Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 5.djvu/316

290 THE HUSSAR " And what is it, tell me, soldier."

He pulled at his long mustache and said: " You blockhead, begging your pardon, you think you know it all, but you are a green-horn and you never saw what I saw.

" Then listen. Our regiment was camping on the Dnieper. My landlady was a pretty good soul and her husband was dead — don't for- get that.

"We became great friends; we always agreed and life was very pleasant. When I beat her, Marousenka never even cried out. " When I got drunk, she put me to bed, and gave me some onion soup. If I just made a sign: 'Eh, old lady. . .' the old lady never said no.

"There was no quarrelling with her and I could have been very happy, but what did I do but become jealous of her. It was foolish, no doubt, but for the life of me, I could not help it.

"'Why,' I said to myself, 'does she get up at cock's crow? Who comes for her? Is she untrue to me, or is it the devil who takes her away?'

"I began watching her. One night I went to bed and pretended to sleep. The night was dark and stormy, not fit for a dog to be out.