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第15章

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sometimes stopping short; gesticulating; and lisping: 〃the position in

Petersburg is this: the Emperor does not look into anything。 He has

abandoned himself altogether to this mysticism〃 (Pierre could not

tolerate mysticism in anyone now)。 〃He seeks only for peace; and

only these people sans foi ni loi* can give it him… people who

recklessly hack at and strangle everything… Magnitski; Arakcheev;

and tutti quanti。。。。 You will agree that if you did not look after

your estates yourself but only wanted a quiet life; the harsher your

steward was the more readily your object might be attained;〃 he said

to Nicholas。



  *Without faith or law。



  〃Well; what does that lead up to?〃 said Nicholas。

  〃Well; everything is going to ruin! Robbery in the law courts; in

the army nothing but flogging; drilling; and Military Settlements; the

people are tortured; enlightenment is suppressed。 All that is young

and honest is crushed! Everyone sees that this cannot go on。

Everything is strained to such a degree that it will certainly break;〃

said Pierre (as those who examine the actions of any government have

always said since governments began)。 〃I told them just one thing in

Petersburg。〃

  〃Told whom?〃

  〃Well; you know whom;〃 said Pierre; with a meaning glance from under

his brows。 〃Prince Theodore and all those。 To encourage culture and

philanthropy is all very well of course。 The aim is excellent but in

the present circumstances something else is needed。〃

  At that moment Nicholas noticed the presence of his nephew。 His face

darkened and he went up to the boy。

  〃Why are you here?〃

  〃Why? Let him be;〃 said Pierre; taking Nicholas by the arm and

continuing。 〃That is not enough; I told them。 Something else is

needed。 When you stand expecting the overstrained string to snap at

any moment; when everyone is expecting the inevitable catastrophe;

as many as possible must join hands as closely as they can to

withstand the general calamity。 Everything that is young and strong is

being enticed away and depraved。 One is lured by women; another by

honors; a third by ambition or money; and they go over to that camp。

No independent men; such as you or I; are left。 What I say is widen

the scope of our society; let the mot d'ordre be not virtue alone

but independence and action as well!〃

  Nicholas; who had left his nephew; irritably pushed up an

armchair; sat down in it; and listened to Pierre; coughing

discontentedly and frowning more and more。

  〃But action with what aim?〃 he cried。 〃And what position will you

adopt toward the government?〃

  〃Why; the position of assistants。 The society need not be secret

if the government allows it。 Not merely is it not hostile to

government; but it is a society of true conservatives… a society of

gentlemen in the full meaning of that word。 It is only to prevent some

Pugachev or other from killing my children and yours; and Arakcheev

from sending me off to some Military Settlement。 We join hands only

for the public welfare and the general safety。〃

  〃Yes; but it's a secret society and therefore a hostile and

harmful one which can only cause harm。〃

  〃Why? Did the Tugendbund which saved Europe〃 (they did not then

venture to suggest that Russia had saved Europe) 〃do any harm? The

Tugendbund is an alliance of virtue: it is love; mutual help。。。 it

is what Christ preached on the Cross。〃

  Natasha; who had come in during the conversation; looked joyfully at

her husband。 It was not what he was saying that pleased her… that

did not even interest her; for it seemed to her that was all extremely

simple and that she had known it a long time (it seemed so to her

because she knew that it sprang from Pierre's whole soul); but it

was his animated and enthusiastic appearance that made her glad。

  The boy with the thin neck stretching out from the turn…down collar…

whom everyone had forgotten… gazed at Pierre with even greater and

more rapturous joy。 Every word of Pierre's burned into his heart;

and with a nervous movement of his fingers he unconsciously broke

the sealing wax and quill pens his hands came upon on his uncle's

table。

  〃It is not at all what you suppose; but that is what the German

Tugendbund was; and what I am proposing。〃

  〃No; my fwiend! The Tugendbund is all vewy well for the sausage

eaters; but I don't understand it and can't even pwonounce it;〃

interposed Denisov in a loud and resolute voice。 〃I agwee that

evewything here is wotten and howwible; but the Tugendbund I don't

understand。 If we're not satisfied; let us have a bunt of our own。

That's all wight。 Je suis vot'e homme!〃*



  *〃I'm your man。〃



  Pierre smiled; Natasha began to laugh; but Nicholas knitted his

brows still more and began proving to Pierre that there was no

prospect of any great change and that all the danger he spoke of

existed only in his imagination。 Pierre maintained the contrary; and

as his mental faculties were greater and more resourceful; Nicholas

felt himself cornered。 This made him still angrier; for he was fully

convinced; not by reasoning but by something within him stronger

than reason; of the justice of his opinion。

  〃I will tell you this;〃 he said; rising and trying with nervously

twitching fingers to prop up his pipe in a corner; but finally

abandoning the attempt。 〃I can't prove it to you。 You say that

everything here is rotten and that an overthrow is coming: I don't see

it。 But you also say that our oath of allegiance is a conditional

matter; and to that I reply: 'You are my best friend; as you know; but

if you formed a secret society and began working against the

government… be it what it may… I know it is my duty to obey the

government。 And if Arakcheev ordered me to lead a squadron against you

and cut you down; I should not hesitate an instant; but should do it。'

And you may argue about that as you like!〃

  An awkward silence followed these words。 Natasha was the first to

speak; defending her husband and attacking her brother。 Her defense

was weak and inapt but she attained her object。 The conversation was

resumed; and no longer in the unpleasantly hostile tone of Nicholas'

last remark。

  When they all got up to go in to supper; little Nicholas Bolkonski

went up to Pierre; pale and with shining; radiant eyes。

  〃Uncle Pierre; you。。。 no。。。 If Papa were alive。。。 would he agree

with you?〃 he asked。

  And Pierre suddenly realized what a special; independent; complex;

and powerful process of thought and feeling must have been going on in

this boy during that conversation; and remembering all he had said

he regretted that the lad should have heard him。 He had; however; to

give him an answer。

  〃Yes; I think so;〃 he said reluctantly; and left the study。

  The lad looked down and seemed now for the first time to notice what

he had done to the things on the table。 He flushed and went up to

Nicholas。

  〃Uncle; forgive me; I did that。。。 unintentionally;〃 he said;

pointing to the broken sealing wax and pens。

  Nicholas started angrily。

  〃All right; all right;〃 he said; throwing the bits under the table。

  And evidently suppressing his vexation with difficulty; he turned

away from the boy。

  〃You ought not to have been here at all;〃 he said。

EP1|CH15

  CHAPTER XV



  The conversation at supper was not about politics or societies;

but turned on the subject Nicholas liked best… recollections of

1812。 Denisov started these and Pierre was particularly agreeable

and amusing about them。 The family separated on the most friendly

terms。

  After supper Nicholas; having undressed in his study and given

instructions to the steward who had been waiting for him; went to

the bedroom in his dressing gown; where he found his wife still at her

table; writing。

  〃What are you writing; Mary?〃 Nicholas asked。

  Countess Mary blushed。 She was afraid that what she was writing

would not be understood or approved by her husband。

  She had wanted to concea

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