第48章

She refused them, but was as cheerful as ever.I was intimate with her, not in 'that' way, it was pure friendship.I have often been friendly with women quite innocently.I used to talk to her with shocking frankness, and she only laughed.Many woman like such freedom, and she was a girl too, which made it very amusing.Another thing, one could never think of her as a young lady.She and her aunt lived in her father's house with a sort of voluntary humility, not putting themselves on an equality with other people.She was a general favourite, and of use of everyone, for she was a clever dressmaker.She had a talent for it.She gave her services freely without asking for payment, but if anyone offered her payment, she didn't refuse.The colonel, of course, was a very different matter.He was one of the chief personages in the district.He kept open house, entertained the whole town, gave suppers and dances.At the time Iarrived and joined the battalion, all the town was talking of the expected return of the colonel's second daughter, a great beauty, who had just left a fashionable school in the capital.This second daughter is Katerina Ivanovna, and she was the child of the second wife, who belonged to a distinguished general's family; although, as Ilearnt on good authority, she too brought the colonel no money.She had connections, and that was all.There may have been expectations, but they had come to nothing.

"Yet, when the young lady came from boarding-school on a visit, the whole town revived.Our most distinguished ladies- two 'Excellencies' and a colonel's wife- and all the rest following their lead, at once took her up and gave entertainments in her honour.

She was the belle of the balls and picnics, and they got up tableaux vivants in aid of distressed governesses.I took no notice, I went on as wildly as before, and one of my exploits at the time set all the town talking.I saw her eyes taking my measure one evening at the battery commander's, but I didn't go up to her, as though Idisdained her acquaintance.I did go up and speak to her at an evening party not long after.She scarcely looked at me, and compressed her lips scornfully.'Wait a bit.I'll have my revenge,' thought I.Ibehaved like an awful fool on many occasions at that time, and I was conscious of it myself.What made it worse was that I felt that 'Katenka' was not an innocent boarding-school miss, but a person of character, proud and really high-principled; above all, she had education and intellect, and I had neither.You think I meant to make her an offer? No, I simply wanted to revenge myself, because Iwas such a hero and she didn't seem to feel it.

"Meanwhile, I spent my time in drink and riot, till the lieutenant-colonel put me under arrest for three days.Just at that time father sent me six thousand roubles in return for my sending him a deed giving up all claims upon him- settling our accounts, so to speak, and saying that I wouldn't expect anything more.I didn't understand a word of it at the time.Until I came here, Alyosha, till the last few days, indeed, perhaps even now, I haven't been able to make head or tail of my money affairs with father.But never mind that, we'll talk of it later.

"Just as I received the money, I got a letter from a friend telling me something that interested me immensely.The authorities, I learnt, were dissatisfied with our lieutenant-colonel.He was suspected of irregularities; in fact, his enemies were preparing a surprise for him.And then the commander of the division arrived, and kicked up the devil of a shindy.Shortly afterwards he was ordered to retire.I won't tell you how it all happened.He had enemies certainly.Suddenly there was a marked coolness in the town towards him and all his family.His friends all turned their backs on him.

Then I took my first step.I met Agafya Ivanovna, with whom I'd always kept up a friendship, and said, 'Do you know there's a deficit of 4500roubles of government money in your father's accounts?'

"'What do you mean? What makes you say so? The general was here not long ago, and everything was all right.'

"'Then it was, but now it isn't.'

"She was terribly scared.

"'Don't frighten me!' she said.'Who told you so?'

"'Don't be uneasy,' I said, 'I won't tell anyone.You know I'm as silent as the tomb.I only wanted, in view of "possibilities," to add, that when they demand that 4500 roubles from your father, and he can't produce it, he'll be tried, and made to serve as a common soldier in his old age, unless you like to send me your young lady secretly.I've just had money paid me.I'll give her four thousand, if you like, and keep the secret religiously.'

"'Ah, you scoundrel!'- that's what she said.'You wicked scoundrel! How dare you!'

"She went away furiously indignant, while I shouted after her once more that the secret should be kept sacred.Those two simple creatures, Agafya and her aunt, I may as well say at once, behaved like perfect angels all through this business.They genuinely adored their 'Katya,' thought her far above them, and waited on her, hand and foot.But Agafya told her of our conversation.I found that out afterwards.She didn't keep it back, and of course that was all Iwanted.

"Suddenly the new major arrived to take command of the battalion.The old lieutenant-colonel was taken ill at once, couldn't leave his room for two days, and didn't hand over the government money.Dr.Kravchenko declared that he really was ill.