I am convinced of the fact that you even know music not at all badly.
Finally, if I were to confess, I was a little … how shall I put it to you? … I always was a little in love with you.
And now you wanted to shoot me!
Me, a person who could be a very good friend to you!
Well, what will you say to that?”
“Well … nothing at all, Emma Edwardovna,” retorted Tamara in the meekest and most plausible tone. “Everything was very simple.
Even before that I found the revolver under Jennka’s pillow and brought it, in order to give it over to you.
I did not want to interfere, when you were reading the letter; but then you turned around to me— I stretched the revolver out to you and wanted to say: ’See, Emma Edwardovna, what I found’— for, don’t you see, it surprised me awfully how the late Jennie, having a revolver at her disposal, preferred such a horrible death as hanging?
And that’s all.”
The bushy, frightful eyebrows of Emma Edwardovna rose upward; the eyes widened joyously; and a real, uncounterfeited smile spread over her cheeks of a behemoth.
She quickly extended both hands to Tamara.
“And is this all?
O, mein kind? And I thought … God knows what I imagined!
Give me your hands, Tamara, your little charming white hands, and allow me to press them auf mein Herz, upon my heart, and to kiss you.”
The kiss was so long, that Tamara with great difficulty and with aversion barely freed herself from the embraces of Emma Edwardovna.
“Well, and now to business.
And so, here are my terms: you will be housekeeper, I give you fifteen percent, out of the clear gain.
Mind you, Tamara, fifteen percent.
And, besides that, a small salary— thirty, forty, well, if you like, fifty roubles a month.
Splendid terms— isn’t that the truth?
I am deeply convinced, that none other than just you will help me to raise the house to a real height, and make it the swellest not only in our city, but in all the south of Russia as well.
You have taste, and an understanding of things! … Besides that, you will always be able to entertain, and to stir up the most exacting, the most unyielding guests.
In rare instances, when a very rich and distinguished gentleman— in Russian they call it one “sun-fish,” while with us, ein Freier,[26]— when he becomes infatuated with you— for you are so handsome, Tamarochka,” (the proprietress looked at her with misty, humid eyes), “then I do not at all forbid you to pass the time with him gaily; only to bear down always upon the fact that you have no right, owing to your duty, your position, Und so weiter, und so weiter … aber sagen sie bitte, do you easily make yourself understood in German?”
“Die Deutsche Sprache beherrsche ich in geringerem Grade als die franzosische; indes kann ich stets in einer Salon-Plauderei mitmachen.”[27]
“O, wunderbar! sie haben eine entzuckende Rigaer Aussprache, die beste alter deutschen Aussprachen.
Und also— fahren wir in unserer Sprache fort.
Sie klingt viel susser meinem Ohr, die Muttersprache.
Schon?[28]
“Schon.”[29]
“Zuletzt werden Sie nachgeben, dem Anschein nach ungern, unwillkurlich, van der Laune des Augenblicks hingerissen— und, was die Hauptsache ist, lautlos, heimlich vor mir.
Sie verstehen?
Dafur zahlen Narren ein schweres Geld.
Ubrigens brauche ich Sie wohl nicht zu lernen.”[30]
“Ja, gnadige Frau.
Sie sprechen gar kluge Dinge.
Doch das ist schon keine Plauderei mehr, sondern eine ernste unterhaltung. “Yes, my dear madam. You say very wise things. But this is no longer small talk; it is, rather, serious conversation … And for that reason it is more convenient for me, if you will revert to the Russian language … I am ready to obey you.”
“Furthermore! … I was just now talking about a lover.
I dare not forbid you this pleasure, but let us be prudent: let him not appear here, or appear as rarely as possible.
I will give you days for going out, when you will be perfectly free.
But it’s best if you would get along without him entirely.
It will serve your benefit too.
This is only a drag and a yoke.
I am telling you this from my own personal experience.
Wait a while; after three or four years we will expand this business so, that you will have substantial money already, and then I vill take you into the business as a partner with full rights.
After ten years you will still be young and handsome, and then take and buy men as much as you want to.
By that time romantic follies will go out of your head entirely, and it will not be you who will be chosen already, but you who will be choosing with sense and with feeling, as a connoisseur picks out precious stones.
Do you agree with me?”
Tamara cast down her eyes, and smiled just the least trifle.
“You speak golden truths, Emma Edwardovna. I will drop mine, but not at once.
For that I will need some two weeks.