战争与和平(上)-第190章

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inen　stretched　over　the　boards　at　the　back。　In　the　middle　of　the　stage　there　were　sitting　maidens　in　red　bodices　and　white　skirts。　An　excessively　stout　woman　in　a　white　silk　dress　was　sitting　apart　on　a　low　bench　with　green　cardboard　fixed　on　the　back　of　it。　They　were　all　singing　something。　When　they　had　finished　their　song；　the　woman　in　white　moved　towards　the　prompter’s　box；　and　a　man；　with　his　stout　legs　encased　in　silk　tights；　with　a　plume　and　a　dagger；　went　up　to　her　and　began　singing　and　waving　his　arms。
The　man　in　the　tights　sang　alone；　then　she　sang　alone。　The　both　paused；　while　the　music　played；　and　the　man　fumbled　with　the　hand　of　the　woman　in　white；　obviously　waiting　for　the　bar　at　which　he　was　to　begin　singing　with　her。　They　sang　a　duet；　and　every　one　in　the　theatre　began　clapping　and　shouting；　while　the　man　and　woman　on　the　stage；　supposed　to　represent　lovers；　began　bowing　with　smiles　and　gesticulations。
After　the　country；　and　in　her　serious　mood；　Natasha　felt　it　all　grotesque　and　extraordinary。　She　could　not　follow　the　opera；　she　could　not　even　listen　to　the　music：　she　saw　nothing　but　painted　cardboard　and　strangely　dressed…up　men　and　women；　talking；　singing；　and　moving　strangely　about　in　the　bright　light。　She　knew　what　it　all　was　meant　to　represent；　but　it　was　all　so　grotesquely　false　and　unnatural　that　she　felt　alternately　ashamed　and　amused　at　the　actors。　She　looked　about　her　at　the　faces　of　the　spectators；　seeking　in　them　signs　of　the　same　irony　and　bewilderment　that　she　was　feeling　herself。　But　all　the　faces　were　watching　what　was　passing　on　the　stage；　and　expressed　nothing　but　an　affected—so　Natasha　thought—rapture。　“I　suppose　it　is　meant　to　be　like　this！”　thought　Natasha。　She　looked　alternately　at　the　rows　of　pomaded　masculine　heads　in　the　stalls；　and　at　the　naked　women　in　the　boxes；　especially　at　her　next　neighbour　Ellen；　who；　quite　undressed；　sat　gazing　intently；　with　a　quiet　and　serene　smile。　at　the　stage；　and　basking　in　the　bright　light　that　flooded　the　theatre；　and　the　warm　air；　heated　by　the　crowd。　Natasha　began　gradually　to　pass　into　a　state　of　intoxication　she　had　not　experienced　for　a　long　while。　She　lost　all　sense　of　what　she　was　and　where　she　was　and　what　was　going　on　before　her　eyes。　She　gazed　and　dreamed；　and　the　strangest　ideas　flashed　unexpectedly　and　disconnectedly　into　her　mind。　At　one　moment　the　idea　occurred　to　her　to　leap　over　the　footlights　and　sing　that　air　the　actress　was　singing；　then　she　felt　inclined　to　hook　her　fan　into　an　old　gentleman　sitting　near　her；　or　to　bend　over　to　Ellen　and　tickle　her。
At　a　moment　when　there　was　a　lull　on　the　stage　before　the　beginning　of　a　song；　the　door　opening　to　the　stalls　creaked　on　the　side　nearest　the　Rostovs’　box；　and　there　was　the　sound　of　a　man’s　footsteps。　“Here　he　is；　Kuragin！”　whispered　Shinshin。　Countess　Bezuhov　turned　smiling　to　the　new…comer。　Natasha　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　Countess　Bezuhov’s　eyes；　and　saw　an　exceedingly　handsome　adjutant　coming　towards　their　box　with　a　confident；　but　yet　courteous；　bearing。　It　was　Anatole　Kuragin；　whom　she　had　seen　long　before；　and　noticed　at　the　Petersburg　ball。　He　was　now　wearing　an　adjutant’s　uniform；　with　one　epaulette　and　a　shoulder　knot。　He　walked　with　a　jaunty　strut；　which　would　have　been　ridiculous　if　he　had　not　been　so　handsome；　and　if　his　good…looking　face　had　not　expressed　such　simple…hearted　satisfaction　and　good　spirits。　Although　the　performance　was　going　on　he　walked　lightly；　without　haste；　along　the　carpeted　corridor；　holding　his　scented；　handsome　head　high；　and　accompanied　by　a　slight　clank　of　spurs　and　sword。　Glancing　at　Natasha；　he　went　up　to　his　sister；　laid　his　hand　in　a　close…fitting　glove　on　the　edge　of　her　box；　nodded　his　head　at　her；　and；　bending　down；　asked　her　a　question；　with　a　motion　towards　Natasha。
“Very；　very　charming！”　he　said；　obviously　speaking　of　Natasha。　She　did　not　exactly　hear　the　words；　but　divined　them　from　the　movement　of　his　lips。　Then　he　went　on　to　the　front　row　and　sat　down　beside　Dolohov；　giving　a　friendly　and　careless　nudge　with　his　elbow　to　the　man　whom　other　people　treated　with　such　punctilio。　With　a　merry　wink；　he　smiled　at　him；　and　leaned　with　his　foot　against　the　footlights。
“How　like　the　brother　is　to　his　sister！”　said　the　count。　“And　how　handsome　they　both　are！”
Shinshin　began　telling　the　count　in　an　undertone　some　story　of　an　intrigue　of　Kuragin’s　in　Moscow；　to　which　Natasha　listened；　simply　because　he　had　said　of　her　“very　charming。”
The　first　act　was　over；　every　one　stood　up　in　the　stalls；　changed　places；　and　began　going　out　and　coming　in。
Boris　came　to　the　Rostovs’　box；　received　their　congratulations　very　simply；　and　lifting　his　eyebrows　with　an　absent…minded　smile；　gave　Natasha　and　Sonya　his　fiancée’s　message；　begging　them　to　come　to　her　wedding；　and　went　away。　Natasha；　with　a　gay　and　coquettish　smile；　talked　to　him　and　congratulated　him　on　his　approaching　marriage—the　very　Boris　she　had　once　been　in　love　with。　In　the　condition　of　emotional　intoxication　in　which　she　found　herself　everything　seemed　simple　and　natural。
Ellen　sat　in　her　nakedness　close　by　her；　and　smiled　on　all　alike；　and　just　such　a　smile　Natasha　bestowed　on　Boris。
Ellen’s　box　was　filled　and　surrounded　on　the　side　of　the　stalls　by　the　most　distinguished　and　intellectual　men；　who　seemed　vying　with　one　another　in　their　desire　to　show　every　one　that　they　knew　her。
All　throughout　that　entr’acte　Kuragin　stood　with　Dolohov　in　front　of　the　footlights　staring　at　the　Rostovs’　box。　Natasha　knew　he　was　talking　about　her；　and　that　afforded　her　satisfaction。　She　even　turned　so　that　he　could　see　her　profile　from　what　she　believed　to　be　the　most　becoming　angle。　Before　the　beginning　of　the　second　act　she　observed　in　the　stalls　the　figure　of　Pierre；　whom　the　Rostovs　had　not　seen　since　their　arrival。　His　face　looked　sad；　and　he　had　grown　stouter　since　Natasha　had　seen　him　last。　He　walked　up　to　the　front　rows；　not　noticing　any　one。　Anatole　went　up　to　him；　and　began　saying　something　to　him；　with　a　look　and　a　gesture　towards　the　Rostovs’　box。　Pierre　looked　pleased　at　seeing　Natasha；　and　walked　hurriedly　along　the　rows　of　stalls　towards　their　box。　Leaning　on　his　elbow；　he　talked　smiling　to　Natasha　for　a　long　while。　While　she　was　talking　to　Pierre；　Natasha　heard　a　man’s　voice　speaking　in　Countess　Bezuhov’s　box；　and　something　told　her　it　was　Kuragin。　She　looked　round　and　met　his　eyes。　He　looked　her　straight　in　the　eyes；　almost　smiling；　with　a　look　of　such　warmth　and　admiration　that　it　seemed　strange　to　be　so　near　him；　to　look　at　him　like　that；　to　be　so　certain　that　he　admired　her；　and　not　to　be　acquainted　with　him。
In　the　second　act　there　was　scenery　representing　monuments；　and　a　hold　in　the　drop　at　the　back　that　represented　the　moon；　and　shades　were　put　over　the　footlights；　and　trumpets　and　bassoons　began　playing；　and　a　number　of　people　came　in　on　the　right　and　on　the　left　wearing　black　cloaks。　These　people　began　waving　their　arms；　and　in　their　hands　they　had　something　of　the　nature　of　a　dagger。　Then　some　more　people　ran　in　and　began　dragging　away　the　woman　who　had　been　in　white　but　who　was　now　in　a　blue　dress。　They　did　not　drag　her　away　at　once；　they　spent　a　long　while　singing　with　her；　but　finally　they　did　drag　her　away；　and　behind　the　scenes　they　struck　something　metallic　three　times；　and　then　all　knelt　down　and　began　singing　a　prayer。　All　these　performances　were　interrupted　several　times　by　the　enthusiastic　shouts　of　the　spectators。
During　that　act；　every　time　Natasha　glanced　towards　the　stalls；　she　saw　Anatole　Kuragin；　with　one　arm　flung　across　the　back　of　his　chair；　staring　at　her。　It　pleased　her　to　see　that　he　was　so　captivated　by　her；　and　it　never　entered　her　head　that　there　could　be　anything　amiss　in　it。
When　the　second　act　was　over；　Countess　Bezuhov　got　up；　turned　towards　the　Rostovs’　box　（the　whole　of　her　bosom　was　completely　exposed）；　with　her　gloved　little　finger　beckoned　the　old　count　to　her；　and　taking　no　notice　of　the　men　who　were　thronging　about　her　box；　began　with　an　amiable　smile　talking　to　him。
“Oh；　do　make　me　acquainted　with　your　charming　daughters；”　she　said。　“All　the　town　is　singing　their　praises；　and　I　don’t　know　them。”
Natasha　got