The life of Baden-Baden, a fashionable German resort, on August 10, 1862 was not much different from life on other days of the season. The audience was fun and colorful. However, it was not difficult to isolate our compatriots in it, especially near the “Russian tree”.

It was here, at the Weber coffee shop, that Litvinov was discovered by his Moscow friend Bambaev, who loudly called out to him. Voroshilov was with him, a young man with a serious face. Bambaev immediately offered to have dinner if Grigory Mikhailovich had money to pay for him.

After lunch, he dragged Litvinov to the hotel to Gubarev ("this is he, that one"). A tall, slender lady in a hat with a dark veil descending the hotel stairs turned to Litvinov, flared up, watching her off, then turned pale.

In addition to Gubarev, Sukhanchikova and an elderly, stout man who remained silent in the corner all night were in the room. Conversations interspersed with gossip, discussion and condemnation of acquaintances and comrades. Voroshilov, as during dinner, was heavily strewed with scientific information. Comrade Tit Bindasov came with a comrade, by the appearance of a terrorist, a quarterly vocation, and the clamor with stupidity increased so much that Litvinov got a headache by ten and he returned to Weber.

After some time, that silent man who was sitting in a corner near Gubarev appeared nearby. Introduced: Potugin Sozont Ivanovich, court adviser. And he asked how he liked the Babel crowding. Ten Russians will converge - in a moment the question of the meaning, of the future of Russia, but all in the most general terms, is unproven. Gets and rotten West. He only hits us on all counts, albeit rotten. And note: scolding and despising, but only his opinion and cherish.

The secret of the undoubted influence of Gubarev is the will, and before it we pass. Everywhere we need a master. People see: a man thinks of a great opinion of himself, orders. Therefore, it is right and we must obey. Everyone is discouraged, hanging their nose walk, and at the same time live in hope. Everything, they say, will certainly be. It will, but there is nothing in cash. In ten centuries they did not work out anything, but ... will be. Be patient. And everything will go from a man. So they are facing each other: the educated bow to the peasant (heal the soul), and the educated one (teach: I disappear from the dark). And both are not in their place, But it’s time to adopt from a long time ago that others came up with better than us.

Litvinov objected to this, that it is impossible to adopt it without being in conformity with national characteristics. But it is not easy to bring down Sozont Ivanovich: you only offer good food, and the people's stomach will digest in its own way. Peter I flooded our speech with strangers. At first it turned out monstrous, and then the concepts took root and assimilated, alien forms evaporated. The same will be in other areas. Only weak nations can fear for their independence. Yes, Potugin is a Westerner and devoted to civilization. This word is pure, clear and holy, and nationality, glory - they smell of blood! He loves his homeland and ... hates it. However, he will soon go home: garden soil is good, but don’t grow cloudberries on it.

Parting, Litvinov asked Potugin his address. It turned out you can’t go to him: he’s not alone. No, not with my wife. (Litvinov lowered his eyes knowingly.) No, not that: she is only six years old, she is an orphan, the daughter of a lady.

At the hotel, Litvinov discovered a large bouquet of heliotropes. The servant said that they brought their tall and beautifully dressed lady. "Is she?" This exclamation did not refer to his bride Tatyana, whom Litvinov was waiting in Baden with her aunt. He realized that it was Irina, the eldest daughter of the impoverished princes of the Osinins. At the time of their acquaintance, she was a seventeen-year-old beauty with exquisitely regular features, wondrous eyes and thick blond hair. Litvinov fell in love with her, but for a long time could not overcome her hostility. Then one day everything changed, and they already made plans for the future: to work, to read, but most importantly - to travel. Alas, nothing was destined to materialize.

That winter, the courtyard visited Moscow. There was a ball in the Noble Assembly. Osinin considered it necessary to take Irina out. She, however, opposed. Litvinov spoke in favor of his intention. She agreed, but forbade him to be at the ball and added: "I will go, but remember, you yourself wanted it." Arriving with a bouquet of heliotropes before her departure for the ball, he was struck by her beauty and magnificent posture ("what does breed mean!"). The triumph of Irina at the ball was complete and stunning. An important person paid attention to her. This was immediately decided to take advantage of a relative of the Osinins, Count Rei-Zenbach, an important dignitary and courtier. He took her to Petersburg, having settled in his house, made her heir.

Litvinov left the university, left for his father in the village, became addicted to farming and went abroad to study agronomy. Four years later, we found him in Baden on the way to Russia.

The next morning, Litvinov came across a young generals on a picnic. "Grigory Mikhaylych, will you not recognize me?" - came from a group of fun. He recognized Irina. Now she was a very prosperous woman, reminiscent of Roman goddesses. But the eyes remained the same. She introduced him to her husband - General Valerian Vladimirovich Ratmirov. The interrupted conversation resumed: we, large landowners, are ruined, humiliated, we must turn back; Do you think this will is sweet to the people? “And you try to take this will from him ...” - Litvinov could not resist. However, the speaker continued: but self-government, does anyone ask him? Already better in the old way. Get entrusted to the aristocracy, do not let the clever mob ...

Litvinov’s speech seemed more wild, people more and more alien, And Irina got into this world!

In the evening he received a letter from the bride. Tatyana and her aunt are delayed and will arrive in six days.

The next morning Potugin knocked on the room: he was from Irina Pavlovna, she would like to renew her acquaintance. Ms. Ratmirova met them with obvious pleasure. When Potugin left them, without preamble, she offered to forget the evil done and become friends. There were tears in her eyes. He assured that he was happy with her happiness. Thanking, she wanted to hear how he lived these years. Litvinov fulfilled her desire. The visit lasted more than two hours, when Valerian Vladimirovich suddenly returned. He did not show displeasure, but failed to hide some concern. Saying goodbye, Irina reproached: and most importantly you withheld - they say you will get married.

Litvinov was dissatisfied with himself: he was waiting for the bride, and he should not have run away at the first call of a woman whom he cannot but despise. She won’t have his legs anymore. Therefore, having met with her, he pretended not to notice her. However, two hours later, on the alley leading to the hotel, I saw Irina again. "Why are you avoiding me?" There was something mournful in her voice. Litvinov frankly said that their roads had diverged so far that it was impossible for them to understand each other. Her enviable position in the world ... No, Grigory Mikhailovich is mistaken. A few days ago, he himself saw specimens of these dead dolls that make up her current society. She is guilty before him, but even more before herself, she asks for alms ... We will be friends or even good friends. And she held out her hand: promise. Litvinov promised.

On the way to the hotel, he met Potugin, but he only answered the questions that occupied him about Ms. Ratmirova that she was proud like a demon and spoiled to the marrow of bones, but not without good qualities.

When Litvinov returned to his place, the waiter brought a note. Irina said that she would have guests, and invited to take a closer look at those among whom she now lives. Litvinov found even more comedic, vulgar, stupid and pompous at a party even more than the previous time. Only now, almost like Gubarev’s, an awkward whine rose, except perhaps beer and tobacco smoke. And ... conspicuous ignorance.

After the guests left, Ratmirov allowed himself to go around about a new acquaintance Irinin: his silence, obvious republican addictions, etc., and about the fact that he, apparently, was very interested in her. The clever contempt of a clever woman and an annihilating laugh were the answer. Resentment ate in the heart of the general, stupidly and brutally shook his eyes. This expression was like when, at the beginning of his career, he spotted the rebellious Belarusian men (his takeoff began from this).

In his room, Litvinov took out a portrait of Tatyana, looked at his face for a long time, expressing kindness, meekness and intelligence, and finally whispered: “It's over.” Only now he realized that he never stopped loving Irina. But, tormented without sleep all night, he decided to say goodbye to her and leave to meet Tatyana: we must fulfill the duty, and then at least die.

In the morning blouse with wide open sleeves, Irina was charming. Instead of saying goodbye, Litvinov spoke of his love and his decision to leave. She considered this reasonable, but took the word from him not to leave without saying goodbye to her. A few hours later he returned to fulfill his promise and found her in the same position and in the same place. When is he going? At seven today. She approves of his desire to put an end to it soon, because it is impossible to procrastinate. She loves him. With these words, she retired to her office. Litvinov followed her, but then the voice of Ratmirov was heard ...

In his room, he was left alone with gloomy thoughts. Suddenly, at a quarter to seven, the door opened. It was Irina. The evening train left without Litvinov, and in the morning he received a note: "... I do not want to restrain your freedom, but <...> if necessary, I will drop everything and follow you ..."

From that moment, calm and self-respect disappeared, and with the arrival of the bride and her aunt Kapitolina Markovna, the horror and ugliness of his position became even more unbearable for him. Meetings with Irina continued, and sensitive Tatyana could not help but notice the change in her fiancé. She herself took the trouble to communicate with him. She stayed with dignity and true stoicism. A frank conversation took place with Potugin, who tried to warn him. Sozont Ivanovich himself has long been destroyed, destroyed by love for Irina Pavlovna (this also awaits Litvinov). He almost didn’t know Belskaya, and the child wasn’t his, he just took it upon himself, because Irina needed it. A terrible, dark story. And again: Tatyana Petrovna - a golden heart, an angelic soul, and the enviable share of the one who becomes her husband.

Everything was not easy with Irina either. She is unable to leave her circle, but she cannot live in it and asks not to leave her. Well, the three of love is unacceptable for Grigory Mikhailovich: all or nothing.

And now he is already at the car, a minute - and everything will be left behind. "Gregory!" - I heard the voice of Irina from behind. Litvinov almost rushed to her. Already from the window of the car showed a place next to him. While she hesitated, there was a beep and the train started. Litvinov was traveling to Russia. White puffs of steam and dark puffs of smoke rushed past the windows. He watched them, and everything seemed to him like smoke: both his own life and the life of Russia. Where the wind blows, there it will carry it.

At home, he took up the household, managed to do something here, paid off his father's debts. Once his uncle drove up to him and told about Tatyana. Litvinov wrote to her and received a friendly letter in response, ending with an invitation. Two weeks later he hit the road.

Seeing him, Tatiana gave him a hand, but he did not take it, but fell on her knees in front of her. She tried to pick it up. “Don’t bother him, Tanya,” said Kapitolina Markovna, who was standing right there, “brought her guilty head.”