The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 2, February 1891 / edited by George Newnes.

Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Strand Magazine : an illustrated monthly. Vol. 1, no. 2, February 1891 / edited by George Newnes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    long time he refused on the ground that he seldom played. At last he ordered cards to be brought in. With half a hundred gold pieces on the table we sat round him, and the game began. It was Silvio’s habit not to speak when playing. He never disputed or explained. If an adversary made a mis¬ take Silvio without a word chalked it down against him. Knowing his way, we always let him have it. But among us on this occasion was an officer who had but lately joined. While playing he absent-mindedly scored a point too much. Silvio took the chalk and cor¬ rected the score in his own fashion. The officer, supposing him to have made a mis¬ take, began to explain. Silvio went on dealing in silence. The officer, losing patience, took the brush and rubbed out what he thought was wrong. Silvio took the chalk and recorrected it. The officer, heated with wine and play, and irritated by the laughter of the company, thought him¬ self aggrieved, and, in a fit of passion, seized a brass candlestick and threw it at Silvio, who only just managed to avoid the missile. Great was our confusion. Silvio got up, white with rage, and said, with sparkling eyes— “ Sir ! have the goodness to withdraw, and you may thank God that this has hap¬ pened in my own house.” We could have no doubt as to the conse¬ quences, and we already looked upon our new comrade as a dead man. He withdrew saying that he was ready to give satisfaction for his offence in any way desired. The game went on for a few minutes. But feeling that our host was upset we gradually left off playing and dispersed, each to his own quarters. At the riding school next day, we were already asking one another whether the young lieutenant was still alive, when he appeared among us. We asked him the same question, and were told that he had not yet heard from Silvio. We were astonished. We went to Silvio’s and found him in the court-yard popping bullet after bullet into an ace which he had gummed to the gate. He received us as usual, but made no allusion to what had happened on the previous evening. Three days passed, and the lieutenant was still alive. . ‘‘ Can it be possible,” we asked one another in astonishment, “ that Silvio will not fight ? ” Silvio did not fight. He accepted a flimsy apology, and became reconciled to the man who had insulted him. This lowered him greatly in the opinion of the young men, who, placing bravery above all the other human virtues and regarding it as an excuse for every imaginable vice, were ready to overlook anything sooner than a lack of courage. However, little by little all was forgotten, and Silvio regained his former influence. I alone could not renew my friend¬ ship with him. Being naturally romantic I had surpassed the rest in my attachment to the man whose life was an enigma, and vrho seemed to me a hero of some mysterious story. He liked me ; and with me alone did he drop his sarcastic tone and converse simply and most agreeably on many sub¬ jects. But after this unlucky evening the thought that his honour was tarnished, and that it remained so by his own choice, never left me ; and this prevented any renewal of our former intimacy. I was ashamed to look at him. Silvio was too sharp and experienced not to notice this and guess the reason; It seemed to vex him, for I observed that once or twice he hinted at an explanation. But I wanted none ; and Silvio gave me up. Thence¬ forth I only met him in the presence of other friends, and our confidential talks were at an end. The busy occupants of the capital have no idea of the emotions so frequently ex¬ perienced by residents in the country and in country towns ; as, for instance, in await¬ ing the arrival of the post. On Tuesdays and Fridays the bureau of the regimental staff was crammed with officers. Some Avere expecting money, others letters or neAvspapers. The letters Avere mostly opened on the spot, and the neAvs freely in¬ terchanged, the office meanAAffiile presenting a most lively appearance. Silvio’s letters used to be addressed to our regiment, and he usually called for them himself. On one occasion, a letter having been handed to him, I saAV him break the seal and, Avith a look of great impatience, read the contents. His eyes sparkled. The other officers, each engaged Avith his OAvn letters, did not notice anything. “ Gentlemen,” said Silvio, “circumstances demand my immediate departure. I leaA^e to-night, and I hope you Avill not refuse to dine Avith me for the last time. I shall ex¬ pect you, too,” he added, turning tOAvards me, “ Avithout fail.” With these Avords he hurriedly left, and Ave agreed to meet at Silvio’s. I Avent to Silvio’s at the appointed time, and found nearly the Avhole regiment AAoth