In the bushes at the foot of the cliff three horses were tethered;we tethered ours there too,and then we clambered up the narrow path to the ledge on which Grushnitski was awaiting us in company with the captain of dragoons and his other second,whom they called Ivan Ignate-vich.His surname I never heard.
"We have been expecting you for quite a long time,"said the captain of dragoons,with an ironical smile.
I drew out my watch and showed him the time.
He apologized,saying that his watch was fast.
There was an embarrassing silence for a few moments.At length the doctor inter-rupted it.
"It seems to me,"he said,turning to Grush-nitski,"that as you have both shown your readi-ness to fight,and thereby paid the debt due to the conditions of honour,you might be able to come to an explanation and finish the affair amicably.""I am ready,"I said.
The captain winked to Grushnitski,and the latter,thinking that I was losing courage,assumed a haughty air,although,until that moment,his cheeks had been covered with a dull pallor.For the first time since our arrival he lifted his eyes on me;but in his glance there was a certain disquietude which evinced an inward struggle.
"Declare your conditions,"he said,"and anything I can do for you,be assured"...
"These are my conditions:you will this very day publicly recant your slander and beg my pardon"...
"My dear sir,I wonder how you dare make such a proposal to me?""What else could I propose?"...
"We will fight."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Be it so;only,bethink you that one of us will infallibly be killed.""I hope it will be you"...
"And I am so convinced of the contrary"...
He became confused,turned red,and then burst out into a forced laugh.
The captain took his arm and led him aside;they whispered together for a long time.I had arrived in a fairly pacific frame of mind,but all this was beginning to drive me furious.
The doctor came up to me.
"Listen,"he said,with manifest uneasiness,"you have surely forgotten their conspiracy!...
I do not know how to load a pistol,but in this case...You are a strange man!Tell them that you know their intention --and they will not dare...What sport!To shoot you like a bird"...
"Please do not be uneasy,doctor,and wait awhile...I shall arrange everything in such a way that there will be no advantage on their side.
Let them whisper"...
"Gentlemen,this is becoming tedious,"I said to them loudly:"if we are to fight,let us fight;you had time yesterday to talk as much as you wanted to.""We are ready,"answered the captain."Take your places,gentlemen!Doctor,be good enough to measure six paces"...
"Take your places!"repeated Ivan Ignatevich,in a squeaky voice.
"Excuse me!"I said."One further condition.As we are going to fight to the death,we are bound to do everything possible in order that the affair may remain a secret,and that our seconds may incur no responsibility.Do you agree?"...
"Quite."
"Well,then,this is my idea.Do you see that narrow ledge on the top of the perpendicular cliff on the right?It must be thirty fathoms,if not more,from there to the bottom;and,down below,there are sharp rocks.Each of us will stand right at the extremity of the ledge --in such manner even a slight wound will be mortal:that ought to be in accordance with your desire,as you yourselves have fixed upon six paces.Which-ever of us is wounded will be certain to fall down and be dashed to pieces;the doctor will extract the bullet,and,then,it will be possible very easily to account for that sudden death by saying it was the result of a fall.Let us cast lots to decide who shall fire first.In conclusion,I declare that I will not fight on any other terms.""Be it so!"said the captain after an expres-sive glance at Grushnitski,who nodded his head in token of assent.Every moment he was changing countenance.I had placed him in an embarrassing position.Had the duel been fought upon the usual conditions,he could have aimed at my leg,wounded me slightly,and in such wise gratified his vengeance without overburdening his conscience.But now he was obliged to fire in the air,or to make himself an assassin,or,finally,to abandon his base plan and to expose himself to equal danger with me.I should not have liked to be in his place at that moment.He took the captain aside and said something to him with great warmth.His lips were blue,and I saw them trembling;but the captain turned away from him with a contemptuous smile.
"You are a fool,"he said to Grushnitski rather loudly."You can't understand a thing!...
Let us be off,then,gentlemen!"
The precipice was approached by a narrow path between bushes,and fragments of rock formed the precarious steps of that natural stair-case.Clinging to the bushes we proceeded to clamber up.Grushnitski went in front,his seconds behind him,and then the doctor and I.
"I am surprised at you,"said the doctor,pressing my hand vigorously."Let me feel your pulse!...Oho!Feverish!...But nothing noticeable on your countenance ...only your eyes are gleaming more brightly than usual."Suddenly small stones rolled noisily right under our feet.What was it?Grushnitski had stumbled;the branch to which he was clinging had broken off,and he would have rolled down on his back if his seconds had not held him up.
"Take care!"I cried."Do not fall prematurely:that is a bad sign.Remember Julius Caesar!"CHAPTER XX
AND now we had climbed to the summit of the projecting cliff.The ledge was covered with fine sand,as if on purpose for a duel.
