Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Contents
The Gambler — Chapter XIII
Overview
A month after the earlier turmoil, Alexis resumes his notes as the Grandmother loses all her remaining fortune at roulette, exploited by a rotating crew of Poles. The General collapses into panic; De Griers departs; Blanche drops the penniless Prince but returns to soothe the General. Mr. Astley discreetly lends the ruined Grandmother travel money, and she leaves by train. Alexis returns to find Polina waiting in his room, setting up a new turn in their relationship.
Summary
Alexis resumes his narrative after a month, unsettled by recent events and questioning his past passion for Polina. He lingers in a gloomy German town, afraid to disturb the fading dream of the past weeks, yet resolves to set down what happened.
He recounts the Grandmother’s final day at the Casino: she plays incessantly, dismisses and rehires competing Polish "advisers" who bicker and confuse her, and is repeatedly pilfered. After her appeal, the croupiers summon police who empty the Poles’ pockets and return money, but a new, suave Polish "gentleman of honour" takes over, and by evening a whole cluster of Poles ride her last stakes until she loses everything—about ninety thousand roubles and all her securities.
Meanwhile at the hotel, the General and De Griers attempt a last appeal to the Grandmother; the General pleads, confesses debts and love for Blanche, then turns to threats, earning expulsion with her stick. De Griers refuses to involve the police and ultimately disappears after conferring with Blanche. Blanche tests the Prince, discovers he is penniless, dismisses him, and shuts herself in.
Alexis briefly meets Mr. Astley, who has been to Frankfort on business and remains reserved. Polina keeps to the park with the children. Tormented by her coldness and secrecy, Alexis writes her a stark note offering his life and service; a neutral acknowledgment returns.
The distraught General summons Alexis, begging him to intercede with Blanche and fantasizing about restraining the Grandmother. He admits De Griers has left with everything mortgaged and that he is nearly penniless. Fearing for the General, Alexis alerts the staff to watch him.
Summoned to the ruined Grandmother, Alexis hears her accept her folly and demand immediate departure. Mr. Astley arrives, calmly lends her three thousand francs on a note, and she departs on the 9:30 train. Returning, Alexis glimpses Blanche cheerfully consoling the euphoric General. He withdraws—and in his dark room discovers Polina seated and waiting, signaling a decisive personal confrontation to come.
Who Appears
- Alexis IvanovitchNarrator; reflects after a month, aids the Grandmother’s departure, manages the distraught General, and finds Polina waiting in his room.
- The GrandmotherGambles away all remaining funds, is exploited by Poles, briefly recovers pilfered money, borrows from Astley, and departs by train.
- The GeneralPanics over debts and Blanche, seeks police restraint for the Grandmother, begs Alexis to intercede, later elated when Blanche visits.
- Mlle. BlancheTests the Prince, discovers his poverty, dismisses him, then returns to charm and console the General despite planning to leave.
- Polina AlexandrovnaKeeps apart with the children; after Alexis’s letter, later appears silently in his room, hinting at a turning point.
- Mr. AstleyReturns from Frankfort; calmly lends the Grandmother three thousand francs on a note and departs discreetly.
- De GriersRefuses the General’s police scheme, confers secretly with Blanche, then leaves the hotel altogether.
- The PrinceRevealed penniless when he seeks to borrow from Blanche; she dismisses him.
- PotapitchAttends the Grandmother all day, reports Poles’ thefts, and helps recover stolen money.
- MarthaServant who brings the exhausted Grandmother tea and helps her prepare to leave.
- NursemaidWatches over the children and updates Alexis on the General’s condition.
- Polish gamblersA rotating group who mislead and rob the Grandmother while directing her reckless play.