New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-24
III.
TIE PERSON IN QUESTION.

hamlet or the VOiOsta Oh fOuJarltZHi Dusy
though was with my property, could Eot help
signing whenever Thought of the noisy lie,
CAV and careless, had led up TO that period.
In P0djaritzki one did not hve-did not exist
even; one vegetated. The greatest trouble
had was to accustOm myself to pass the even
ipgs of spring and winter in complete solitude.
Until dinner-hour | succeeded In killing time,
more or less effectually, by talking to the
sarosta experimenting my wOrkmen, inspect
ing new buildings, and overlooking improve
ments But as soon as dusk came on, was at
q perfect loss to know what to do with my self:
| could almost repeat by rOte the lew DOCKS L
had unearthed in the drawers and In COCK
loft. / made my housekeeper, kirilovna, tell
me, over and over again, all the old country
tales she reeoected. The songs OF the peasant
girls made me melancholy. | took to drinking,
but that gave me the headache. Yes, VIII
own it for an instant | was afraid should be-
come drunkard through pure spite, the worst
of all drunkafds, as my own district afforded
me only too many proofs. As near DelghDors
there were but two or three OF these dsting-
uished topers, whose conversation consisted
principally of yawns and hlccOughs Solitude
Was a lesser evil than their companlonshlp AT
last | made I'D my mind to get TO bed as early
as possible, and TO dine as late as possible so
that |. solved the problem OF shortening the
evenings and pro,onglng the days, ana found
the plan pay best Of any.
Four versts from my place was very fine
domain belonging TO tho Countess b; but
there was nobody there save her steward. Inc
Countess had resided in her chateau but once
the first year of her welded life and then she
would not remain there beyond month. One
day. during the second spring OF my hermits
existence, | was told that the Countess meant
to pass the summer with her husband In the
chateau. The report was correct. They took
up their quarters there in the beginning Of
June.
The arrival of rich neig hbor is an event in
rur. life. The landed proprietors and their
people speak of it for two months beforehand,
and three yeais afterward. AS for myself, L
candidly AVON that the announcement OF the
coming of q young and handsome lady neighbor
threw me into considerable agitation. l was
diving OF impotence to see her; and the first
Sunday after their arrival L set out, after
dinner, for her chateau, to present my homage
to Madame la Comtesse, in the character OF her
nearest neighbOr and very humble servant
A lackey ushered me into the Counts study
and went to acquaint his master with my VISIT.
This study was spacious, ana furInshed Ill very
rich style Along the walls were ranged mas
siye presses full of books, and on the top OF
each a bust in bronze Over the marble chin
neypiece there was an immense mirror. Inc
floor was hidden by a green CLOTH upon which
were spread Persian carpets. l had Deen dl-
voIced from comfort so long IN my den, that
was overcome at the spectacle OF all this sump-
tuOusness-was positively seized with tmldlty,
end waited for the Count very much IN the
frame of being OF petitioner from the prov
inces VINO has obtained audience of some pow
erful Minister, and sits In an antechamDer
The door opened, and gave admission 10
young man about thirty, of charming counte-
nance He received Inc IN the frankest and
me st amiable manner. l made an enort TO
recover nv calmness, and was commencing my
compliments as a nelghbOr, when he anticipated
me by gracefully telling me that should be al
ways welcome TO his house whle he was IneIe;;
We seated ourselves. j he conversation. full
of naturalness and atfability. soon sOOthed my
savage umidity, and l began to feel myself In
my ordinary groove when suddenly the Coun-
tess appeared, and threw me INTO an emoar-
rissment greater than before. She was truly
beauty. The Count presented me. endeay0red
TO assume a free and easy manner, but the
more | tried the more awkward became: My
hosts, in order to give me an opportunity 10
collect myself and get accustomed TO my new
acduaintances, began chatting TO one another.
az If To show me they treated me, without cere-
mony, as an estimable nelghbOr. Meanwhile,
walked about the study, looking at the books
and pictures. | am not much OF a connolsseur,
as far as pictures go, but there was one which
riveted my attention. 1t was sketch or q
valley in Switzerland (; but II was not the merit
of the landscape which struck me most Ie-
marked that the canvas was pierced by Two
bullets one evidently aimed at the other
'Ha that was something like shot,
cried. turning toward the Count.
Yes he said j.; rather singular shot Are
you good hand at the pistol Z he continued
We'll, yes-sO-sO,' l answered, delighted at
the chance of speaking on subject / was not
wholly ignorant of. At thirty PAGES | warrant
myself never to miss card, always provided
| know the pistols
.Rrallyr said the Countess with an air OF
profound interest. Then, addressing her nus
band she added: And you, dearest-do you
think you could hit a card at thirty PAGES
I'VE shall See replied the Count. used
not to be a bad shot in my day but it IS quite
four wears since had pistol IN my hand
In that case, Count, don't mind Dettlng
that, even at twenty PAGES, you're not able to
hit the spot. The pistol Insists on constant
practice. know it 10y experience. In my regl-
mrnt | passed for one of the best marksmen.
1t happened once that was month without
taking up pistol mine were at the armorers :.
We went out for target-practlce. Nhat do You
think came to pass Count | missed bottle
at five-anC twenty PAGES TOUR consecutive
times. We had a squadrOn-leader IN 0uls-a
iolIv fellow but a terrible Joker. 4" Phew COM
rade.1 he said "yOu're altogether too sober:
You have TOO much respect Tor the bottles
Believe me, Count, if you don't practice you
must rust The best shot | ever met kept his
haad in by firing his pistol every day. IL II was
only three shots before dinner He would as
soon fail to have his three shots as to take his
MP OF brandy before soup.
The Count and Countess seemed to take
pleasure IN nearing me rattle on thus. >,
And what sort of shots used he to make 7
demanded the Count
What sort7 Wait till you hear. Suppose
he saw fly creeping on the wall. You laugh,
Countess : | swear to yOu it's true Eh,
Kouzka. o pistol Kouzka brought him
loaded pistol. Ping! There was the fly Hat
tened upon the wall
What skill exclaimed the Count. What
was your mar s name
'Sivio Count
.Silvior exclaimed the Count .springing to
his feet. You knew SIlviOf
Did | know hint We were the best OF
friends. He used to NIX with our corps as if
he were one of ourselves. But 1t is good five
Years since heard any tidlngs of him. SO, as
= annears. he had the honor TO be known to
you. Count.
yes. known, very well known
Il wonder did he ever tell you curlous
otorv of an adventure that occurred TO him
49, A story about a box on the eur he got