The Daughter of the Commandant

"You are a bold, barefaced rascal," he said to me, frowning. "However,

we have seen many of them."

Then the young officer asked me by what chance and at what time I had

entered Pugatchef's service, and on what affairs he had employed me.

I indignantly rejoined that, being an officer and a gentleman, I had

not been able to enter Pugatchef's service, and that he had not employed

me on any business whatsoever.

"How, then, does it happen," resumed my judge, "that the officer and

gentleman be the only one pardoned by the usurper, while all his

comrades are massacred in cold blood? How does it happen, also, that the

same officer and gentleman could live snugly and pleasantly with the

rebels, and receive from the ringleader presents of a 'pelisse,' a

horse, and a half rouble? What is the occasion of so strange a

friendship? And upon what can it be founded if not on treason, or at the

least be occasioned by criminal and unpardonable baseness?"

The words of the officer wounded me deeply, and I entered hotly on my

vindication.

I related how my acquaintance with Pugatchef had begun, on the steppe,

in the midst of a snowstorm; how he had recognized me and granted me my

life at the taking of Fort Belogorsk. I admitted that, indeed, I had

accepted from the usurper a "touloup" and a horse; but I had defended

Fort Belogorsk against the rascal to the last gasp. Finally I appealed

to the name of my General, who could testify to my zeal during the

disastrous siege of Orenburg.

The severe old man took from the table an open letter, which he began to

read aloud.

"In answer to your excellency on the score of Ensign Grineff, who is

said to have been mixed up in the troubles, and to have entered into

communication with the robber, communication contrary to the rules and

regulations of the service, and opposed to all the duties imposed by his

oath, I have the honour to inform you that the aforesaid Ensign Grineff

served at Orenburg from the month of Oct., 1773, until Feb. 24th of the

present year, upon which day he left the town, and has not been seen

since. Still the enemy's deserters have been heard to declare that he

went to Pugatchef's camp, and that he accompanied him to Fort Belogorsk,

where he was formerly in garrison. On the other hand, in respect to his

conduct I can--"

Here the General broke off, and said to me with harshness-"Well, what have you to say now for yourself?"

I was about to continue as I had begun, and relate my connection with

Marya as openly as the rest. But suddenly I felt an unconquerable

disgust to tell such a story. It occurred to me that if I mentioned her,

the Commission would oblige her to appear; and the idea of exposing her

name to all the scandalous things said by the rascals under

cross-examination, and the thought of even seeing her in their presence,

was so repugnant to me that I became confused, stammered, and took

refuge in silence.