战争与和平(上)-第118章

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　reading　Thomas　à　Kempis；　a　book　which　had　been　sent　him；　he　did　not　know　from　whom。　One　thing；　and　one　thing　only；　Pierre　thoroughly　understood　in　reading　that　book；　he　understood　what　he　had　hitherto　known　nothing　of；　all　the　bliss　of　believing　in　the　possibility　of　attaining　perfection；　and　in　the　possibility　of　brotherly　and　active　love　between　men；　revealed　to　him　by　Osip　Alexyevitch。　A　week　after　his　arrival；　the　young　Polish　count；　Villarsky；　whom　Pierre　knew　very　slightly　in　Petersburg　society；　came　one　evening　into　his　room　with　the　same　official　and　ceremonious　air　with　which　Dolohov’s　second　had　called　on　him。　Closing　the　door　behind　him；　and　assuring　himself　that　there　was　nobody　in　the　room　but　Pierre；　he　addressed　him：
“I　have　come　to　you　with　a　message　and　a　suggestion；　count；”　he　said　to　him；　not　sitting　down。　“A　personage　of　very　high　standing　in　our　brotherhood　has　been　interceding　for　you　to　be　admitted　into　our　brotherhood　before　the　usual　term；　and　has　asked　me　to　be　your　sponsor。　I　regard　it　as　a　sacred　duty　to　carry　out　that　person’s　wishes。　Do　you　wish　under　my　sponsorship　to　enter　the　brotherhood　of　freemasons？”
Pierre　was　impressed　by　the　cold　and　austere　tone　of　this　man；　whom　he　had　almost　always　seen　before　at　balls　wearing　an　agreeable　smile；　in　the　society　of　the　most　brilliant　women。
“Yes；　I　do　wish　it；”　said　Pierre。
Villarsky　bent　his　head。
“One　more　question；　count；”　he　said；　“to　which　I　beg　you；　not　as　a　future　mason；　but　as　an　honest　man　（galant　homme）　to　answer　me　in　all　sincerity：　have　you　renounced　your　former　convictions？　do　you　believe　in　God？”
Pierre　thought　a　moment。
“Yes　…　yes；　I　do　believe　in　God；”　he　said。
“In　that　case…”　Villarsky　was　beginning；　but　Pierre　interrupted　him。
“Yes；　I　believe　in　God；”　he　said　once　more。
“In　that　case；　we　can　go；”　said　Villarsky。　“My　carriage　is　at　your　disposal。”
Throughout　the　drive　Villarsky　was　silent。　In　answer　to　Pierre’s　inquiries；　what　he　would　have　to　do；　and　how　he　would　have　to　answer；　Villarsky　simply　said　that　brothers；　more　worthy　than　he；　would　prove　him；　and　that　Pierre　need　do　nothing　but　tell　the　truth。
They　drove　in　at　the　gates　of　a　large　house；　where　the　lodge　had　its　quarters；　and；　passing　up　a　dark　staircase；　entered　a　small；　lighted　ante…room；　where　they　took　off　their　overcoats　without　the　assistance　of　servants。　From　the　ante…room　they　walked　into　another　room。　A　man　in　strange　attire　appeared　at　the　door。　Villarsky；　going　in　to　meet　him；　said　something　to　him　in　French　in　a　low　voice；　and　went　up　to　a　small　cupboard；　where　Pierre　noticed　garments　unlike　any　he　had　seen　before。　Taking　a　handkerchief　from　the　cupboard；　Villarsky　put　it　over　Pierre’s　eyes　and　tied　it　in　a　knot　behind；　catching　his　hair　painfully　in　the　knot。　Then　he　drew　him　towards　himself；　kissed　him；　and　taking　him　by　the　hand　led　him　away　somewhere。　Pierre　had　been　hurt　by　his　hair　being　pulled　in　the　knot：　he　puckered　up　his　face　from　the　pain；　and　smiled　with　vague　shame。　His　huge　figure　with　his　arms　hanging　at　his　sides；　and　his　face　puckered　up　and　smiling；　moved　after　Villarsky　with　timid　and　uncertain　steps。
After　leading　him　for　about　ten　steps；　Villarsky　stopped。
“Whatever　happens　to　you；”　said　he；　“you　must　endure　all　with　good　courage　if　you　are　firmly　resolved　to　enter　our　brotherhood。”　（Pierre　answered　affirmatively　by　an　inclination　of　his　head。）　“When　you　hear　a　knock　at　the　door；　you　may　uncover　your　eyes；”　added　Villarsky；　“I　wish　you　good　courage　and　success；”　and；　pressing　Pierre’s　hand；　Villarsky　went　away。
When　he　was　left　alone；　Pierre　still　went　on　smiling　in　the　same　way。　Twice　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　raised　his　hand　to　the　handkerchief；　as　though　he　would　have　liked　to　take　it　off；　but　he　let　it　drop　again。　The　five　minutes　he　had　spent　with　his　eyes　bandaged　seemed　to　him　an　hour。　His　arms　felt　numb；　his　legs　tottered；　he　felt　as　though　he　were　tired　out。　He　was　aware　of　the　most　complex　and　conflicting　feelings。　He　was　afraid　of　what　would　be　done　to　him；　and　still　more　afraid　of　showing　fear。　He　felt　inquisitive　to　know　what　was　coming；　what　would　be　revealed　to　him；　but　above　everything；　he　felt　joy　that　the　moment　had　come　when　he　would　at　last　enter　upon　that　path　of　regeneration　and　of　an　actively　virtuous　life；　of　which　he　had　been　dreaming　ever　since　his　meeting　with　Osip　Alexyevitch。
There　came　loud　knocks　at　the　door。　Pierre　took　off　the　bandage　and　looked　about　him。　It　was　black　darkness　in　the　room；　only　in　one　spot　there　was　a　little　lamp　burning　before　something　white。　Pierre　went　nearer　and　saw　that　the　little　lamp　stood　on　a　black　table；　on　which　there　lay　an　open　book。　The　book　was　the　gospel：　the　white　thing　in　which　the　lamp　was　burning　was　a　human　skull　with　its　eyeholes　and　teeth。　After　reading　the　first　words　of　the　gospel；　“In　the　beginning　was　the　Word　and　the　Word　was　with　God；”　Pierre　went　round　the　table　and　caught　sight　of　a　large　open　box　filled　with　something。　It　was　a　coffin　full　of　bones。　He　was　not　in　the　least　surprised　by　what　he　saw。　Hoping　to　enter　upon　a　completely　new　life；　utterly　unlike　the　old　life；　he　was　ready　for　anything　extraordinary；　more　extraordinary　indeed　than　what　he　was　seeing。　The　skull；　the　coffin；　the　gospel—it　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　been　expecting　all　that；　had　been　expecting　more；　indeed。　He　tried　to　stir　up　a　devotional　feeling　in　himself；　he　looked　about　him。　“God；　death；　love；　the　brotherhood　of　man；”　he　kept　saying　to　himself；　associating　with　those　words　vague　but　joyful　conceptions　of　some　sort。　The　door　opened　and　some　one　came　in。　In　the　faint　light；　in　which　Pierre　could；　however；　see　a　little　by　this　time；　a　short　man　approached。　Apparently　dazed　by　coming　out　of　the　light　into　the　darkness；　the　man　stopped；　then　with　cautious　steps　moved　again　towards　the　table；　and　laid　on　it　both　his　small　hands　covered　with　leather　gloves。
This　short　man　was　wearing　a　white　leather　apron；　that　covered　his　chest　and　part　of　his　legs；　upon　his　neck　could　be　seen　something　like　a　necklace；　and　a　high　white　ruffle　stood　up　from　under　the　necklace；　framing　his　long　face；　on　which　the　light　fell　from　below。
“For　what　are　you　come　hither？”　asked　the　newcomer；　turning　towards　Pierre　at　a　faint　rustle　made　by　the　latter。　“For　what　are　you；　an　unbeliever　in　the　truth　of　the　light；　who　have　not　seen　the　light；　for　what　are　you　come　here？　What　do　you　seek　from　us？　Wisdom；　virtue；　enlightenment？”
At　the　moment　when　the　door　opened　and　the　unknown　person　came　in；　Pierre　had　a　sensation　of　awe　and　reverence；　such　as　he　had　felt　in　childhood　at　confession；　he　felt　himself　alone　with　a　man　who　was　in　the　circumstances　of　life　a　complete　stranger；　and　yet　through　the　brotherhood　of　men　so　near。　With　a　beating　heart　that　made　him　gasp　for　breath；　Pierre　turned　to　the　rhetor；　as　in　the　phraseology　of　freemasonry　the　man　is　called　who　prepares　the　seeker　for　entering　the　brotherhood。　Going　closer；　Pierre　recognised　in　the　rhetor　a　man　he　knew；　Smolyaninov；　but　it　was　mortifying　to　him　to　think　that　the　newcomer　was　a　familiar　figure；　he　was　to　him　only　a　brother　and　a　guide　in　the　path　of　virtue。　For　a　long　while　Pierre　could　not　utter　a　word；　so　that　the　rhetor　was　obliged　to　repeat　his　question。
“Yes；　I…I…　wish　to　begin　anew；”　Pierre　articulated　with　difficulty。
“Very　good；”　said　Smolyaninov；　and　went　on　at　once。
“Have　you　any　idea　of　the　means　by　which　our　holy　order　will　assist　you　in　attaining　your　aim？…”　said　the　rhetor　calmly　and　rapidly。
“I…hope　for…guidance…for　help…in　renewing…”　said　Pierre；　with　a　tremble　in　his　voice　and　a　difficulty　in　utterance　due　both　to　emotion　and　to　being　unaccustomed　to　speak　of　abstract　subjects　in　Russian。
“What　idea　have　you　of　freemasonry？”
“I　assume　that　freemasonry　is　the　fraternité　and　equality　of　men　with　virtuous　aims；”　said　Pierre；　feeling　ashamed　as　he　spoke　of　the　incongruity　of　his　words　with　the　solemnity　of　the　moment。　“I　assume　…”
“Very　good；”　said　the　rhetor　hastily；　apparently　quite　satisfied　with　the　reply。　“Have　you　sought　the　means　of　attaining　your　aim　in　religion？”
“No；　I　regarded　it　as　untrue　and　have　not　followed　it；”　said　Pierre；　so　so