,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #f 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,AT ! BEG9N+ ( W9T] ,PR9CESS ,M>Y CAME TO ,MOSC[4 ,FROM REPORTS 
 CURR5T 9 T[N %E LE>N$ H[ ! ,RO/OVS W]E SITUAT$1 & H[ 0! 
 SON HAS SACRIFIC$ HIMSELF = HIS MO!R10 AS PEOPLE W]E SAY+4 

0,I NEV] EXPECT$ ANY?+ ELSE ( HIM10 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y TO H]SELF1 
 FEEL+ A JOY\S S5SE ( H] LOVE = HIM4 ,REMEMB]+ H] FRI5DLY 
 RELATIONS ) ALL ! ,RO/OVS :I* HAD MADE H] ALMO/ A MEMB] ( ! 
 FAMILY1 %E ?\<T IT H] DUTY TO GO TO SEE !M4 ,BUT REMEMB]+ H] 
 RELATIONS ) ,NI*OLAS 9 ,VORONEZH %E WAS %Y AB\T DO+ SO4 ,MAK+ A 
 GREAT EF=T %E DID H[EV] GO TO CALL ON !M A FEW WEEKS AFT] H] 
 >RIVAL 9 ,MOSC[4 

,NI*OLAS WAS ! FIR/ TO MEET H]1 AS ! C\NTESS' ROOM C\LD ONLY BE 
 REA*$ ?R\< HIS4 ,BUT 9/EAD ( BE+ GREET$ ) PLEASURE AS %E HAD 
 EXPECT$1 AT HIS FIR/ GLANCE AT H] HIS FACE ASSUM$ A COLD1 /IFF1 PR\D 
 EXPRESSION %E HAD NOT SE5 ON IT BE=E4 ,HE 9QUIR$ AB\T H] HEAL?1 
 L$ ! WAY TO HIS MO!R1 & HAV+ SAT !RE = FIVE M9UTES LEFT ! 
 ROOM4 

,:5 ! PR9CESS CAME \T ( ! C\NTESS' ROOM ,NI*OLAS MET H] AGA91 
 & ) M>K$ SOLEMNITY & /IFFNESS ACCOMPANI$ H] TO ! ANT]OOM4 
 ,TO H] REM>KS AB\T HIS MO!R'S HEAL? HE MADE NO REPLY4 0,:AT'S ?AT TO 
 Y\8 ,LEAVE ME 9 PEACE10 HIS LOOKS SEEM$ TO SAY4 

0,:Y DOES %E COME PR[L+ H]E8 ,:AT DOES %E WANT8 ,I CAN'T BE> !SE 
 LADIES & ALL !SE CIVILITIES60 SAID HE AL\D 9 ,SONYA'S PRES5CE1 
 EVID5TLY UNABLE TO REPRESS HIS VEXATION1 AFT] ! PR9CESS' C>RIAGE HAD 
 DISAPPE>$4 

0,OH1 ,NI*OLAS1 H[ CAN Y\ TALK LIKE ?AT80 CRI$ ,SONYA1 H>DLY ABLE TO 
 CONCEAL H] DELI<T4 0,%E IS SO K9D & ,MAMA IS SO FOND ( H]60 

,NI*OLAS DID NOT REPLY & TRI$ TO AVOID SPEAK+ ( ! PR9CESS ANY 
 MORE4 ,BUT AFT] H] VISIT ! OLD C\NTESS SPOKE ( H] SEV]AL TIMES A 
 DAY4 

,%E SANG H] PRAISES1 9SI/$ ?AT H] SON MU/ CALL ON H]1 EXPRESS$ A 
 WI% TO SEE H] (T51 BUT YET ALWAYS BECAME ILL-HUMOR$ :5 %E BEGAN TO 
 TALK AB\T H]4 

,NI*OLAS TRI$ TO KEEP SIL5CE :5 HIS MO!R SPOKE ( ! PR9CESS1 BUT 
 HIS SIL5CE IRRITAT$ H]4 

0,%E IS A V]Y ADMIRABLE & EXCELL5T Y\NG WOMAN10 SAID %E1 0& Y\ 
 MU/ GO & CALL ON H]4 ,Y\ W\LD AT LEA/ BE SEE+ SOMEBODY1 & ,I 
 ?9K IT MU/ BE DULL = Y\ ONLY SEE+ US40 

0,BUT ,I DON'T 9 ! LEA/ WANT TO1 ,MAMA40 

0,Y\ US$ TO WANT TO1 & N[ Y\ DON'T4 ,REALLY ,I DON'T UND]/& Y\1 MY 
 DE>4 ,ONE DAY Y\ >E DULL1 & ! NEXT Y\ REFUSE TO SEE ANYONE40 

0,BUT ,I NEV] SAID ,I WAS DULL40 

0,:Y1 Y\ SAID Y\RSELF Y\ DON'T WANT EV5 TO SEE H]4 ,%E IS A V]Y 
 ADMIRABLE Y\NG WOMAN & Y\ ALWAYS LIK$ H]1 BUT N[ SUDD5LY Y\ HAVE 
 GOT SOME NOTION OR O!R 9 Y\R HEAD4 ,Y\ HIDE EV]Y?+ FROM ME40 

0,NOT AT ALL1 ,MAMA40 

0,IF ,I W]E ASK+ Y\ TO DO SOME?+ DISAGREEABLE N[--BUT ,I ONLY 
 ASK Y\ TO RETURN A CALL4 ,ONE W\LD ?9K M]E POLIT5ESS REQUIR$ IT4444 
 ,WELL1 ,I HAVE ASK$ Y\1 & N[ ,I WON'T 9T]F]E ANY MORE S9CE Y\ HAVE 
 SECRETS FROM Y\R MO!R40 

0,WELL1 !N1 ,I'LL GO IF Y\ WI% IT40 

0,IT DOESN'T MATT] TO ME4 ,I ONLY WI% IT = Y\R SAKE40 

,NI*OLAS SI<$1 BIT HIS MU/A*E1 & LAID \T ! C>DS = A PATI5CE1 
 TRY+ TO DIV]T HIS MO!R'S ATT5TION TO ANO!R TOPIC4 

,! SAME CONV]SATION WAS REPEAT$ NEXT DAY & ! DAY AFT]1 & ! DAY 
 AFT] ?AT4 

,AFT] H] VISIT TO ! ,RO/OVS & H] UNEXPECT$LY *ILLY RECEPTION BY 
 ,NI*OLAS1 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y CONFESS$ TO H]SELF ?AT %E HAD BE5 RI<T 9 
 NOT WI%+ TO BE ! FIR/ TO CALL4 

0,I EXPECT$ NO?+ ELSE10 %E TOLD H]SELF1 CALL+ H] PRIDE TO H] AID4 
 0,I HAVE NO?+ TO DO ) HIM & ,I ONLY WANT$ TO SEE ! OLD LADY1 :O 
 WAS ALWAYS K9D TO ME & TO :OM ,I AM UND] MANY OBLIGATIONS40 

,BUT %E C\LD NOT PACIFY H]SELF ) !SE REFLECTIONS2 A FEEL+ AK9 TO 
 REMORSE TR\BL$ H] :5 %E ?\<T ( H] VISIT4 ,?\< %E HAD FIRMLY 
 RESOLV$ NOT TO CALL ON ! ,RO/OVS AGA9 & TO =GET ! :OLE MATT]1 
 %E FELT H]SELF ALL ! TIME 9 AN AWKW>D POSITION4 ,& :5 %E ASK$ 
 H]SELF :AT DI/RESS$ H]1 %E HAD TO ADMIT ?AT IT WAS H] RELATION TO 
 ,RO/OV4 ,HIS COLD1 POLITE MANN] DID NOT EXPRESS HIS FEEL+ = H] 7%E 
 KNEW ?AT7 BUT IT CONCEAL$ SOME?+1 & UNTIL %E C\LD DISCOV] :AT 
 ?AT SOME?+ WAS1 %E FELT ?AT %E C\LD NOT BE AT EASE4 

,ONE DAY 9 MIDW9T] :5 SITT+ 9 ! S*OOLROOM ATT5D+ TO H] 
 NEPHEW'S LESSONS1 %E WAS 9=M$ ?AT ,RO/OV HAD CALL$4 ,) A FIRM 
 RESOLUTION NOT TO BETRAY H]SELF & NOT %[ H] AGITATION1 %E S5T = 
 ,MADEMOISELLE ,B\RI5NE & W5T ) H] TO ! DRAW+ ROOM4 

,H] FIR/ GLANCE AT ,NI*OLAS' FACE TOLD H] ?AT HE HAD ONLY COME TO 
 FULFILL ! DEM&S ( POLIT5ESS1 & %E FIRMLY RESOLV$ TO MA9TA9 ! 
 TONE 9 :I* HE ADDRESS$ H]4 

,!Y SPOKE ( ! C\NTESS' HEAL?1 ( !IR MUTUAL FRI5DS1 ( ! LATE/ 
 W> NEWS1 & :5 ! T5 M9UTES REQUIR$ BY PROPRIETY HAD ELAPS$ AFT] 
 :I* A VISITOR MAY RISE1 ,NI*OLAS GOT UP TO SAY GOOD-BY4 

,) ,MADEMOISELLE ,B\RI5NE'S HELP ! PR9CESS HAD MA9TA9$ ! 
 CONV]SATION V]Y WELL1 BUT AT ! V]Y LA/ MOM5T1 JU/ :5 HE ROSE1 
 %E WAS SO TIR$ ( TALK+ ( :AT DID NOT 9T]E/ H]1 & H] M9D WAS 
 SO FULL ( ! QUE/ION :Y %E ALONE WAS GRANT$ SO LITTLE HAPP9ESS 9 
 LIFE1 ?AT 9 A FIT ( ABS5T-M9D$NESS %E SAT /ILL1 H] LUM9\S EYES 
 GAZ+ FIX$LY BE=E H]1 NOT NOTIC+ ?AT HE HAD RIS54 

,NI*OLAS GLANC$ AT H] &1 WI%+ TO APPE> NOT TO NOTICE H] 
 AB/RACTION1 MADE SOME REM>K TO ,MADEMOISELLE ,B\RI5NE & !N AGA9 
 LOOK$ AT ! PR9CESS4 ,%E /ILL SAT MOTIONLESS ) A LOOK ( SUFF]+ 
 ON H] G5TLE FACE4 ,HE SUDD5LY FELT SORRY = H] & WAS VAGUELY 
 CONSCI\S ?AT HE MI<T BE ! CAUSE ( ! SADNESS H] FACE EXPRESS$4 ,HE 
 WI%$ TO HELP H] & SAY SOME?+ PLEASANT1 BUT C\LD ?9K ( NO?+ 
 TO SAY4 

0,GOOD-BY1 ,PR9CESS60 SAID HE4 

,%E />T$1 FLU%$1 & SI<$ DEEPLY4 

0,OH1 ,I BEG Y\R P>DON10 %E SAID AS IF WAK+ UP4 0,>E Y\ GO+ ALREADY1 
 ,C\NT8 ,WELL !N1 GOOD-BY6 ,OH1 BUT ! CU%ION = ! C\NTESS60 

0,WAIT A MOM5T1 ,I'LL FET* IT10 SAID ,MADEMOISELLE ,B\RI5NE1 & %E LEFT 
 ! ROOM4 

,!Y BO? SAT SIL5T1 ) AN OCCASIONAL GLANCE AT ONE ANO!R4 

0,YES1 ,PR9CESS10 SAID ,NI*OLAS AT LA/ ) A SAD SMILE1 0IT DOESN'T SEEM 
 LONG AGO S9CE WE FIR/ MET AT ,BOGU*>OVO1 BUT H[ MU* WAT] HAS FL[$ 
 S9CE !N6 ,9 :AT DI/RESS WE ALL SEEM$ TO BE !N1 YET ,I W\LD GIVE 
 MU* TO BR+ BACK ?AT TIME444 BUT !RE'S NO BR++ IT BACK40 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y GAZ$ 9T5TLY 9TO HIS EYES ) H] [N LUM9\S ONES AS 
 HE SAID ?IS4 ,%E SEEM$ TO BE TRY+ TO FA?OM ! HIDD5 MEAN+ ( HIS 
 WORDS :I* W\LD EXPLA9 HIS FEEL+ = H]4 

0,YES1 YES10 SAID %E1 0BUT Y\ HAVE NO REASON TO REGRET ! PA/1 ,C\NT4 
 ,AS ,I UND]/& Y\R PRES5T LIFE1 ,I ?9K Y\ WILL ALWAYS RECALL IT ) 
 SATISFACTION1 BECAUSE ! SELF-SACRIFICE ?AT FILLS IT N[4440 

0,I CANNOT ACCEPT Y\R PRAISE10 HE 9T]RUPT$ H] HURRI$LY4 0,ON ! 
 CONTR>Y ,I CONT9UALLY REPROA* MYSELF4444 ,BUT ?IS IS NOT AT ALL AN 
 9T]E/+ OR *E]FUL SUBJECT40 

,HIS FACE AGA9 RESUM$ ITS =M] /IFF & COLD EXPRESSION4 ,BUT ! 
 PR9CESS HAD CAU<T A GLIMPSE ( ! MAN %E HAD KN[N & LOV$1 & IT 
 WAS TO HIM ?AT %E N[ SPOKE4 

0,I ?\<T Y\ W\LD ALL[ ME TO TELL Y\ ?IS10 %E SAID4 0,I HAD COME SO 
 NE> TO Y\444 & TO ALL Y\R FAMILY ?AT ,I ?\<T Y\ W\LD NOT 
 CONSID] MY SYMPA?Y MISPLAC$1 BUT ,I WAS MI/AK510 & SUDD5LY H] 
 VOICE TREMBL$4 0,I DON'T KN[ :Y10 %E CONT9U$1 RECOV]+ H]SELF1 
 0BUT Y\ US$ TO BE DIFF]5T1 &4440 

0,!RE >E A ?\S& REASONS :Y10 LAY+ SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ! :Y4 
 0,?ANK Y\1 ,PR9CESS10 HE ADD$ S(TLY4 0,SOMETIMES IT IS H>D40 

0,SO ?AT'S :Y6 ,?AT'S :Y60 A VOICE :ISP]$ 9 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y'S S\L4 
 0,NO1 IT WAS NOT ONLY ?AT GAY1 K9D1 & FRANK LOOK1 NOT ONLY ?AT 
 H&SOME EXT]IOR1 ?AT ,I LOV$ 9 HIM4 ,I DIV9$ HIS NOBLE1 RESOLUTE1 
 SELF-SACRIFIC+ SPIRIT TOO10 %E SAID TO H]SELF4 0,YES1 HE IS POOR N[ 
 & ,I AM RI*4444 ,YES1 ?AT'S ! ONLY REASON4444 ,YES1 W]E IT NOT = 
 ?AT4440 ,& REMEMB]+ HIS =M] T5D]NESS1 & LOOK+ N[ AT HIS 
 K9D1 SORR[FUL FACE1 %E SUDD5LY UND]/OOD ! CAUSE ( HIS COLDNESS4 

0,BUT :Y1 ,C\NT1 :Y80 %E ALMO/ CRI$1 UNCONSCI\SLY MOV+ CLOS] TO 
 HIM4 0,:Y8 ,TELL ME4 ,Y\ MU/ TELL ME60 

,HE WAS SIL5T4 

0,I DON'T UND]/& Y\R :Y1 ,C\NT10 %E CONT9U$1 
 0BUT IT'S H>D = ME444 ,I CONFESS IT4 ,= SOME REASON Y\ WI% TO 
 DEPRIVE ME ( \R =M] FRI5D%IP4 ,& ?AT HURTS ME40 ,!RE W]E TE>S 
 9 H] EYES & 9 H] VOICE4 0,I HAVE HAD SO LITTLE HAPP9ESS 9 LIFE ?AT 
 EV]Y LOSS IS H>D = ME TO BE>4444 ,EXCUSE ME1 GOOD-BY60 & SUDD5LY %E 
 BEGAN TO CRY & WAS HURRY+ FROM ! ROOM4 

0,PR9CESS1 = ,GOD'S SAKE60 HE EXCLAIM$1 TRY+ TO /OP H]4 0,PR9CESS60 

,%E TURN$ R\ND4 ,= A FEW SECONDS !Y GAZ$ SIL5TLY 9TO ONE ANO!R'S 
 EYES--& :AT HAD SEEM$ IMPOSSIBLE & REMOTE SUDD5LY BECAME 
 POSSIBLE1 9EVITABLE1 & V]Y NE>4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #f -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #f -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/