvisitpourprendrecongeofthemainlandofoldEuropeIwastoseesolittleofforthenextfourandtwentyyears。Such，however，wasnottheavowedpurposeofthattour。
Itwasrather，Isuspect，plannedinordertodistractandoccupymythoughtsinotherdirections。Nothinghadbeensaidformonthsofmygoingtosea。Butmyattachmenttomyyoungtutorandhisinfluenceovermeweresowellknownthathemusthavereceivedaconfidentialmissiontotalkmeoutofmyromanticfolly。Itwasanexcellentlyappropriatearrangement，asneitherhenorIhadeverhadasingleglimpseoftheseainourlives。
Thatwastocomeby-and-byforbothofusinVenice，fromtheoutershoreofLido。MeantimehehadtakenhismissiontoheartsowellthatIbegantofeelcrushedbeforewereachedZurich。
Hearguedinrailwaytrains，inlakesteamboats，hehadarguedawayformetheobligatorysunriseontheRighi，byJove！Ofhisdevotiontohisunworthypupiltherecanbenodoubt。Hehadproveditalreadybytwoyearsofunremittingandarduouscare。
Icouldnothatehim。Buthehadbeencrushingmeslowly，andwhenhestartedtoargueonthetopoftheFurcaPasshewasperhapsnearerasuccessthaneitherheorIimagined。I
listenedtohimindespairingsilence，feelingthatghostly，unrealisedanddesiredseaofmydreamsescapefromtheunnervedgripofmywill。
TheenthusiasticoldEnglishmanhadpassed——andtheargumentwenton。WhatrewardcouldIexpectfromsuchalifeattheendofmyyears，eitherinambition，honourorconscience？Anunanswerablequestion。ButIfeltnolongercrushed。Thenoureyesmetandagenuineemotionwasvisibleinhisaswellasinmine。Theendcameallatonce。Hepickeduptheknapsacksuddenlyandgotontohisfeet。
"Youareanincorrigible，hopelessDonQuixote。That’swhatyouare。"
Iwassurprised。Iwasonlyfifteenanddidnotknowwhathemeantexactly。ButIfeltvaguelyflatteredatthenameoftheimmortalknightturningupinconnectionwithmyownfolly，assomepeoplewouldcallittomyface。Alas！Idon’tthinktherewasanythingtobeproudof。Minewasnotthestufftheprotectorsofforlorndamsels，theredressersofthisworld’swrongsaremadeof;andmytutorwasthemantoknowthatbest。
Therein，inhisindignation，hewassuperiortothebarberandthepriestwhenheflungatmeanhonourednamelikeareproach。
Iwalkedbehindhimforfullfiveminutes;thenwithoutlookingbackhestopped。TheshadowsofdistantpeakswerelengtheningovertheFurcaPass。WhenIcameuptohimheturnedtomeandinfullviewoftheFinster-Aarhorn，withhisbandofgiantbrothersrearingtheirmonstrousheadsagainstabrilliantsky，puthishandonmyshoulderaffectionately。
"Well！That’senough。Wewillhavenomoreofit。"
Andindeedtherewasnomorequestionofmymysteriousvocationbetweenus。Therewastobenomorequestionofitatall，nowhereorwithanyone。WebeganthedescentoftheFurcaPassconversingmerrily。Elevenyearslater，monthformonth，IstoodonTowerHillonthestepsoftheSt。Katherine’sDockhouse，amasterintheBritishMerchantService。ButthemanwhoputhishandonmyshoulderatthetopoftheFurcaPasswasnolongerliving。
ThatveryyearofourtravelshetookhisdegreeofthePhilosophicalFaculty——andonlythenhistruevocationdeclareditself。Obedienttothecallheenteredatonceuponthefour-
yearcourseoftheMedicalSchools。Adaycamewhen，onthedeckofashipmooredinCalcutta，Iopenedalettertellingmeoftheendofanenviableexistence。HehadmadeforhimselfapracticeinsomeobscurelittletownofAustrianGalicia。Andtheletterwentontotellmehowallthebereavedpoorofthedistrict，ChristiansandJewsalike，hadmobbedthegooddoctor’scoffinwithsobsandlamentationsattheverygateofthecemetery。
Howshorthisyearsandhowclearhisvision！Whatgreaterrewardinambition，honourandconsciencecouldhehavehopedtowinforhimselfwhen，onthetopoftheFurcaPass，hebademelookwelltotheendofmyopeninglife。
ChapterIII。
ThedevouringinadismalforestofalucklessLithuaniandogbymygrand-uncleNicholasB。incompanyoftwoothermilitaryandfamishedscarecrows，symbolised，tomychildishimagination，thewholehorroroftheretreatfromMoscowandtheimmoralityofaconqueror’sambition。AnextremedistasteforthatobjectionableepisodehastingedtheviewsIholdastothecharacterandachievementsofNapoleontheGreat。Ineednotsaythattheseareunfavourable。Itwasmorallyreprehensibleforthatgreatcaptaintoinduceasimple-mindedPolishgentlemantoeatdogbyraisinginhisbreastafalsehopeofnationalindependence。Ithasbeenthefateofthatcredulousnationtostarveforupwardsofahundredyearsonadietoffalsehopesand——well——dog。Itis，whenonethinksofit，asingularlypoisonousregimen。Someprideinthenationalconstitutionwhichhassurvivedalongcourseofsuchdishesisreallyexcusable。Butenoughofgeneralising。Returningtoparticulars，Mr。NicholasB。confidedtohissister-in-law（mygrandmother）inhismisanthropicallylaconicmannerthatthissupperinthewoodshadbeennearly"thedeathofhim。"Thisisnotsurprising。Whatsurprisesmeisthatthestorywaseverheardof;forgrand-uncleNicholasdifferedinthisfromthegeneralityofmilitarymenofNapoleon’stime（andperhapsofalltime），thathedidnotliketotalkofhiscampaigns，whichbeganatFriedlandandendedsomewhereintheneighbourhoodofBar-le-Duc。HisadmirationofthegreatEmperorwasunreservedineverythingbutexpression。
Likethereligionofearnestmen，itwastooprofoundasentimenttobedisplayedbeforeaworldoflittlefaith。Apartfromthatheseemedascompletelydevoidofmilitaryanecdotesasthoughhehadhardlyeverseenasoldierinhislife。Proudofhisdecorationsearnedbeforehewastwenty-five，herefusedtoweartheribbonsatthebuttonholeinthemannerpractisedtothisdayinEuropeandevenwasunwillingtodisplaytheinsigniaonfestiveoccasions，asthoughhewishedtoconcealtheminthefearofappearingboastful。"ItisenoughthatIhavethem，"heusedtomutter。Inthecourseofthirtyyearstheywereseenonhisbreastonlytwice——atanauspiciousmarriageinthefamilyandatthefuneralofanoldfriend。ThattheweddingwhichwasthushonouredwasnottheweddingofmymotherIlearnedonlylateinlife，toolatetobearagrudgeagainstMr。NicholasB。，whomadeamendsatmybirthbyalongletterofcongratulationcontainingthefollowingprophecy："Hewillseebettertimes。"
Eveninhisembitteredhearttherelivedahope。Buthewasnotatrueprophet。
Hewasamanofstrangecontradictions。Livingformanyyearsinhisbrother’shouse，thehomeofmanychildren，ahousefulloflife，ofanimation，noisywithaconstantcomingandgoingofmanyguests，hekepthishabitsofsolitudeandsilence。
Consideredasobstinatelysecretiveinallhispurposes，hewasinrealitythevictimofamostpainfulirresolutioninallmattersofcivillife。Underhistaciturn，phlegmaticbehaviourwashiddenafacultyofshort-livedpassionateanger。Isuspecthehadnotalentfornarrative;butitseemedtoaffordhimsombresatisfactiontodeclarethathewasthelastmantorideoverthebridgeoftheriverElsterafterthebattleofLeipsic。
Lestsomeconstructionfavourabletohisvalourshouldbeputonthefacthecondescendedtoexplainhowitcametopass。ItseemsthatshortlyaftertheretreatbeganhewassentbacktothetownwheresomedivisionsoftheFrenchArmy（andamongstthemthePolishcorpsofPrinceJosephPoniatowski），jammedhopelesslyinthestreets，werebeingsimplyexterminatedbythetroopsoftheAlliedPowers。WhenaskedwhatitwaslikeinthereMr。NicholasB。mutteredtheonlyword"Shambles。"HavingdeliveredhismessagetothePrincehehastenedawayatoncetorenderanaccountofhismissiontothesuperiorwhohadsenthim。Bythattimetheadvanceoftheenemyhadenvelopedthetown，andhewasshotatfromhousesandchasedallthewaytotheriverbankbyadisorderlymobofAustrianDragoonsandPrussianHussars。Thebridgehadbeenminedearlyinthemorningandhisopinionwasthatthesightofthehorsemenconvergingfrommanysidesinthepursuitofhispersonalarmedtheofficerincommandofthesappersandcausedtheprematurefiringofthecharges。Hehadnotgonemorethan200yardsontheothersidewhenheheardthesoundofthefatalexplosions。Mr。NicholasB。
concludedhisbaldnarrativewiththeword"Imbecile"utteredwiththeutmostdeliberation。Ittestifiedtohisindignationatthelossofsomanythousandsoflives。Buthisphlegmaticphysiognomylightedupwhenhespokeofhisonlywound，withsomethingresemblingsatisfaction。Youwillseethattherewassomereasonforitwhenyoulearnthathewaswoundedintheheel。"LikehisMajestytheEmperorNapoleonhimself，"heremindedhishearerswithassumedindifference。Therecanbenodoubtthattheindifferencewasassumed，ifonethinkswhatverydistinguishedsortofwounditwas。Inallthehistoryofwarfarethereare，Ibelieve，onlythreewarriorspubliclyknowntohavebeenwoundedintheheel——AchillesandNapoleon——demi-
godsindeed——towhomthefamilialpietyofanunworthydescendantaddsthenameofthesimplemortal，NicholasB。
TheHundredDaysfoundMr。NicholasB。stayingwithadistantrelativeofours，ownerofasmallestateinGalicia。HowhegotthereacrossthebreadthofanarmedEuropeandafterwhatadventuresIamafraidwillneverbeknownnow。Allhispapersweredestroyedshortlybeforehisdeath;butiftherewasamongstthem，asheaffirmed，aconciserecordofhislife，thenIamprettysureitdidnottakeupmorethanahalf-sheetoffoolscaporso。ThisrelativeofourshappenedtobeanAustrianofficer，whohadlefttheserviceafterthebattleofAusterlitz。UnlikeMr。NicholasB。，whoconcealedhisdecorations，helikedtodisplayhishonourabledischargeinwhichhewasmentionedasunschreckbar（fearless）beforetheenemy。Noconjunctioncouldseemmoreunpromising，yetitstandsinthefamilytraditionthatthesetwogotonverywelltogetherintheirruralsolitude。
WhenaskedwhetherhehadnotbeensorelytemptedduringtheHundredDaystomakehiswayagaintoFranceandjointheserviceofhisbelovedEmperor，Mr。NicholasB。usedtomutter："Nomoney。Nohorse。Toofartowalk。"
ThefallofNapoleonandtheruinofnationalhopesaffectedadverselythecharacterofMr。NicholasB。Heshrankfromreturningtohisprovince。Butforthattherewasalsoanotherreason。Mr。NicholasB。andhisbrother——mymaternalgrandfather——hadlosttheirfatherearly，whiletheywerequitechildren。Theirmother，youngstillandleftverywelloff，marriedagainamanofgreatcharmandofanamiabledispositionbutwithoutapenny。Heturnedoutanaffectionateandcarefulstepfather;itwasunfortunatethoughthatwhiledirectingtheboys’educationandformingtheircharacterbywisecounselhedidhisbesttogetholdofthefortunebybuyingandsellinglandinhisownnameandinvestingcapitalinsuchamannerastocoverupthetracesoftherealownership。Itseemsthatsuchpracticescanbesuccessfulifoneischarmingenoughtodazzleone’sownwifepermanentlyandbraveenoughtodefythevainterrorsofpublicopinion。Thecriticaltimecamewhentheelderoftheboysonattaininghismajorityintheyear1811askedfortheaccountsandsomepartatleastoftheinheritancetobeginlifeupon。Itwasthenthatthestepfatherdeclaredwithcalmfinalitythattherewerenoaccountstorenderandnopropertytoinherit。Thewholefortunewashisveryown。Hewasverygood-
naturedabouttheyoungman’smisapprehensionofthetruestateofaffairs，butofcoursefeltobligedtomaintainhispositionfirmly。Oldfriendscameandwentbusily，voluntarymediatorsappearedtravellingonmosthorribleroadsfromthemostdistantcornersofthethreeprovinces;andtheMarshaloftheNobility（ex-officioguardianofallwell-bornorphans）calledameetingoflandownersto"ascertaininafriendlywayhowthemisunderstandingbetweenXandhisstepsonshadarisenanddevisepropermeasurestoremovethesame。"AdeputationtothateffectvisitedX，whotreatedthemtoexcellentwines，butabsolutelyrefusedhiseartotheirremonstrances。Astotheproposalsforarbitrationhesimplylaughedatthem;yetthewholeprovincemusthavebeenawarethatfourteenyearsbefore，whenhemarriedthewidow，allhisvisiblefortuneconsisted（apartfromhissocialqualities）inasmartfour-horseturn-outwithtwoservants，withwhomhewentaboutvisitingfromhousetohouse;
andastoanyfundshemighthavepossessedatthattimetheirexistencecouldonlybeinferredfromthefactthathewasverypunctualinsettlinghismodestlossesatcards。Butbythemagicpowerofstubbornandconstantassertion，therewerefoundpresently，hereandthere，peoplewhomumbledthatsurely"theremustbesomethinginit。"However，onhisnextname-day（whichheusedtocelebratebyagreatthree-days’shooting-party），ofalltheinvitedcrowdonlytwogueststurnedup，distantneighboursofnoimportance;onenotoriouslyafool，andtheotheraverypiousandhonestpersonbutsuchapassionateloverofthegunthatonhisownconfessionhecouldnothaverefusedaninvitationtoashooting-partyfromthedevilhimself。Xmetthismanifestationofpublicopinionwiththeserenityofanunstainedconscience。Herefusedtobecrushed。Yethemusthavebeenamanofdeepfeeling，because，whenhiswifetookopenlythepartofherchildren，helosthisbeautifultranquillity，proclaimedhimselfheart-brokenanddroveheroutofthehouse，neglectinginhisgrieftogiveherenoughtimetopackhertrunks。
Thiswasthebeginningofalawsuit，anabominablemarvelofchicane，whichbytheuseofeverylegalsubterfugewasmadetolastformanyyears。Itwasalsotheoccasionforadisplayofmuchkindnessandsympathy。Alltheneighbouringhousesflewopenforthereceptionofthehomeless。Neitherlegalaidnormaterialassistanceintheprosecutionofthesuitwaseverwanting。X，onhisside，wentaboutsheddingtearspubliclyoverhisstepchildren’singratitudeandhiswife’sblindinfatuation;
butasatthesametimehedisplayedgreatclevernessintheartofconcealingmaterialdocuments（hewasevensuspectedofhavingburntalotofhistoricallyinterestingfamilypapers），thisscandalouslitigationhadtobeendedbyacompromiselestworseshouldbefall。Itwassettledfinallybyasurrender，outofthedisputedestate，infullsatisfactionofallclaims，oftwovillageswiththenamesofwhichIdonotintendtotroublemyreaders。Afterthislameandimpotentconclusionneitherthewifenorthestepsonshadanythingtosaytothemanwhohadpresentedtheworldwithsuchasuccessfulexampleofself-helpbasedoncharacter，determinationandindustry;andmygreat-
grandmother，herhealthcompletelybrokendown，diedacoupleofyearslaterinCarlsbad。Legallysecuredbyadecreeinthepossessionofhisplunder，Xregainedhiswontedserenityandwentonlivingintheneighbourhoodinacomfortablestyleandinapparentpeaceofmind。Hisbigshootswerefairlywellattendedagain。Hewasnevertiredofassuringpeoplethatheborenogrudgeforwhatwaspast;heprotestedloudlyofhisconstantaffectionforhiswifeandstepchildren。ItwastruehesaidthattheyhadtriedtheirbesttostriphimasnakedasaTurkishsaintinthedeclineofhisdays;andbecausehehaddefendedhimselffromspoliation，asanybodyelseinhisplacewouldhavedone，theyhadabandonedhimnowtothehorrorsofasolitaryoldage。Nevertheless，hisloveforthemsurvivedthesecruelblows。
Andtheremighthavebeensometruthinhisprotestations。Verysoonhebegantomakeoverturesoffriendshiptohiseldeststepson，mymaternalgrandfather;andwhenthesewereperemptorilyrejectedhewentonrenewingthemagainandagainwithcharacteristicobstinacy。Foryearshepersistedinhiseffortsatreconciliation，promisingmygrandfathertoexecuteawillinhisfavourifheonlywouldbefriendsagaintotheextentofcallingnowandthen（itwasfairlycloseneighbourhoodfortheseparts，fortymilesorso），orevenofputtinginanappearanceforthegreatshootonthename-day。Mygrandfatherwasanardentloverofeverysport。Histemperamentwasasfreefromhardnessandanimosityascanbeimagined。Pupiloftheliberal-mindedBenedictineswhodirectedtheonlypublicschoolofsomestandingtheninthesouth，hehadalsoreaddeeplytheauthorsoftheeighteenthcentury。InhimChristiancharitywasjoinedtoaphilosophicalindulgenceforthefailingsofhumannature。Butthememoryofthesemiserablyanxiousearlyyears，hisyoungman’syearsrobbedofallgenerousillusionsbythecynicismofthesordidlawsuit，stoodinthewayofforgiveness。
Heneversuccumbedtothefascinationofthegreatshoot;andX，hisheartsettothelastonreconciliationwiththedraftofthewillreadyforsignaturekeptbyhisbedside，diedintestate。
Thefortunethusacquiredandaugmentedbyawiseandcarefulmanagementpassedtosomedistantrelativeswhomhehadneverseenandwhoevendidnotbearhisname。
MeantimetheblessingofgeneralpeacedescendeduponEurope。
Mr。NicholasB。，biddinggood-byetohishospitablerelative，the"fearless"Austrianofficer，departedfromGalicia，andwithoutgoingnearhisnativeplace，wheretheodiouslawsuitwasstillgoingon，proceededstraighttoWarsawandenteredthearmyofthenewlyconstitutedPolishkingdomunderthesceptreofAlexanderI。，AutocratofalltheRussias。
Thiskingdom，createdbytheViennaCongressasanacknowledgmenttoanationofitsformerindependentexistence，includedonlythecentralprovincesoftheoldPolishpatrimony。AbrotheroftheEmperor，theGrandDukeConstantine（Pavlovitch），itsViceroyandCommander-in-Chief，marriedmorganaticallytoaPolishladytowhomhewasfiercelyattached，extendedthisaffectiontowhathecalled"MyPoles"inacapriciousandsavagemanner。Sallowincomplexion，withaTartarphysiognomyandfiercelittleeyes，hewalkedwithhisfistsclenched，hisbodybentforward，dartingsuspiciousglancesfromunderanenormouscockedhat。Hisintelligencewaslimitedandhissanityitselfwasdoubtful。Thehereditarytaintexpresseditself，inhiscase，notbymysticleaningsasinhistwobrothers，AlexanderandNicholas（intheirvariousways，foronewasmysticallyliberalandtheothermysticallyautocratic），butbythefuryofanuncontrollabletemperwhichgenerallybrokeoutindisgustingabuseontheparadeground。Hewasapassionatemilitaristandanamazingdrill-master。HetreatedhisPolishArmyasaspoiledchildtreatsafavouritetoy，exceptthathedidnottakeittobedwithhimatnight。Itwasnotsmallenoughforthat。Butheplayedwithitalldayandeveryday，delightinginthevarietyofprettyuniformsandinthefunofincessantdrilling。Thischildishpassion，notforwarbutformeremilitarism，achievedadesirableresult。ThePolishArmy，initsequipment，initsarmamentandinitsbattlefieldefficiency，asthenunderstood，became，bytheendoftheyear1830，afirst-ratetacticalinstrument。Polishpeasantry（notserfs）servedintheranksbyenlistment，andtheofficersbelongedmainlytothesmallernobility。Mr。NicholasB。，withhisNapoleonicrecord，hadnodifficultyinobtainingalieutenancy，butthepromotioninthePolishArmywasslow，because，beingaseparateorganisation，ittooknopartinthewarsoftheRussianEmpireagainstPersiaorTurkey。Itsfirstcampaign，againstRussiaitself，wastobeitslast。In1831，ontheoutbreakoftheRevolution，Mr。NicholasB。wastheseniorcaptainofhisregiment。Sometimebeforehehadbeenmadeheadoftheremountestablishmentquarteredoutsidethekingdominoursouthernprovinces，whencealmostallthehorsesforthePolishcavalryweredrawn。ForthefirsttimesincehewentawayfromhomeattheageofeighteentobeginhismilitarylifebythebattleofFriedland，Mr。NicholasB。
breathedtheairofthe"Border，"hisnativeair。Unkindfatewaslyinginwaitforhimamongstthescenesofhisyouth。AtthefirstnewsoftherisinginWarsawalltheremountestablishment，officers，vets。，andtheverytroopers，wereputpromptlyunderarrestandhurriedoffinabodybeyondtheDniepertothenearesttowninRussiaproper。FromtheretheyweredispersedtothedistantpartsoftheEmpire。OnthisoccasionpoorMr。NicholasB。penetratedintoRussiamuchfartherthanheeverdidinthetimesofNapoleonicinvasion，ifmuchlesswillingly。Astrakhanwashisdestination。Heremainedtherethreeyears，allowedtoliveatlargeinthetownbuthavingtoreporthimselfeverydayatnoontothemilitarycommandant，whousedtodetainhimfrequentlyforapipeandachat。ItisdifficulttoformajustideaofwhatachatwithMr。NicholasB。couldhavebeenlike。Theremusthavebeenmuchcompressedrageunderhistaciturnity，forthecommandantcommunicatedtohimthenewsfromthetheatreofwarandthisnewswassuchasitcouldbe，thatis，verybadforthePoles。
Mr。NicholasB。receivedthesecommunicationswithoutwardphlegm，buttheRussianshowedawarmsympathyforhisprisoner。
"AsasoldiermyselfIunderstandyourfeelings。You，ofcourse，wouldliketobeinthethickofit。Byheavens！Iamfondofyou。IfitwerenotforthetermsofthemilitaryoathIwouldletyougoonmyownresponsibility。Whatdifferencecoulditmaketous，onemoreorlessofyou？"
Atothertimeshewonderedwithsimplicity。
"Tellme，NicholasStepanovitch"——（mygreat-grandfather’snamewasStephenandthecommandantusedtheRussianformofpoliteaddress）——"tellmewhyisitthatyouPolesarealwayslookingfortrouble？WhatelsecouldyouexpectfromrunningupagainstRussia？"
Hewascapable，too，ofphilosophicalreflections。
"LookatyourNapoleonnow。Agreatman。ThereisnodenyingitthathewasagreatmanaslongashewascontenttothrashthoseGermansandAustriansandallthosenations。Butno！HemustgotoRussialookingfortrouble，andwhat’stheconsequence？Suchasyouseeme，IhaverattledthissabreofmineonthepavementsofParis。"
AfterhisreturntoPolandMr。NicholasB。describedhimasa"worthymanbutstupid，"wheneverhecouldbeinducedtospeakoftheconditionsofhisexile。DecliningtheoptionofferedhimtoentertheRussianArmyhewasretiredwithonlyhalfthepensionofhisrank。Hisnephew（myuncleandguardian）toldmethatthefirstlastingimpressiononhismemoryasachildoffourwasthegladexcitementreigninginhisparents’houseonthedaywhenMr。NicholasB。arrivedhomefromhisdetentioninRussia。
Everygenerationhasitsmemories。ThefirstmemoriesofMr。
NicholasB。mighthavebeenshapedbytheeventsofthelastpartitionofPoland，andhelivedlongenoughtosufferfromthelastarmedrisingin1863，aneventwhichaffectedthefutureofallmygenerationandhascolouredmyearliestimpressions。Hisbrother，inwhosehousehehadshelteredforsomeseventeenyearshismisanthropicaltimiditybeforethecommonestproblemsoflife，havingdiedintheearlyfifties，Mr。NicholasB。hadtoscrewhiscourageuptothesticking-pointandcometosomedecisionastothefuture。Afteralongandagonisinghesitationhewaspersuadedatlasttobecomethetenantofsomefifteenhundredacresoutoftheestateofafriendintheneighbourhood。
Thetermsoftheleasewereveryadvantageous，buttheretiredsituationofthevillageandaplaincomfortablehouseingoodrepairwere，Ifancy，thegreatestinducements。Helivedtherequietlyforabouttenyears，seeingveryfewpeopleandtakingnopartinthepubliclifeoftheprovince，suchasitcouldbeunderanarbitrarybureaucratictyranny。Hischaracterandhispatriotismwereabovesuspicion;buttheorganisersoftherisingintheirfrequentjourneysupanddowntheprovincescrupulouslyavoidedcomingnearhishouse。Itwasgenerallyfeltthatthereposeoftheoldman’slastyearsoughtnottobedisturbed。
Evensuchintimatesasmypaternalgrandfather，acomrade-in-armsduringNapoleon’sMoscowcampaignandlateronafellow-officerinthePolishArmy，refrainedfromvisitinghiscronyasthedateoftheoutbreakapproached。Mypaternalgrandfather’stwosonsandhisonlydaughterwerealldeeplyinvolvedintherevolutionarywork;hehimselfwasofthattypeofPolishsquirewhoseonlyidealofpatrioticactionwasto"getintothesaddleanddrivethemout。"Butevenheagreedthat"dearNicholasmustnotbeworried。"Allthisconsideratecautiononthepartoffriends，bothconspiratorsandothers，didnotpreventMr。
NicholasB。beingmadetofeelthemisfortunesofthatill-omenedyear。
Lessthanforty-eighthoursafterthebeginningoftherebellioninthatpartofthecountry，asquadronofscoutingCossackspassedthroughthevillageandinvadedthehomestead。Mostofthemremainedformedbetweenthehouseandthestables，whileseveral，dismounting，ransackedthevariousoutbuildings。Theofficerincommand，accompaniedbytwomen，walkeduptothefrontdoor。Alltheblindsonthatsideweredown。Theofficertoldtheservantwhoreceivedhimthathewantedtoseehismaster。Hewasansweredthatthemasterwasawayfromhome，whichwasperfectlytrue。
Ifollowherethetaleastoldafterwardsbytheservanttomygrand-uncle’sfriendsandrelatives，andasIhavehearditrepeated。
OnreceivingthisanswertheCossackofficer，whohadbeenstandingintheporch，steppedintothehouse。
"Whereisthemastergone，then？"
"OurmasterwenttoJ——"（thegovernmenttownsomefiftymilesoff），"thedaybeforeyesterday。"
"Thereareonlytwohorsesinthestables。Wherearetheothers？"
"Ourmasteralwaystravelswithhisownhorses"（meaning：notbypost）。"Hewillbeawayaweekormore。HewaspleasedtomentiontomethathehadtoattendtosomebusinessintheCivilCourt。"
Whiletheservantwasspeakingtheofficerlookedaboutthehall。
Therewasadoorfacinghim，adoortotherightandadoortotheleft。Theofficerchosetoentertheroomontheleftandorderedtheblindstobepulledup。ItwasMr。NicholasB。’sstudywithacoupleoftallbookcases，somepicturesonthewalls，andsoon。Besidesthebigcentretable，withbooksandpapers，therewasaquitesmallwriting-tablewithseveraldrawers，standingbetweenthedoorandthewindowinagoodlight;andatthistablemygrand-uncleusuallysateithertoreadorwrite。
Onpullinguptheblindtheservantwasstartledbythediscoverythatthewholemalepopulationofthevillagewasmassedinfront，tramplingdowntheflower-beds。Therewerealsoafewwomenamongstthem。Hewasgladtoobservethevillagepriest（oftheOrthodoxChurch）comingupthedrive。Thegoodmaninhishastehadtuckeduphiscassockashighasthetopofhisboots。
Theofficerhadbeenlookingatthebacksofthebooksinthebookcases。Thenheperchedhimselfontheedgeofthecentre-
tableandremarkedeasily：
"Yourmasterdidnottakeyoutotownwithhim，then。"
"Iamtheheadservantandheleavesmeinchargeofthehouse。
It’sastrong，youngchapthattravelswithourmaster。If——Godforbid——therewassomeaccidentontheroadhewouldbeofmuchmoreusethanI。"
Glancingthroughthewindowhesawthepriestarguingvehementlyinthethickofthecrowd，whichseemedsubduedbyhisinterference。Threeorfourmen，however，weretalkingwiththeCossacksatthedoor。
"Andyoudon’tthinkyourmasterhasgonetojointherebelsmaybe——eh？"askedtheofficer。
"Ourmasterwouldbetoooldforthatsurely。He’swelloverseventyandhe’sgettingfeebletoo。It’ssomeyearsnowsincehe’sbeenonhorsebackandhecan’twalkmucheithernow。"
Theofficersatthereswinginghisleg，veryquietandindifferent。BythattimethepeasantswhohadbeentalkingwiththeCossacktroopersatthedoorhadbeenpermittedtogetintothehall。Oneortwomoreleftthecrowdandfollowedthemin。
Theywereseveninallandamongstthemtheblacksmith，anex-
soldier。Theservantappealeddeferentiallytotheofficer。
"Won’tyourhonourbepleasedtotellthepeopletogobacktotheirhomes？Whatdotheywanttopushthemselvesintothehouselikethisfor？It’snotproperforthemtobehavelikethiswhileourmaster’sawayandIamresponsibleforeverythinghere。"
Theofficeronlylaughedalittle，andafterawhileinquired：
"Haveyouanyarmsinthehouse？"
"Yes。Wehave。Someoldthings。"
"Bringthemall，here，ontothistable。"
Theservantmadeanotherattempttoobtainprotection。
"Won’tyourhonourtellthesechaps……？"
Buttheofficerlookedathiminsilenceinsuchawaythathegaveitupatonceandhurriedofftocallthepantry-boytohelphimcollectthearms。Meantimetheofficerwalkedslowlythroughalltheroomsinthehouse，examiningthemattentivelybuttouchingnothing。Thepeasantsinthehallfellbackandtookofftheircapswhenhepassedthrough。Hesaidnothingwhatevertothem。Whenhecamebacktothestudyallthearmstobefoundinthehousewerelyingonthetable。Therewasapairofbigflint-lockholsterpistolsfromNapoleonictimes，twocavalryswords，oneoftheFrenchtheotherofthePolishArmypattern，withafowling-pieceortwo。
Theofficer，openingthewindow，flungoutpistols，swordsandguns，oneafteranother，andhistroopersrantopickthemup。
Thepeasantsinthehall，encouragedbyhismanner，hadstolenafterhimintothestudy。Hegavenottheslightestsignofbeingconsciousoftheirexistenceand，hisbusinessbeingapparentlyconcluded，strodeoutofthehousewithoutaword。
Directlyheleft，thepeasantsinthestudyputontheircapsandbegantosmileateachother。
TheCossacksrodeaway，passingthroughtheyardsofthehomefarmstraightintothefields。Thepriest，stillarguingwiththepeasants，movedgraduallydownthedriveandhisearnesteloquencewasdrawingthesilentmobafterhim，awayfromthehouse。ThisjusticemustberenderedtotheparishpriestsoftheGreekChurchthat，strangerstothecountryastheywere（beingalldrawnfromtheinteriorofRussia），themajorityofthemusedsuchinfluenceastheyhadovertheirflocksinthecauseofpeaceandhumanity。Truetothespiritoftheircalling，theytriedtosoothethepassionsoftheexcitedpeasantryandopposedrapineandviolencewhenevertheycould，withalltheirmight。Andthisconducttheypursuedagainsttheexpresswishesoftheauthorities。LateronsomeofthemweremadetosufferforthisdisobediencebybeingremovedabruptlytothefarnorthorsentawaytoSiberianparishes。
Theservantwasanxioustogetridofthefewpeasantswhohadgotintothehouse。Whatsortofconductwasthat，heaskedthem，towardsamanwhowasonlyatenant，hadbeeninvariablygoodandconsideratetothevillagersforyears;andonlytheotherdayhadagreedtogiveuptwomeadowsfortheuseofthevillageherd？Heremindedthem，too，ofMr。NicholasB。’sdevotiontothesickinthetimeofcholera。Everywordofthiswastrueandsofareffectivethatthefellowsbegantoscratchtheirheadsandlookirresolute。Thespeakerthenpointedatthewindow，exclaiming："Look！there’sallyourcrowdgoingawayquietlyandyousillychapshadbettergoafterthemandprayGodtoforgiveyouyourevilthoughts。"
Thisappealwasanunluckyinspiration。Incrowdingclumsilytothewindowtoseewhetherhewasspeakingthetruth，thefellowsoverturnedthelittlewriting-table。Asitfelloverachinkofloosecoinwasheard。"There’smoneyinthatthing，"criedtheblacksmith。Inamomentthetopofthedelicatepieceoffurniturewassmashedandtherelayexposedinadrawereightyhalf-imperials。GoldcoinwasararesightinRussiaevenatthattime;itputthepeasantsbesidethemselves。"Theremustbemoreofthatinthehouseandweshallhaveit，"yelledtheex-
soldierblacksmith。"Thisiswartime。"Theotherswerealreadyshoutingoutofthewindowurgingthecrowdtocomebackandhelp。Thepriest，abandonedsuddenlyatthegate，flunghisarmsupandhurriedawaysoasnottoseewhatwasgoingtohappen。
Intheirsearchformoneythatbucolicmobsmashedeverythinginthehouse，rippingwithknives，splittingwithhatchets，sothat，astheservantsaid，therewerenotwopiecesofwoodholdingtogetherleftinthewholehouse。Theybrokesomeveryfinemirrors，allthewindowsandeverypieceofglassandchina。
Theythrewthebooksandpapersoutonthelawnandsetfiretotheheapforthemerefunofthethingapparently。Absolutelytheonlyonesolitarythingwhichtheyleftwholewasasmallivorycrucifix，whichremainedhangingonthewallinthewreckedbedroomaboveawildheapofrags，brokenmahoganyandsplinteredboardswhichhadbeenMr。NicholasB。’sbedstead。Detectingtheservantintheactofstealingawaywithajapannedtinbox，theytoreitfromhim，andbecauseheresistedtheythrewhimoutofthedining-roomwindow。Thehousewasononefloorbutraisedwellabovetheground，andthefallwassoseriousthatthemanremainedlyingstunnedtillthecookandastable-boyventuredforthatduskfromtheirhiding-placesandpickedhimup。Bythattimethemobhaddepartedcarryingoffthetinbox，whichtheysupposedtobefullofpapermoney。Somedistancefromthehouseinthemiddleofafieldtheybrokeitopen。TheyfoundinsidedocumentsengrossedonparchmentandthetwocrossesoftheLegionofHonourandForValour。Atthesightoftheseobjects，which，theblacksmithexplained，weremarksofhonourgivenonlybytheTsar，theybecameextremelyfrightenedatwhattheyhaddone。Theythrewthewholelotawayintoaditchanddispersedhastily。
OnlearningofthisparticularlossMr。NicholasB。brokedowncompletely。Themeresackingofhishousedidnotseemtoaffecthimmuch。Whilehewasstillinbedfromtheshockthetwocrosseswerefoundandreturnedtohim。Ithelpedsomewhathisslowconvalescence，butthetinboxandtheparchments，thoughsearchedforinalltheditchesaround，neverturnedupagain。
HecouldnotgetoverthelossofhisLegionofHonourPatent，whosepreamble，settingforthhisservices，heknewbyhearttotheveryletter，andafterthisblowvolunteeredsometimestorecite，tearsstandinginhiseyesthewhile。Itstermshauntedhimapparentlyduringthelasttwoyearsofhislifetosuchanextentthatheusedtorepeatthemtohimself。Thisisconfirmedbytheremarkmademorethanoncebyhisoldservanttothemoreintimatefriends。"WhatmakesmyheartheavyistohearourmasterinhisroomatnightwalkingupanddownandprayingaloudintheFrenchlanguage。"
ItmusthavebeensomewhatoverayearafterwardsthatIsawMr。
NicholasB。，or，morecorrectly，thathesawme，forthelasttime。Itwas，asIhavealreadysaid，atthetimewhenmymotherhadathreemonths’leavefromexile，whichshewasspendinginthehouseofherbrother，andfriendsandrelationswerecomingfromfarandneartodoherhonour。ItisinconceivablethatMr。
NicholasB。shouldnothavebeenofthenumber。Thelittlechildafewmonthsoldhehadtakenupinhisarmsonthedayofhishome-comingafteryearsofwarandexilewasconfessingherfaithinnationalsalvationbysufferingexileinherturn。Idonotknowwhetherhewaspresentontheverydayofourdeparture。I
havealreadyadmittedthatformeheismoreespeciallythemanwhoinhisyouthhadeatenroastdoginthedepthsofagloomyforestofsnow-loadedpines。Mymemorycannotplacehiminanyrememberedscene。Ahookednose，somesleekwhitehair，anunrelatedevanescentimpressionofameagre，slight，rigidfiguremilitarilybuttoneduptothethroat，isallthatnowexistsonearthofMr。NicholasB。;onlythisvagueshadowpursuedbythememoryofhisgrand-nephew，thelastsurvivinghumanbeing，I
suppose，ofallthosehehadseeninthecourseofhistaciturnlife。
ButIrememberwellthedayofourdeparturebacktoexile。Theelongated，bizarre，shabbytravelling-carriagewithfourpost-
horses，standingbeforethelongfrontofthehousewithitseightcolumns，fouroneachsideofthebroadflightofstairs。
Onthesteps，groupsofservants，afewrelations，oneortwofriendsfromthenearestneighbourhood，aperfectsilence，onallthefacesanairofsoberconcentration;mygrandmotherallinblackgazingstoically，myunclegivinghisarmtomymotherdowntothecarriageinwhichIhadbeenplacedalready;atthetopoftheflightmylittlecousininashortskirtofatartanpatternwithadealofredinit，andlikeasmallprincessattendedbythewomenofherownhousehold：theheadgourvernante，ourdear，corpulentFrancesca（whohadbeenforthirtyyearsintheserviceoftheB。family），theformernurse，nowoutdoorattendant，ahandsomepeasantfacewearingacompassionateexpression，andthegood，uglyMlle。Durand，thegoverness，withherblackeyebrowsmeetingoverashortthicknoseandacomplexionlikepalebrownpaper。Ofalltheeyesturnedtowardsthecarriage，hergood-
naturedeyesonlyweredroppingtears，anditwashersobbingvoicealonethatbrokethesilencewithanappealtome：
"N’oubliepastonfrancais，moncheri。"Inthreemonths，simplybyplayingwithus，shehadtaughtmenotonlytospeakFrenchbuttoreaditaswell。Shewasindeedanexcellentplaymate。
Inthedistance，halfwaydowntothegreatgates，alight，opentrap，harnessedwiththreehorsesinRussianfashion，stooddrawnupononesidewiththepolice-captainofthedistrictsittinginit，thevizorofhisflatcapwitharedbandpulleddownoverhiseyes。
Itseemsstrangethatheshouldhavebeentheretowatchourgoingsocarefully。WithoutwishingtotreatwithlevitythejusttimiditiesofImperialistsalltheworldover，Imayallowmyselfthereflectionthatawoman，practicallycondemnedbythedoctors，andasmallboynotquitesixyearsoldcouldnotberegardedasseriouslydangerousevenforthelargestofconceivableempiressaddledwiththemostsacredofresponsibilities。Andthisgoodman，Ibelieve，didnotthinksoeither。
Ilearnedafterwardswhyhewaspresentonthatday。Idon’trememberanyoutwardsigns，butitseemsthat，aboutamonthbefore，mymotherbecamesounwellthattherewasadoubtwhethershecouldbemadefittotravelinthetime。InthisuncertaintytheGovernor-GeneralinKievwaspetitionedtograntherafortnight’sextensionofstayinherbrother’shouse。Noanswerwhateverwasreturnedtothisprayer，butonedayatduskthepolice-captainofthedistrictdroveuptothehouseandtoldmyuncle’svalet，whoranouttomeethim，thathewantedtospeakwiththemasterinprivate，atonce。Verymuchimpressed（hethoughtitwasgoingtobeanarrest）theservant，"moredeadthanalivewithfright，"asherelatedafterwards，smuggledhimthroughthebigdrawing-room，whichwasdark（thatroomwasnotlightedeveryevening），ontiptoe，soasnottoattracttheattentionoftheladiesinthehouse，andledhimbywayoftheorangerytomyuncle’sprivateapartments。
Thepoliceman，withoutanypreliminaries，thrustapaperintomyuncle’shands。
"There。Prayreadthis。Ihavenobusinesstoshowthispapertoyou。Itiswrongofme。ButIcan’teithereatorsleepwithsuchajobhangingoverme。"
Thatpolice-captain，anativeofGreatRussia，hadbeenformanyyearsservinginthedistrict。
Myuncleunfoldedandreadthedocument。ItwasaserviceorderissuedfromtheGovernor-General’ssecretariat，dealingwiththematterofthepetitionanddirectingthepolice-captaintodisregardallremonstrancesandexplanationsinregardtothatillnesseitherfrommedicalmenorothers，"andifshehasnotleftherbrother’shouse"——itwentontosay——"onthemorningofthedayspecifiedonherpermit，youaretodespatchheratonceunderescort，direct"（underlined）"totheprison-hospitalinKiev，whereshewillbetreatedashercasedemands。"
"ForGod’ssake，Mr。B。，seethatyoursistergoesawaypunctuallyonthatday。Don’tgivemethisworktodowithawoman——andwithoneofyourfamilytoo。Isimplycannotbeartothinkofit。"
Hewasabsolutelywringinghishands。Myunclelookedathiminsilence。
"Thankyouforthiswarning。Iassureyouthatevenifsheweredyingshewouldbecarriedouttothecarriage。"
"Yes——indeed——andwhatdifferencewoulditmake——traveltoKievorbacktoherhusband。Forshewouldhavetogo——deathornodeath。Andmind，Mr。B。，Iwillbehereontheday，notthatI
doubtyourpromise，butbecauseImust。Ihavegotto。Duty。
AllthesamemytradeisnotfitforadogsincesomeofyouPoleswillpersistinrebelling，andallofyouhavegottosufferforit。"
Thisisthereasonwhyhewasthereinanopenthree-horsetrappulledupbetweenthehouseandthegreatgates。Iregretnotbeingabletogiveuphisnametothescornofallbelieversintherightsofconquest，asareprehensiblysensitiveguardianofImperialgreatness。Ontheotherhand，IaminapositiontostatethenameoftheGovernor-Generalwhosignedtheorderwiththemarginalnote"tobecarriedouttotheletter"inhisownhandwriting。Thegentleman’snamewasBezak。Ahighdignitary，anenergeticofficial，theidolforatimeoftheRussianPatrioticPress。
Eachgenerationhasitsmemories。
ChapterIV。
Itmustnotbesupposedthatinsettingforththememoriesofthishalf-hourbetweenthemomentmyuncleleftmyroomtillwemetagainatdinner，Iamlosingsightof"Almayer’sFolly。"
Havingconfessedthatmyfirstnovelwasbeguninidleness——aholidaytask——IthinkIhavealsogiventheimpressionthatitwasamuch-delayedbook。Itwasneverdismissedfrommymind，evenwhenthehopeofeverfinishingitwasveryfaint。Manythingscameinitsway：dailyduties，newimpressions，oldmemories。Itwasnottheoutcomeofaneed——thefamousneedofself-expressionwhichartistsfindintheirsearchformotives。
Thenecessitywhichimpelledmewasahidden，obscurenecessity，acompletelymaskedandunaccountablephenomenon。Orperhapssomeidleandfrivolousmagician（theremustbemagiciansinLondon）hadcastaspellovermethroughhisparlourwindowasI
exploredthemazeofstreetseastandwestinsolitaryleisurelywalkswithoutchartandcompass。TillIbegantowritethatnovelIhadwrittennothingbutlettersandnotverymanythese。
Inevermadeanoteofafact，ofanimpressionorofananecdoteinmylife。TheconceptionofaplannedbookwasentirelyoutsidemymentalrangewhenIsatdowntowrite;theambitionofbeinganauthorhadneverturnedupamongstthesegraciousimaginaryexistencesonecreatesfondlyforoneselfattimesinthestillnessandimmobilityofaday-dream：yetitstandsclearasthesunatnoondaythatfromthemomentIhaddoneblackeningoverthefirstmanuscriptpageof"Almayer’sFolly"（itcontainedabouttwohundredwordsandthisproportionofwordstoapagehasremainedwithmethroughthefifteenyearsofmywritinglife），fromthemomentIhad，inthesimplicityofmyheartandtheamazingignoranceofmymind，writtenthatpagethediewascast。NeverhadRubiconbeenmoreblindlyforded，withoutinvocationtothegods，withoutfearofmen。
ThatmorningIgotupfrommybreakfast，pushingthechairback，andrangthebellviolently，orperhapsIshouldsayresolutely，orperhapsIshouldsayeagerly，Idonotknow。Butmanifestlyitmusthavebeenaspecialringofthebell，acommonsoundmadeimpressive，liketheringingofabellfortheraisingofthecurtainuponanewscene。Itwasanunusualthingformetodo。
Generally，IdawdledovermybreakfastandIsolemntookthetroubletoringthebellforthetabletobeclearedaway;butonthatmorningforsomereasonhiddeninthegeneralmysteriousnessoftheeventIdidnotdawdle。AndyetIwasnotinahurry。I
pulledthecordcasuallyandwhilethefainttinklingsomewheredowninthebasementwenton，IchargedmypipeintheusualwayandIlookedforthematchboxwithglancesdistraughtindeedbutexhibiting，Iamreadytoswear，nosignsofafinefrenzy。I
wascomposedenoughtoperceiveaftersomeconsiderabletimethematchboxlyingthereonthemantelpiecerightundermynose。Andallthiswasbeautifullyandsafelyusual。BeforeIhadthrowndownthematchmylandlady’sdaughterappearedwithhercalm，palefaceandaninquisitivelook，inthedoorway。Oflateitwasthelandlady’sdaughterwhoansweredmybell。Imentionthislittlefactwithpride，becauseitprovesthatduringthethirtyorfortydaysofmytenancyIhadproducedafavourableimpression。ForafortnightpastIhadbeensparedtheunattractivesightofthedomesticslave。ThegirlsinthatBessboroughGardenshousewereoftenchanged，butwhethershortorlong，fairordark，theywerealwaysuntidyandparticularlybedraggledasifinasordidversionofthefairytaletheashbincathadbeenchangedintoamaid。Iwasinfinitelysensibleoftheprivilegeofbeingwaitedonbymylandlady’sdaughter。Shewasneatifanaemic。
"Willyoupleaseclearawayallthisatonce？"Iaddressedherinconvulsiveaccents，beingatthesametimeengagedingettingmypipetodraw。This，Iadmit，wasanunusualrequest。GenerallyongettingupfrombreakfastIwouldsitdowninthewindowwithabookandletthemclearthetablewhentheyliked;butifyouthinkthatonthatmorningIwasintheleastimpatient，youaremistaken。IrememberthatIwasperfectlycalm。AsamatteroffactIwasnotatallcertainthatIwantedtowrite，orthatI
meanttowrite，orthatIhadanythingtowriteabout。No，Iwasnotimpatient。Iloungedbetweenthemantelpieceandthewindow，notevenconsciouslywaitingforthetabletobecleared。Itwastentoonethatbeforemylandlady’sdaughterwasdoneIwouldpickupabookandsitdownwithitallthemorninginaspiritofenjoyableindolence。Iaffirmitwithassurance，andIdon’tevenknownowwhatwerethebooksthenlyingabouttheroom。
Whatevertheyweretheywerenottheworksofgreatmasters，wherethesecretofclearthoughtandexactexpressioncanbefound。SincetheageoffiveIhavebeenagreatreader，asisnotperhapswonderfulinachildwhowasneverawareoflearningtoread。AttenyearsofageIhadreadmuchofVictorHugoandotherromantics。IhadreadinPolishandinFrench，history，voyages，novels;Iknew"GilBlas"and"DonQuixote"inabridgededitions;IhadreadinearlyboyhoodPolishpoetsandsomeFrenchpoets，butIcannotsaywhatIreadontheeveningbeforeIbegantowritemyself。IbelieveitwasanovelanditisquitepossiblethatitwasoneofAnthonyTrollope’snovels。Itisverylikely。Myacquaintancewithhimwasthenveryrecent。