战争与和平(上)-第24章

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and　wickedness　is　what　one　wants　in　this　world。”
“Come；　voyons；　calm　yourself；　I　know　your　noble　heart。”
“No；　I　have　a　wicked　heart。”
“I　know　your　heart；”　repeated　the　prince。　“I　value　your　affection；　and　I　could　wish　you　had　the　same　opinion　of　me。　Calm　yourself　and　let　us　talk　sensibly　while　there　is　time—perhaps　twenty…four　hours；　perhaps　one。　Tell　me　all　you　know　about　the　will；　and　what’s　of　most　consequence；　where　it　is；　you　must　know。　We　will　take　it　now　at　once　and　show　it　to　the　count。　He　has　no　doubt　forgotten　about　it　and　would　wish　to　destroy　it。　You　understand　that　my　desire　is　to　carry　out　his　wishes　religiously。　That　is　what　I　came　here　for。　I　am　only　here　to　be　of　use　to　him　and　to　you。”
“Now　I　see　it　all。　I　know　whose　plotting　this　is。　I　know；”　the　princess　was　saying。
“That’s　not　the　point；　my　dear。”
“It’s　all　your　precious　Anna　Mihalovna；　your　protégée　whom　I　wouldn’t　take　as　a　housemaid；　the　nasty　creature。”
“Do　not　let　us　waste　time。”
“Oh；　don’t　talk　to　me！　Last　winter　she　forced　her　way　in　here　and　told　such　a　pack　of　vile；　mean　tales　to　the　count　about　all　of　us；　especially　Sophie—I　can’t　repeat　them—that　it　made　the　count　ill；　and　he　wouldn’t　see　us　for　a　fortnight。　It　was　at　that　time；　I　know；　he　wrote　that　hateful；　infamous　document；　but　I　thought　it　was　of　no　consequence。”
“There　we　are。　Why　didn’t　you　tell　us　about　it　before？”
“It’s　in　the　inlaid　portfolio　that　he　keeps　under　his　pillow。　Now　I　know；”　said　the　princess；　making　no　reply。　“Yes；　if　I　have　a　sin　to　my　account；　a　great　sin；　it’s　my　hatred　of　that　infamous　woman；”　almost　shrieked　the　princess；　utterly　transformed。　“And　why　does　she　force　herself　in　here？　But　I’ll　have　it　out　with　her。　The　time　will　come！”


Chapter　19
AT　THE　TIME　that　these　conversations　were　taking　place　in　the　reception…room　and　the　princess’s　room；　a　carriage　with　Pierre　（who　had　been　sent　for）　and　Anna　Mihalovna　（who　had　thought　fit　to　come　with　him）　in　it　was　driving　into　the　court　of　Count　Bezuhov’s　mansion。　When　the　sound　of　the　carriage　wheels　was　muffled　by　the　straw　in　the　street；　Anna　Mihalovna　turned　with　words　of　consolation　to　her　companion；　discovered　that　he　was　asleep　in　his　corner　of　the　carriage；　and　waked　him　up。　Rousing　himself；　Pierre　followed　Anna　Mihalovna　out　of　the　carriage；　and　only　then　began　to　think　of　the　interview　with　his　dying　father　that　awaited　him。　He　noticed　that　they　had　driven　not　up　to　the　visitors’　approach；　but　to　the　back　entrance。　As　he　got　down　from　the　carriage　step；　two　men　in　the　dress　of　tradesmen　hastily　scurried　away　from　the　entrance　into　the　shadow　of　the　wall。　Pierre；　as　he　stood　waiting；　noticed　several　other　similar　persons　standing　in　the　shadow　of　the　house　on　both　sides。　But　neither　Anna　Mihalovna　nor　the　footman　and　coachman；　who　must　have　seen　these　people；　took　any　notice　of　them。　So　it　must　be　all　right；　Pierre　decided；　and　he　followed　Anna　Mihalovna。　With　hurrying　footsteps　Anna　Mihalovna　walked　up　the　dimly　lighted；　narrow　stone　staircase；　urging　on　Pierre；　who　lagged　behind。　Though　Pierre　had　no　notion　why　he　had　to　go　to　the　count　at　all；　and　still　less　why　he　had　to　go　by　the　back　stairs；　yet；　impressed　by　Anna　Mihalovna’s　assurance　and　haste；　he　made　up　his　mind　that　it　was　undoubtedly　necessary　for　him　to　do　so。　Half…way　up　the　stairs　they　were　almost　knocked　over　by　some　men　with　pails；　who　ran　down　towards　them；　tramping　loudly　with　their　big　boots。　These　men　huddled　up　against　the　wall　to　let　Pierre　and　Anna　Mihalovna　pass；　and　showed　not　the　slightest　surprise　at　seeing　them。
“Is　this　the　princess’s　side　of　the　house？”　Anna　Mihalovna　asked　of　one　of　them　…
“Yes；　it　is；”　answered　the　footman　in　a　bold；　loud　voice；　as　though　anything　were　permissible　at　such　a　time；　“the　door　on　the　left；　ma’am。”
“Perhaps　the　count　has　not　asked　for　me；”　said　Pierre；　as　he　reached　the　landing。　“I　had　better　go　to　my　own　room。”　Anna　Mihalovna　stopped　for　Pierre　to　catch　her　up。
“Ah；　mon　ami；”　she　said；　touching　his　hand　with　just　the　same　gesture　as　she　had　used　in　the　morning　with　her　son。　“Believe　me；　I　am　suffering　as　much　as　you；　but　be　a　man。”
“Really；　had　I　not　better　go？”　Pierre　asked　affectionately；　looking　at　her　over　his　spectacles。
“Ah；　mon　ami；　forget　the　wrong　that　may　have　been　done　you；　think　that　it　is　your　father　…　and　perhaps　in　his　death　agony；”　she　sighed。　“I　have　loved　you　like　a　son　from　the　first。　Trust　in　me；　Pierre。　I　shall　not　forget　your　interests。”
Pierre　did　not　understand　a　word。　Again　he　felt　more　strongly　than　before　that　all　this　had　to　be　so；　and　he　obediently　followed　Anna　Mihalovna；　who　was　already　opening　the　door。　The　door　led　into　the　vestibule　of　the　back　stairs。　In　the　corner　sat　the　princess’s　old　man…servant　knitting　stockings。　Pierre　had　never　been　in　this　part　of　the　house；　and　had　not　even　suspected　the　existence　of　these　apartments。　A　maid…servant　carrying　a　tray　with　a　decanter　overtook　them；　and　Anna　Mihalovna　（calling　her　“my　dear”　and　“my　good　girl”）　asked　her　after　the　princesses’　health；　and　drew　Pierre　further　along　the　stone　corridor。　The　first　door　to　the　left　led　out　of　the　corridor　into　the　princesses’　living　rooms。　The　maid　with　the　decanter　was　in　a　hurry　（everything　seemed　to　be　done　in　a　hurry　at　that　moment　in　the　house）；　and　she　did　not　close　the　door　after　her。　Pierre　and　Anna　Mihalovna；　as　they　passed　by；　glanced　unconsciously　into　the　room　where　the　eldest　princess　and　Prince　Vassily　were　sitting　close　together　talking。　On　catching　sight　of　their　passing　figures；　Prince　Vassily　made　an　impatient　movement　and　drew　back；　the　princess　jumped　up；　and　with　a　despairing　gesture　she　closed　the　door；　slamming　it　with　all　her　might。　This　action　was　so　unlike　the　princess’s　habitual　composure；　the　dismay　depicted　on　the　countenance　of　Prince　Vassily　was　so　out　of　keeping　with　his　dignity；　that　Pierre　stopped　short　and　looked　inquiringly　over　his　spectacles　at　his　guide。　Anna　Mihalovna　manifested　no　surprise；　she　simply　smiled　a　little　and　sighed；　as　though　to　show　that　she　had　anticipated　all　that。
“Be　a　man；　mon　ami；　I　am　looking　after　your　interests；”　she　said　in　response　to　his　look　of　inquiry；　and　she　walked　more　quickly　along　the　corridor。
Pierre　had　no　notion　what　was　going　on；　and　no　inkling　of　what　was　meant　by　watching　over　his　interests。　But　he　felt　that　all　this　had　had　to　be　so。　From　the　corridor　they　went　into　the　half…lighted　hall　adjoining　the　count’s　reception…room。　This　was　one　of　the　cold；　sumptuously　furnished　rooms　which　Pierre　knew；　leading　from　the　visitors’　staircase。　But　even　in　this　apartment　there　was　an　empty　bath　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　and　water　had　been　spilt　on　the　carpet。　They　were　met　here　by　a　servant　and　a　church　attendant　with　a　censer；　who　walked　on　tiptoe　and　took　no　notice　of　them。　They　went　into　the　reception…room　opening　into　the　winter　garden；　a　room　Pierre　knew　well；　with　its　two　Italian　windows；　its　big　bust　and　full…length　portrait　of　Catherine。　The　same　persons　were　all　sitting　almost　in　the　same　positions　exchanging　whispers　in　the　reception…room。　All　ceased　speaking　and　looked　round　at　Anna　Mihalovna；　as　she　came　in　with　her　pale；　tear…stained　face；　and　at　the　big；　stout　figure　of　Pierre；　as　with　downcast　head　he　followed　her　submissively。
The　countenance　of　Anna　Mihalovna　showed　a　consciousness　that　the　crucial　moment　had　arrived。　With　the　air　of　a　Petersburg　lady　of　experience；　she　walked　into　the　room　even　more　boldly　than　in　the　morning；　keeping　Pierre　at　her　side。　She　felt　that　as　she　was　bringing　the　person　the　dying　man　wanted　to　see；　she　might　feel　secure　as　to　her　reception。　With　a　rapid　glance；　scanning　all　the　persons　in　the　room；　and　observing　the　count’s　spiritual　adviser；　she　did　not　precisely　bow　down；　but　seemed　somehow　suddenly　to　shrink　in　stature；　and　with　a　tripping　amble　swam　up　to　the　priest　and　reverentially　received　a　blessing　first　from　one　and　then　from　another　ecclesiastic。
“Thank　God　that　we　are　in　time；”　she　said　to　the　priest；　“all　of　us；　his　kinsfolk；　have　been　in　such　alarm。　This　young　man　is　the　count’s　son；”　she　added　more　softly；　“It　is　a　terrible　moment。”
Havin