The Queen of Spades and other stories

old Countess. He felt no remorse, though he could not deny to himself that he was the poor woman's assassin. Having no religion, he was, as usual in such cases, ver

n her breast, with a dress of white satin, and head-dress of lace. Around the catafalque the family was assembled, the servants in black caftans with a knot of ribbons on the shoulder, exhibiting the c

e just, who had passed long years of contrite preparation, for a Christian end. The service concluded in the midst of respectful silence. Then the relations went towards the defunct to take a last farewell After them, in a long procession, all who had been, invited to the ceremony bowed, for the last time, to her who for

h, and walked up the steps of the catafalque. He bowed his head. But suddenly the dead woman seemed to be staring at him; and with a mocking look she opened and shut

s, he, contrary to his habit, drank a great deal of wine, with the object of stupefying himself. But the wine h

ee. He could sleep no more. He sat up on the bed and thought of the old Countess. At this[Pg 61] moment someone in the street passed the window, looked into the room, and then went on. Hermann scarcely noticed it; but in another minute he hear

RTED AND FEL

red the bedroom. Hermann thought it must be his old nurse, an

ith a rapid step, was now at the foot of hi

played one after the other; but you must not play more than one card in twenty-four hours, and afterwards, as long as you li

appeared. Hermann heard the door of the ante-chamber open, and soon afterwards saw a white figu

rderly, drunk as usual, was asleep on the floor. He had much difficulty in waking him, and t

m, and wrote down all the detai