The Gambler (Dostoevsky)/Chapter 3

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Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Gambler. Chapter 3

Hidden Debts, Awaited Death, and Polina’s Dangerous Commission

1866

Summary of a Chapter
from the Collection “The Gambler”

The original takes about 11 minutes to read

Microsummary

Polina kept Alexei as a secret gambling agent while the General awaited news of an inheritance. Debts tied him to De Grieux and Blanche, and the shy Astley planned a gesture for Polina in secret.

Chapter Summary

On the following day, Polina said nothing to Alexei about gambling and deliberately avoided him. Her manner remained calm, cold, and faintly contemptuous. Although she disliked him, she made it clear that she still needed him for an undisclosed purpose.

Alexei reflected on their humiliating relationship. Polina knew that he loved her desperately and allowed him to declare his feelings because they meant so little to her. She discussed her affairs only when she needed his assistance and revealed no more than was required for a temporary servant.

For three weeks, Alexei had known that Polina intended to try roulette. Because she considered it improper to gamble personally, she wanted him to place bets for her. He suspected that she sought more than money, but she ignored his questions and refused to explain her true objective.

The household then became preoccupied with a telegram sent to St. Petersburg four days earlier. No answer had arrived. The General was anxious because the message concerned his mother, whose death would apparently transform his financial position.

De Grieux, the Frenchman, was also agitated and treated the family with growing presumption. Alexei knew that he had previously rescued the General from debt by supplying 30,000 roubles to settle obligations connected with the General’s retirement. This loan had placed the General under his power.

Alexei believed that Mlle. Blanche now played the decisive role in the financial intrigue. She was presented as a wealthy, well-born Frenchwoman and a distant relative of the supposed Marquis, but Alexei doubted these claims and even questioned whether her companion was truly her mother.

Blanche was about twenty-five, tall, broad-shouldered, richly dressed, and strikingly beautiful, with abundant black hair, dark eyes, red lips, and a deep voice. Alexei found her intimidating, poorly educated, cunning, suspicious, taciturn, and proud.

The fifty-five-year-old General was passionately in love with Blanche despite his debts, ruined estate, widowhood, and children. Alexei concluded that she would accept him only if he inherited enough money. If the General’s mother proved to be alive, Blanche would probably leave immediately.

Alexei disliked the surrounding intrigue but could not abandon Polina. His attachment drove him to watch everyone closely. He also noticed that Mr. Astley seemed acquainted with Blanche and De Grieux, although Blanche conspicuously avoided looking at the immensely wealthy Englishman.

Astley was secretly in love with Polina. He remained near her during walks and public outings but was too shy to join her openly. After warning Alexei that he had known many women like Blanche, he asked whether Polina liked flowers. Alexei did not know, and Astley departed happily with an idea in mind.

Characters

Alexei Ivanovich — narrator, young Russian man and tutor in the General’s household, obsessively in love with Polina, humiliated by her contempt, observant, jealous, and increasingly drawn into gambling and intrigue.

Polina Alexandrovna — young Russian woman related to the General, proud, aloof, secretive, and commanding, who knew of Alexei’s love and intended to use him to gamble at roulette on her behalf.

The General — 55-year-old Russian widower, retired military officer, father, debtor, and ruined landowner, desperately awaiting his mother’s death while passionately pursuing Mlle. Blanche.

Mlle. Blanche — about 25-year-old Frenchwoman, tall and strikingly dressed with black hair and a deep voice, who appeared haughty, cunning, suspicious, and interested in the General only if he acquired money.

Mr. Astley — wealthy English gentleman of unspecified adult age, painfully shy, reserved, taciturn, observant, secretly in love with Polina, and apparently familiar with Blanche’s type and history.

Quotes

Also, she did not trouble to conceal from me the fact that I was necessary to her, and that she was keeping me for some end which she had in view.

Indeed, it surprised and amused me to observe what a passion for intrigue I was developing. But how I loathed it all! With what pleasure would I have given everybody and everything the go-by!

A remarkable and diverting circumstance is the amount which may lie in the mien of a shy and painfully modest man... especially when he would rather sink into the earth than betray himself by a single word or look.

This summary is based on the translation by C. J. Hogarth, first published in Poor Folk; The Gambler (London: J. M. Dent & Sons; New York: E. P. Dutton, 1915). Illustrations were created using AI.