The fencing master, p.15
THE FENCING MASTER, page 15
After dinner we adjourned to the drawing room where tables were set out for play; but as I was neither poor enough nor rich enough to be a victim to the passion, I watched the others. At midnight when I retired to bed, three hundred thousand roubles and twenty-five thousand peasants had exchanged hands.
I was called next morning at daybreak. The huntsmen had heard of five bears which had sought the cover of a wood about three leagues in circumference. I received this news with a slight shudder, though I suppose I ought to have been delighted. However brave a man is, he always experiences some trepidation in tackling a strange enemy who is being encountered for the first time.
All the same I boldly dressed in my costume, which was designed so that I had nothing to fear from the cold. Besides, as if to take an interest in the sport, the sun was shining gloriously and the temperature, mitigated by its rays, registered not more than fifteen degrees of frost at this early hour and gave promise of rising seven or eight degrees by noonday.
I went downstairs and found the whole party ready and dressed exactly alike, so that we had great difficulty in recognizing one another. Sleighs fully equipped were waiting for us; we got in and ten minutes later were at the appointed spot. It was a charming cottage belonging to some Russian peasant, constructed of wood in a rough fashion, with its big stove and its patron saint, before which we all bowed humbly, as a matter of course, as we crossed the threshold. A substantial breakfast was awaiting us, to which we all did justice; but I noticed that contrary to their usual custom none of the sportsmen drank anything. It was like abstaining from drink before a duel, and we were about to engage in a real duel. When breakfast was nearly over, the huntsman appeared at the door as a hint that it was time to start. We each received a fully loaded carbine at the door, which we were to sling across our shoulders, but not to use except as a last resource. In addition to the carbines they gave each of us five or six tin plates to throw at the bear and irritate it by the sound and sparkle.
After walking for a few yards we arrived at the covert, which had been surrounded by bands of music by M. de Nariskin’s orders, exactly like those I had heard on the Neva during the lovely summer nights. Every man held his horn in his hand ready to produce the note. The whole enclosure was thus surrounded, so that the bears in whatever direction they attempted to escape were met by the noise. Between the musicians was a huntsman, a marker or a peasant with a gun loaded with powder only, lest any of us should be accidentally shot. The combined noise of the firing and the music would confront any attempt on the part of the bears to break out. We passed this line and entered the covert.
At the same moment the wood was enveloped in a circle of music, which had the same effect upon us as military music must produce among soldiers going into battle. As for myself I felt transported with warlike ardour, such as I should have felt myself incapable of experiencing five minutes previously.
I was placed between M. de Nariskin’s huntsman, who thanks to my inexperience received the honour of taking part in the hunt, and Count Alexis, over whom I had promised Louise to keep a watchful eye, whereas in reality he was looking after me. He had on his left Prince Nikita Muraviev, with whom he was extremely intimate, and beyond the Prince I could I just distinguish M. de Nariskin, through the trees. I could see nothing further on.
We walked in this order for nearly ten minutes when cries of “Medvede, Med.
vede” were heard followed by a few gun shots. A bear disturbed by the sound of the horns had probably appeared on the edge of the covert to be driven back at once by the markers and the musicians. My neighbours made the signal to halt and we remained at attention. A moment later we heard in front of us the crashing of brushwood and a muffled growl.
I must confess that at this sound, which seemed to be approaching in my direction, I felt the sweat oozing from my forehead in spite of the cold weather. But on looking round I noticed that my two neighbours looked cheerful enough, so I followed their example. At that moment we caught sight of the bear, its head and half its body appearing from the middle of a thorn bush, standing between Count Alexis and myself.
Instinctively I threw away my dagger and seized my gun, for the astonished bear kept gazing at each of us in turn and seemed undecided as to which he should first attack. But the Count did not allow him time to choose; fearing lest I should make some mistake, he wanted to draw the enemy upon himself, so advancing a few steps in order to reach an open space where he would have more freedom to act, he threw at the bear’s face one of the plates he was carrying. With one bound the bear stood bolt upright and with marvellous skill caught the plate with 1rs paws and crushed it, all the while growling. The Count thereupon advanced another pace and threw another plate; the bear caught it exactly as a dog seizes a stone and ground it with his teeth. The Count threw a third, to excite it to still greater fury; but on this occasion as if he understood it was folly to vent his rage on inanimate objects, he scornfully let the plate fall at his side, faced straight at the Count, uttered a terrible roar and trotted towards him, till they were not more than ten feet apart. At this moment the Count gave a shrill whistle. The bear immediately stood upon its hind legs; this is what the Count had expected; he threw himself upon the brute, which stretched out his two arms to hug him; but before he had time to close them, the bear uttered a cry of pain and making three steps to the rear, staggered like a drunken man and fell dead. He was pierced to the heart by the dagger.
I ran up to the Count to ask if he was wounded and found him calm and cool as if he had just hamstrung a deer. I could not comprehend such courage; as for me I was all in a tremble at having merely watched the encounter.
“You see how it is done,” said the Count, “it is not very difficult after all. Help me to turn him over; I left my dagger in the wound, in order that you might witness the whole performance.”
The animal was quite dead. We turned it over with difficulty, for it must have weighed four hundred pounds being one of the large black bears. The dagger was indeed driven up to the hilt in its breast. The Count drew it out and plunged it two or three times in the snow to clean it. Just then we heard fresh cries and through the trees we could see the huntsman who was posted on M. de Nariskin’s left at close quarters with a bear. The struggle was a little more prolonged, but eventually the bear fell like the first.
The double victory which I had just seen accomplished before my eyes, excited me; the fever which was consuming my blood removed all thought of danger. I felt possessed of the strength of Hercules, and I was eager to give proof of my powers.
The opportunity was not long in coming. We had scarcely proceeded two hundred paces from the spot where we had left the two carcases, when I fancied I saw the upper half of a bear, standing at the entrance of its den, between two rocks. For an instant I was in doubt, and to make sure I bravely threw towards the object, whatever it might be, one of my tin plates. This experiment was successful; the bear opened its lips, showed me two rows of teeth as white as snow and uttered a growl. At this sound my right and left-hand neighbours halted and held their guns at attention, in order to assist me if need were, for they saw plainly that this was to be my affair.
Seeing them handle their guns made me think that I might use my own; besides, I must confess that I had more confidence in such a weapon than in a dagger. I placed the latter in my belt and taking my gun, I aimed at the creature with all the sang froid I could command. For his part he remained quite still and gave me a splendid chance, so when I had got a good sight I pulled the trigger and the gun went off.
Then ensued a terrible growling. The bear rose erect, fighting the air with one of his paws, while the other, broken at the shoulder, hung down his side. At the same moment I heard my two neighbours shout: “Look out;” and well they might, for the bear, on recovering from his first shock of amazement, came at me at such a pace, in spite of his broken shoulder, that I had scarcely time to draw my dagger. I hardly recollect what took place then, for everything happened as quick as thought. I saw the infuriated animal towering above me, his jaws a mass of blood. I struck him a terrible blow with all my strength, but I encountered a rib, and the dagger glanced off; I then felt the weight of his paw like a mountain upon my shoulder. I was overwhelmed and fell prone beneath my adversary, seizing him instinctively by the neck with both my hands and exerting all my strength to keep his mouth away from my face. The next moment two shots were fired; I heard the hissing of the bullets, and then a dull thud. The bear uttered a cry of pain and collapsed upon me with all his weight. I gathered up my strength, and forcing myself to one side, found myself free. I immediately leapt to my feet, prepared to defend myself, but it was needless, the bear was dead; he had been struck at the same instant by Count Alexis’ ball behind his ear, and one from the huntsman in the hollow of the shoulder. For my part I was covered with blood, but I had not received the slightest wound.
All the company gathered together; for as soon as it was known that I was at close quarters with a bear, everyone was afraid that I should cut a poor figure in the encounter. There was general rejoicing when I was discovered standing over my fallen foe, My victory, though shared by others, gained me considerable honour, for I had acquitted myself very creditably for a beginner. As I have already said, the bear’s shoulder was shattered by my bullet; and my dagger, though glancing off a rib, had well gone up into his throat; I had kept a steady hand both at a distance and at close quarters.
The two other bears which had been noticed in the covert forced their way past the musicians and the huntsmen, and the sport was over; the carcases were dragged on to the roadway and there they were skinned. Then the fore paws were cut off, that they might be prepared for dinner, as they are considered to be a great dainty.
We returned to the house with our trophies. A perfumed bath was in readiness in every room and was very welcome, considering that we had spent half the day wrapped up in our furs. Half-an-hour later a bell announced that it was time to descend to the dining room.
The dinner was no less sumptuous than the evening before, the place of the sterlets was taken by the bears’ paws. To the disgust of the steward, the huntsmen, claiming their right, had cooked them in an oven dug out of the earth, simply placing them on some glowing embers. When I saw some shapeless and blackened lumps of charcoal make their appearance, I felt little taste for such a peculiar dish; however, like others, I received my paw, so making up my mind to go through the whole business, I raised with the point of my knife the burnt skin which covered it and discovered the flesh cooked to a nicety in its own juice. The sight of it encouraged me to try a mouthful. It was one of the most savoury dishes I have ever eaten.
On getting into my sleigh I found the skin of my bear placed there by M. Nariskin’s courtesy.
CHAPTER XI
WE found St. Petersburg busy preparing for the two great festivals which are separated by an interval of only a few days; I refer to New Year’s Day and the Blessing of the Waters, the former wholly secular, the latter distinctly religious.
On New Year’s Day, in accordance with the Russian habit of regarding the Emperor as their father and the Empress their mother, the Emperor and the Empress are “at home” to their children. Twenty-five thousand invitations are scattered haphazard about the streets of St. Petersburg, and twenty-five thousand guests, without distinction of rank, are admitted to the Winter Palace.
Certain sinister reports were in circulation; it was said that the reception would not be held this year, for rumours of assassination had got about, in spite of the morose and unbroken silence habitually maintained by the Russian police. Once more the mysterious plot, like some venomous serpent with a thousand coils, reared its head and then withdrew into the shade, defying observation. But for the time being the rumours had subsided, at least they no longer interested the curious; for the Emperor had given definite orders to the head of the police, that he wanted everything to take place as usual, regardless of the facility afforded for the execution of a murder by the dominos which from remote times the men had been accustomed to wear on the occasion.
There is this remarkable feature in Russia, that except for family intrigues, the Emperor has nothing to fear save from the nobility; the two-fold character of Pontiff and Emperor, which he has inherited from the Caesars, as their Eastern successor, makes his person sacred in the eyes of the people. Moreover, this is the experience of all countries, and indicates the sanguinary side of civilization. The assassin in barbarous times is a product of the family; from the family he passes on to the aristocracy, and from the aristocracy he descends to the people. Ages must elapse before Russia can have a Jacques Clément, a Damiens or an Alibaud; she is only in the stage of the Pahlens and Ankarstroms.
Thus it was said that Alexander would discover the assassins among his aristocracy, even in his palace and possibly among his private bodyguard. Though this was known, at least so it was reported, yet among the hands which were stretched out to the Emperor, it was impossible to distinguish between those of friends and those of enemies; so that he who approached him fawning like a dog, might suddenly spring upon him and rend him like a lion. There was nothing for it but to be on his guard and trust in God; this is what Alexander did.
New Year’s Day arrived. The tickets were distributed as usual; I received no less than ten, so anxious were my pupils that I should see their national fête, an interesting sight to a stranger. At seven o’clock the gates of the Winter Palace were thrown open.
I had expected, considering the reports which had gone abroad, to find the corridors in the palace lined with troops; so my astonishment was great at not perceiving a single additional bayonet. The usual sentinels were at their posts; as for the interior of the palace, it was destitute of guards.
One can guess by the concourse which throngs our free entertainments, what must be the commotion of a crowd eight times as large, pressing into a palace as big as the Tuileries; yet it is noteworthy that at St. Petersburg the respect instinctively felt for the Emperor prevents this invasion from degenerating into a noisy mob. Instead of seeing who can shout the loudest, every man imbued with a sense of his own inferiority, and grateful for the favour accorded him, murmurs to his neighbour: “No noise, no noise.”
While the people are streaming into the palace, the Emperor remains in the St. George’s Hall, seated by the Empress and surrounded by Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses, while he receives the diplomatic bodies. Then suddenly when the rooms are filled with gentlemen and peasants, princesses and shop girls, the door of St. George’s Hall is flung open, the band strikes up and the Emperor offers his hand to France, Austria or Spain, represented by their Ambassadresses, and shows himself at the door. Then everyone presses forward only to fall back again in two orderly lines; the waves part like the Red Sea and Pharaoh passes through.
It was said that this was the moment chosen to assassinate the monarch, and undoubtedly it would have been an easy thing to do.
The rumours which had been bruited about caused me to watch the Emperor with renewed curiosity. I expected to find him wearing the sad expression I had seen at Tsarskoe-Selo, so my astonishment was extreme when I noticed that on the contrary never had it been more open or joyous. It was no doubt due to the moral reaction experienced by the Emperor at this time of imminent danger. Indeed he had given two striking examples of this factitious calmness, one at a ball given by M. de Caulaincourt the French Ambassador, and the other at a fête at Zakret near Vilna.
M. de Caulaincourt was giving a ball in honour of the Emperor, when at midnight, that is to say when the dancers were in the thick of the fun, he was told that the house was on fire. The remembrance of Prince Schwartzemberg’s ball, interrupted by a similar cause, instantly flashed through the mind of the Duc de Vicence, with a vivid recollection of the fatal consequences which had ensued, due to the terror which turned everyone into a madman rather than to the danger itself. Therefore the Duke, anxious to make a personal inspection, stationed an aide-decamp at each door with orders to let no one pass, and approached the Emperor:
“Sire,” said he in a whisper, “the house is on fire; I am going to examine the matter myself; it is important that no one should hear of it, until the nature and the extent of the danger is ascertained. My aides-de-camp have orders to allow nobody to leave except your Majesty and their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes and the Grand Duchesses. If your Majesty would like to retire, you can of course do so; only I beg to observe that little credence will be given to the fire so long as you are to be seen in the rooms.”
“Very well,” said the Emperor, “Go. I will remain here.”
M. de Caulaincourt ran to the spot where the fire had been discovered. As he had foreseen, the danger was not so great as a first glance had led him to suppose and the fire soon yielded to the united exertions of the household servants. The Ambassador immediately returned to the ball room and found the Emperor dancing a Polonaise. M. de Caulaincourt and he exchanged glances.
“Well?” said the Emperor when the dance was over.
“Your Majesty, the fire has been extinguished,” replied M. de Caulaincourt and nothing more was said. It was not till the next day that the guests who had been present at the magnificent ball learnt that they had been dancing on a volcano.
The case was different at Zakret; for there the Emperor risked not only his life, but his crown into the bargain.
In the midst of the gaiety he was told that the French vanguard had just crossed the Niemen and that the Emperor Napoleon, his host at Erfurt, whom he had forgotten to invite, might at any moment enter the ball room followed by six hundred thousand dancers. Alexander gave his orders while seeming to chat on indifferent matters with his aides-de-camp, continued to stroll through the rooms, praising the illuminations and declaring that the moon which had just risen was the prettiest feature of all. Nor did he retire till midnight, when all the guests were crowding round the supper tables and he could slip out unperceived. During the whole evening not the least trace of anxiety had crossed his face, so that it was not till the actual arrival of the French that their presence was suspected.
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