Page 49 (1/1)

The copse in which the duel was to take place was a quarter of a mile from Hanau Sanin and Pantaleone arrived there first, as the latter had predicted; they gave orders for the carriage to reed into the shade of the rather thick and close-growing trees They had to wait about an hour

The tireeable to Sanin; he walked up and down the path, listened to the birds singing, watched the dragonflies in their flight, and like the majority of Russians in similar circumstances, tried not to think He only once dropped into reflection; he ca lime-tree, broken down, in all probability by the squall of the previous night It was unall the leaves on it were dead 'What is it? an oht that flashed across his , leaped over the very tree, and paced up and down the path As for Pantaleone, he was gru first his back and then his knees He even yawned froave a very comic expression to his tiny shrivelled-up face Sanin could scarcely help laughing when he looked at hi the soft road 'It's they!' said Pantaleone, and he was on the alert and drew himself up, not without a momentary nervous shiver, which he made haste, however, to cover with the ejaculation 'B-r-r!' and the re was rather fresh A heavy dew drenched the grass and leaves, but the sultry heat penetrated even into the wood

Both the officers quickly made their appearance under its arched avenues; they were accomatic, almost sleepy, expression of face--the army doctor He carried in one hand an earthenware pitcher of water--to be ready for any ees hung on his left shoulder It was obvious that he was thoroughly used to such excursions; they constituted one of the sources of his incoold crowns--four from each of the combatants Herr von Richter carried a case of pistols, Herr von D&ou in his hand a little cane

'Pantaleone!' Sanin whispered to the oldmay happen--take out of my side pocket a paper--there's a florapped up in it--and give the paper to Signorina Gemma Do you hear? You promise?'

The old man looked dejectedly at him, and nodded his head affirmatively But God knohether he understood what Sanin was asking him to do