战争与和平(上)-第116章

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　a　sort　of　tantalising　satisfaction。
“I　make　bold　to　beg　your　excellency　to　make　room　the　least　bit　for　this　gentleman　here；”　said　the　overseer；　coming　into　the　room　and　ushering　in　after　him　another　traveller；　brought　to　a　standstill　from　lack　of　horses。　The　traveller　was　a　thickset；　square…shouldered；　yellow；　wrinkled　old　man；　with　grey　eyelashes　overhanging　gleaming　eyes　of　an　indefinite　grey　colour。
Pierre　took　his　feet　off　the　table；　stood　up　and　went　to　lie　down　on　the　bed　that　had　been　made　ready　for　him；　glancing　now　and　then　at　the　newcomer；　who；　without　looking　at　Pierre；　with　an　air　of　surly　fatigue　was　wearily　taking　off　his　outer　wraps　with　the　aid　of　his　servant。　The　traveller；　now　clothed　in　a　shabby　nankin…covered　sheepskin　coat　with　felt　highboots　on　his　thin　bony　legs；　sat　down　on　the　sofa；　and　leaning　on　its　back　his　close…cropped　head；　which　was　very　large　and　broad　across　the　temples；　he　glanced　at　Bezuhov。　The　stern；　shrewd；　and　penetrating　expression　in　that　glance　impressed　Pierre。　He　felt　disposed　to　speak　to　the　traveller；　but　by　the　time　he　had　ready　a　question　about　the　road　with　which　to　address　him；　the　traveller　had　closed　his　eyes；　and　folded　his　wrinkled　old　hands；　on　one　finger　of　which　there　was　a　large　iron　ring　with　a　seal　representing　the　head　of　Adam。　He　sat　without　stirring；　either　resting　or　sunk；　as　it　seemed　to　Pierre；　in　profound　and　calm　meditation。　The　newcomer’s　servant　was　also　a　yellow　old　man；　covered　with　wrinkles。　He　had　neither　moustache　nor　beard；　not　because　he　was　shaved；　but　obviously　had　never　had　any。　The　old　servant　was　active　in　unpacking　a　travelling…case；　in　setting　the　tea…table　and　in　bringing　in　a　boiling　samovar。　When　everything　was　ready；　the　traveller　opened　his　eyes；　moved　to　the　table；　and　pouring　out　a　glass　of　tea　for　himself；　poured　out　another　for　the　beardless　old　man　and　gave　it　him。　Pierre　began　to　feel　an　uneasiness　and　a　sense　of　the　necessity；　of　the　inevitability　of　entering　into　conversation　with　the　traveller。
The　servant　brought　back　his　empty　glass　turned　upside　down　with　an　unfinished　piece　of　nibbled　sugar　beside　it；　and　asked　if　anything　were　wanted。
“Nothing。　Give　me　my　book；”　said　the　traveller。　The　servant　gave　him　a　book；　which　seemed　to　Pierre　to　be　of　a　devotional　character；　and　the　traveller　became　absorbed　in　its　perusal。　Pierre　looked　at　him。　All　at　once　the　stranger　laid　down　the　book；　and　putting　a　mark　in　it；　shut　it　up。　Then　closing　his　eyes　and　leaning　his　arms　on　the　back　of　the　sofa；　he　fell　back　into　his　former　attitude。　Pierre　stared　at　him；　and　had　not　time　to　look　away　when　the　old　man　opened　his　eyes　and　bent　his　resolute　and　stern　glance　upon　Pierre。　Pierre　felt　confused　and　tried　to　turn　away　from　that　glance；　but　the　gleaming　old　eyes　drew　him　irresistibly　to　them。


Chapter　2
“I　HAVE　THE　PLEASURE　of　speaking　to　Count　Bezuhov；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；”　said　the　stranger；　in　a　loud　deliberate　voice。　Pierre　looked　in　silence　and　inquiringly　over　his　spectacles　at　the　speaker。　“I　have　heard　of　you；”　continued　the　stranger；　“and　I　have　heard；　sir；　of　what　has　happened　to　you；　of　your　misfortune。”　He　underlined；　as　it　were；　the　last　word；　as　though　to　say：　“Yes；　misfortune；　whatever　you　call　it；　I　know　that　what　happened　to　you　in　Moscow　was　a　misfortune。”
“I　am　very　sorry　for　it；　sir。”　Pierre　reddened；　and　hurriedly　dropping　his　legs　over　the　edge　of　the　bed；　he　bent　forward　towards　the　old　man；　smiling　timidly　and　unnaturally。
“I　have　not　mentioned　this　to　you；　sir；　from　curiosity；　but　from　graver　reasons。”　He　paused；　not　letting　Pierre　escape　from　his　gaze；　and　moved　aside　on　the　sofa；　inviting　him　by　this　movement　to　sit　beside　him。　Pierre　disliked　entering　into　conversation　with　this　old　man；　but　involuntarily　submitting　to　him；　he　came　and　sat　down　beside　him。
“You　are　unhappy；　sir；”　he　went　on；　“you　are　young；　and　I　am　old。　I　should　like；　as　far　as　it　is　in　my　power；　to　help　you。”
“Oh；　yes；”　said　Pierre；　with　an　unnatural　smile。　“Very　much　obliged　to　you　…　where　have　you　been　travelling　from？”　The　stranger’s　face　was　not　cordial；　it　was　even　cold　and　severe；　but　in　spite　of　that；　both　the　speech　and　the　face　of　his　new　acquaintance　were　irresistibly　attractive　to　Pierre。
“But　if　for　any　reason　you　dislike　conversing　with　me；”　said　the　old　man；　“then　you　say　so；　sir。”　And　suddenly　he　smiled　a　quite　unexpected　smile　of　fatherly　kindliness。
“Oh；　no；　not　at　all；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　very　glad　to　make　your　acquaintance；”　said　Pierre；　and　glancing　once　more　at　the　stranger’s　hands；　he　examined　the　ring　more　closely。　He　saw　the　head　of　Adam；　the　token　of　masonry。
“Allow　me　to　inquire；”　he　said；　“are　you　a　mason？”
“Yes；　I　belong　to　the　brotherhood　of　the　freemasons；”　said　the　stranger；　looking　now　more　searchingly　into　Pierre’s　eyes。　“And　from　myself　and　in　their　name　I　hold　out　to　you　a　brotherly　hand。”
“I　am　afraid；”　said　Pierre；　smiling　and　hesitating　between　the　confidence　inspired　in　him　by　the　personality　of　the　freemason　and　the　habit　of　ridiculing　the　articles　of　the　masons’　creed；　“I　am　afraid　that　I　am　very　far　from　a　comprehension—how　shall　I　say—I　am　afraid　that　my　way　of　thinking　in　regard　to　the　whole　theory　of　the　universe　is　so　opposed　to　yours　that　we　shall　not　understand　one　another。”
“I　am　aware　of　your　way　of　thinking；”　said　the　freemason；　“and　that　way　of　thinking　of　which　you　speak；　which　seems　to　you　the　result　of　your　own　thought；　is　the　way　of　thinking　of　the　majority　of　men；　and　is　the　invariable　fruit　of　pride；　indolence；　and　ignorance。　Excuse　my　saying；　sir；　that　if　I　had　not　been　aware　of　it；　I　should　not　have　addressed　you。　Your　way　of　thinking　is　a　melancholy　error。”
“Just　as　I　may　take　for　granted　that　you　are　in　error；”　said　Pierre；　faintly　smiling。
“I　would　never　be　so　bold　as　to　say　I　know　the　truth；”　said　the　mason；　the　definiteness　and　decision　of　whose　manner　of　speaking　impressed　Pierre　more　and　more。　“No　one　alone　can　attain　truth；　only　stone　upon　stone；　with　the　co…operation　of　all；　by　the　millions　of　generations　from　our　first　father　Adam　down　to　our　day　is　that　temple　being　reared　that　should　be　a　fitting　dwelling…place　of　the　Great　God；”　said　the　freemason；　and　he　shut　his　eyes。
“I　ought　to　tell　you　that　I　don’t　believe；　don’t　…　believe　in　God；”　said　Pierre　regretfully　and　with　effort；　feeling　it　essential　to　speak　the　whole　truth。
The　freemason　looked　intently　at　Pierre　and　smiled　as　a　rich　man；　holding　millions　in　his　hands；　might　smile　to　a　poor　wretch；　who　should　say　to　him　that　he；　the　poor　man；　has　not　five　roubles　that　would　secure　his　happiness。
“Yes；　you　do　not　know　Him；　sir；”　said　the　freemason。　“You　cannot　know　Him。　You　know　not　Him；　that　is　why　you　are　unhappy。”
“Yes；　yes；　I　am　unhappy；”　Pierre　assented；　“but　what　am　I　to　do？”
“You　know　not　Him；　sir；　and　that’s　why　you　are　very　unhappy。　You　know　not　Him；　but　He　is　here；　He　is　within　me；　He　is　in　my　words；　He　is　in　thee；　and　even　in　these　scoffing　words　that　thou　hast　just　uttered；”　said　the　mason　in　a　stern；　vibrating　voice。
He　paused　and　sighed；　evidently　trying　to　be　calm。
“If　He　were　not；”　he　said　softly；　“we　should　not　be　speaking　of　Him；　sir。　Of　what；　of　whom　were　we　speaking？　Whom　dost　thou　deny？”　he　said　all　at　once；　with　enthusiastic　austerity　and　authority　in　his　voice。　“Who　invented　Him；　if　He　be　not？　How　came　there　within　thee　the　conception　that　there　is　such　an　incomprehensible　Being？　How　comes　it　that　thou　and　all　the　world　have　assumed　the　existence　of　such　an　inconceivable　Being；　a　Being　all　powerful；　eternal　and　infinite　in　all　His　qualities？　…”　He　stopped　and　made　a　long　pause。
Pierre　could　not　and　would　not　interrupt　this　silence。
“He　exists；　but　to　comprehend　Him　is　hard；”　the　mason　began　again；　not　looking　into　Pierre’s　face；　but　straight　before　him；　while　his　old　hands；　which　could　not　keep　still　for　inward　emotion；　turned　the　leaves　of　the　book。　“If　it　had　been　a　man　of　whose　existence　thou　hadst　doubts；　I　could　have　brought　thee　the　man；　taken　him　by　the　hand；　and　shown　him　thee。　But　how　am　I；　an　insignificant　mortal；　to　show　all　the　power；　all　the　eternity；　all　the　blessedness　of　Him　to　o