Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/292

266 With his eyes glued to the fatal card, he fancied that the queen of spades looked at him mockingly. He even saw a strange resemblance between it and the dead Countess. . ..

"Damn you, you old hag!" he cried in horror.

Meanwhile Tchekalinski, with a sweep of his rake, gathered in all the money. Hermann sat motionless for some time, and when he finally left the table, he turned to the other men and broke out into a loud laugh. "A wonderful game!" said all the players. Tchekalinski shuffled the cards and the play went on.

Hermann has become insane. He is in the Asylum d'Oboukhof — number seventeen. He never answers any question put to him but mutters forever: Three — seven — ace! — three — seven — queen!

Lisabeta Ivanovna has just been married to the son of the Countess's business agent. He has a fine position and is a good fellow besides. Lisabeta has taken a young girl, a poor relative, to live with her and superintends her education.

Tomski is now Major of Cavalry. He is married to Princess Pauline.