Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/285

THE QUEEN OF SPADES 259 in a firm voice. "I am compelled to accede to your wish. Three — seven — ace — these cards played one after the other, will win a fortune for you; but you must not play more than one card at a time in twenty-four hours, and for the rest of your life, you must never touch a card again. I will forgive you my death, on condition that you marry my companion, Lisabeta Ivanovna."

After saying these words, she walked to the door and went out still dragging her slippers after her. Hermann heard her close the door of the anteroom and a minute later, a white figure passed in the street beneath his window and stopped for an instant as if to look in, then disappeared.

For some time Hermann sat dumfounded. Then rising, he walked into the anteroom to find his servant fast asleep on the floor, dead drunk. He found it hard to wake him and then he could get no explanation from him. The door of the anteroom was locked. Hermann went back to his room and wrote down the circumstances of his vision.