In Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," while
Rainsford converses with General Zaroff, he notices that the general has "the face of an
aristocrat" and "a cultivated voice." At the dinner table, the general takes from his
pocket a gold cigarette case and offers his guest a long black cigarette with a silver
tip, perfumed and with the scent of incense. Then, the general describes his "rare
thing" of creatinag a "new sensation": his dangerous
game.
With accuracy and great detail, the general describes
his life, saying that as an officer of the Czar he had to leave Russia as other "noble
Russians" had done. Rather than having lost everything as others had, Zaroff
intelligently made heavy investments in American securities, so he is
comfortable.
Further, he explains to Rainsford that he
realized that hunting was beginning to bore him, so he knew that
he
"must do
something. Now, mine is an anlytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. Doubtless that is shy I
enjoy the problems of the
chase."
Even when confronted
with Rainsford at the end, Zaroff plays the
gentleman:
"I congratulate you....You have won the
game."
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