You understand yourself.
I was single, and of course, every man is liable to sin … It’s different now, of course.
I’ve had myself written in with the invalids.
But from the former days a remarkable collection has remained to me.
Just wait, I’ll show it to you right away.
Only, please, be as careful as possible in looking at it.”
Horizon with trepidation looked around to the right and left and extracted from his pocket a long, narrow little box of morocco, in the style of those in which playing cards are usually kept, and extended it to the sub-lieutenant.
“Here you are, have a look.
Only, I beg of you, be very careful.”
The sub-lieutenant applied himself to picking out, one after the other, the cards of plain and coloured photography, in which in all possible aspects was depicted in the most beastly ways, in the most impossible positions, the external side of love which at times makes man immeasurably lower and viler than a baboon.
Horizon would look over his shoulder, nudge him with his elbow, and whisper:
“Tell me, ain’t that swell, now?
Why, this is genuine Parisian and Viennese chic!”
The sub-lieutenant looked through the whole collection from the beginning to the end.
When he was giving back the little box, his hand was shaking, his temples and forehead were moist, his eyes had dimmed, and over his cheeks had mantled a blush, mottled like marble.
“But do you know what?” Horizon exclaimed gaily, all of a sudden. “It’s all the same to me— the Indian sign has been put upon me.
I, as they used to say in the olden times, have burned my ships … I have burned all that I used to adore before.
For a long time already I’ve been looking for an opportunity to pass these cards on to some one.
I ain’t especially chasing after a price.
You wish to acquire them, mister officer?”
“Well, now … I,— that is … Why not? … Let’s … ”
“That’s fine!
On account of such a pleasant acquaintanceship, I’ll take fifty kopecks apiece.
What, is that expensive?
Well, what’s the difference, God be with you!
I see you’re a travelling man, I don’t want to rob you; let it go at thirty, then.
What?
That ain’t cheap either?
Well, shake hands on it!
Twenty-five kopecks apiece.Oi!
What an intractable fellow you are!
At twenty!
You’ll thank me yourself later!
And then, do you know what else?
When I come to K — , I always stop at the Hotel Hermitage.
You can very easily find me there either very early in the morning, or about eight o’clock in the evening.
I know an awful lot of the finest little ladies.
So I’ll introduce you.
And, you understand, not for money.
Oh, no.
It’s just simply nice and gay for them to pass the time with a young, healthy, handsome man of your sort.
There’s absolutely no money of any kind necessary.
And for that matter— they themselves will willingly pay for wine, for a bottle of champagne!
So remember then; The Hermitage, Horizon.
And if it isn’t that, remember it anyway!
Maybe I can be of use to you.
And the cards are such a thing, such a thing, that it will never lay on the shelf by you.
Those who like that sort of thing give three roubles for each specimen.
But these, of course, are rich people, little old men.
And then, you know”— Horizon bent over to the officer’s very ear, winked one eye, and pronounced in a sly whisper— “you know, many ladies adore these cards.