{"product_id":"the-queen-of-spades-h-twitchell-9781523791972","title":"The Queen of Spades: A Short Story","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Queen of Spades\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBy\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlexander Pushkin\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTranslated by H. Twitchell\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHermann, an ethnic German, is an officer of the engineers in the Imperial Russian Army. He constantly watches the other officers gamble, but never plays himself. One night, Tomsky tells a story about his grandmother, an elderly countess. Many years ago, in France, she lost a fortune at cards, and then won it back with the secret of the three winning cards, which she learned from the notorious Count of St. Germain. Hermann becomes obsessed with obtaining the secret.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe countess (who is now 87 years old) has a young ward, Lizavyeta Ivanovna. Hermann sends love letters to Lizavyeta, and persuades her to let him into the house. There Hermann accosts the countess, demanding the secret. She first tells him that story was a joke, but Hermann refuses to believe her. He repeats his demands, but she does not speak. He draws a pistol and threatens her, and the old lady dies of fright. Hermann then flees to the apartment of Lizavyeta in the same building. There he confesses to have killed the countess by fright with his pistol. He defends himself by saying that the pistol was not loaded. He escapes from the house with the aid of Lizavyeta, who is disgusted to learn that his professions of love were a mask for greed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e H. Twitchell,Alexander Pushkin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1523791977\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781523791972\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Createspace Independent Publishing Platform\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/31\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 26\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.11lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.05d","brand":"H. Twitchell","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48518795133183,"sku":"9781523791972","price":8.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_c2211c3f-48f7-40fd-a0b1-ac1bc4cc5ddd.jpg?v=1778735674","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-queen-of-spades-h-twitchell-9781523791972","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}