战争与和平(上)-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　with　joyous　life；　with　the　complacent；　never…failing　smile　of　youth　and　life　and　an　extraordinary　antique　beauty　of　figure。　The　brother’s　face　on　the　contrary　was　clouded　over　by　imbecility　and　invariably　wore　a　look　of　aggressive　fretfulness；　while　he　was　thin　and　feebly　built。　His　eyes；　his　nose；　his　mouth　—　everything　was；　as　it　were；　puckered　up　in　one　vacant；　bored　grimace；　while　his　arms　and　legs　always　fell　into　the　most　grotesque　attitudes。
“It　is　not　a　ghost　story；”　he　said；　sitting　down　by　the　princess　and　hurriedly　fixing　his　eyeglass　in　his　eye；　as　though　without　that　instrument　he　could　not　begin　to　speak。
“Why；　no；　my　dear　fellow；”　said　the　astonished　vicomte；　with　a　shrug。
“Because　I　detest　ghost　stories；”　said　Prince　Ippolit　in　a　tone　which　showed　that　he　uttered　the　words　before　he　was　aware　of　their　meaning。
From　the　self…confidence　with　which　he　spoke　no　one　could　tell　whether　what　he　said　was　very　clever　or　very　stupid。　He　was　dressed　in　a　dark…green　frock　coat；　breeches　of　the　colour　of　the　cuisse　de　nymphe　effrayée；　as　he　called　it；　stockings　and　slippers。　The　vicomte　very　charmingly　related　the　anecdote　then　current；　that　the　duc　d’Enghien　had　secretly　visited　Paris　for　the　sake　of　an　interview　with　the　actress；　Mlle。　Georges；　and　that　there　he　met　Bonaparte；　who　also　enjoyed　the　favours　of　the　celebrated　actress；　and　that；　meeting　the　duc；　Napoleon　had　fallen　into　one　of　the　fits　to　which　he　was　subject　and　had　been　completely　in　the　duc’s　power；　how　the　duc　had　not　taken　advantage　of　it；　and　Bonaparte　had　in　the　sequel　avenged　his　magnanimity　by　the　duc’s　death。
The　story　was　very　charming　and　interesting；　especially　at　the　point　when　the　rivals　suddenly　recognise　each　other；　and　the　ladies　seemed　to　be　greatly　excited　by　it。　“Charmant！”　said　Anna　Pavlovna；　looking　inquiringly　at　the　little　princess。　“Charming！”　whispered　the　little　princess；　sticking　her　needle　into　her　work　as　an　indication　that　the　interest　and　charm　of　the　story　prevented　her　working。　The　vicomte　appreciated　this　silent　homage；　and　smiling　gratefully；　resumed　his　narrative。　But　meanwhile　Anna　Pavlovna；　still　keeping　a　watch　on　the　dreadful　young　man；　noticed　that　he　was　talking　too　loudly　and　too　warmly　with　the　abbé　and　hurried　to　the　spot　of　danger。　Pierre　had　in　fact　succeeded　in　getting　into　a　political　conversation　with　the　abbé　on　the　balance　of　power；　and　the　abbé；　evidently　interested　by　the　simple…hearted　fervour　of　the　young　man；　was　unfolding　to　him　his　cherished　idea。　Both　were　listening　and　talking　too　eagerly　and　naturally；　and　Anna　Pavlovna　did　not　like　it。
“The　means？　—　the　balance　of　power　in　Europe　and　the　rights　of　the　people；”　said　the　abbé。　“One　powerful　state　like　Russia　—　with　the　prestige　of　barbarism　—　need　only　take　a　disinterested　stand　at　the　head　of　the　alliance　that　aims　at　securing　the　balance　of　power　in　Europe；　and　it　would　save　the　world！”　“How　are　you　going　to　get　such　a　balance　of　power？”　Pierre　was　beginning；　but　at　that　moment　Anna　Pavlovna　came　up；　and　glancing　severely　at　Pierre；　asked　the　Italian　how　he　was　supporting　the　climate。　The　Italian’s　face　changed　instantly　and　assumed　the　look　of　offensive；　affected　sweetness；　which　was　evidently　its　habitual　expression　in　conversation　with　women。　“I　am　so　enchanted　by　the　wit　and　culture　of　the　society　—　especially　of　the　ladies　—　in　which　I　have　had　the　happiness　to　be　received；　that　I　have　not　yet　had　time　to　think　of　the　climate；”　he　said。　Not　letting　the　abbé　and　Pierre　slip　out　of　her　grasp；　Anna　Pavlovna；　for　greater　convenience　in　watching　them；　made　them　join　the　bigger　group。
At　that　moment　another　guest　walked　into　the　drawing…room。　This　was　the　young　Prince　Andrey　Bolkonsky；　the　husband　of　the　little　princess。　Prince　Bolkonsky　was　a　very　handsome　young　man；　of　medium　height；　with　clear；　clean…cut　features。　Everything　in　his　appearance；　from　his　weary；　bored　expression　to　his　slow；　measured　step；　formed　the　most　striking　contrast　to　his　lively　little　wife。　Obviously　all　the　people　in　the　drawing…room　were　familiar　figures　to　him；　and　more　than　that；　he　was　unmistakably　so　sick　of　them　that　even　to　look　at　them　and　to　listen　to　them　was　a　weariness　to　him。　Of　all　the　wearisome　faces　the　face　of　his　pretty　wife　seemed　to　bore　him　most。　With　a　grimace　that　distorted　his　handsome　face　he　turned　away　from　her。　He　kissed　Anna　Pavlovna’s　hand；　and　with　half…closed　eyelids　scanned　the　whole　company。
“You　are　enlisting　for　the　war；　prince？”　said　Anna　Pavlovna。
“General　Kutuzov　has　been　kind　enough　to　have　me　as　an　aide…de…camp；”　said　Bolkonsky。
“And　Lise；　your　wife？　—”
“She　is　going　into　the　country。”
“Isn’t　it　too　bad　of　you　to　rob　us　of　your　charming　wife？”
“André；”　said　his　wife；　addressing　her　husband　in　exactly　the　same　coquettish　tone　in　which　she　spoke　to　outsiders；　“the　vicomte　has　just　told　us　such　a　story　about　Mlle。　Georges　and　Bonaparte！”
Prince　Andrey　scowled　and　turned　away。　Pierre；　who　had　kept　his　eyes　joyfully　and　affectionately　fixed　on　him　ever　since　he　came　in；　went　up　to　him　and　took　hold　of　his　arm。　Prince　Andrey；　without　looking　round；　twisted　his　face　into　a　grimace　of　annoyance　at　any　one’s　touching　him；　but　seeing　Pierre’s　smiling　face；　he　gave　him　a　smile　that　was　unexpectedly　sweet　and　pleasant。
“Why；　you！　…　And　in　such　society　too；”　he　said　to　Pierre。
“I　knew　you　would　be　here；”　answered　Pierre。　“I’m　coming　to　supper　with　you；”　he　added　in　an　undertone；　not　to　interrupt　the　vicomte　who　was　still　talking。　“Can　I？”
“Oh　no；　impossible；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　laughing；　with　a　squeeze　of　his　hand　giving　Pierre　to　understand　that　there　was　no　need　to　ask。　He　would　have　said　something　more；　but　at　that　instant　Prince　Vassily　and　his　daughter　got　up　and　the　two　young　men　rose　to　make　way　for　them。
“Pardon　me；　my　dear　vicomte；”　said　Prince　Vassily　in　French；　gently　pulling　him　down　by　his　sleeve　to　prevent　him　from　getting　up　from　his　seat。　“This　luckless　fête　at　the　ambassador’s　deprives　me　of　a　pleasure　and　interrupts　you。　I　am　very　sorry　to　leave　your　enchanting　party；”　he　said　to　Anna　Pavlovna。
His　daughter；　Princess　Ellen；　lightly　holding　the　folds　of　her　gown；　passed　between　the　chairs；　and　the　smile　glowed　more　brightly　than　ever　on　her　handsome　face。　Pierre　looked　with　rapturous；　almost　frightened　eyes　at　this　beautiful　creature　as　she　passed　them。
“Very　lovely！”　said　Prince　Andrey。
“Very；”　said　Pierre。
As　he　came　up　to　them；　Prince　Vassily　took　Pierre　by　the　arm；　and　addressing　Anna　Pavlovna：
“Get　this　bear　into　shape　for　me；”　he　said。　“Here　he　has　been　staying　with　me　for　a　month；　and　this　is　the　first　time　I　have　seen　him　in　society。　Nothing’s　so　necessary　for　a　young　man　as　the　society　of　clever　women。”


Chapter　4
ANNA　PAVLOVNA　smiled　and　promised　to　look　after　Pierre；　who　was；　she　knew；　related　to　Prince　Vassily　on　his　father’s　side。　The　elderly　lady；　who　had　been　till　then　sitting　by　the　aunt；　got　up　hurriedly；　and　over…took　Prince　Vassily　in　the　hall。　All　the　affectation　of　interest　she　had　assumed　till　now　vanished。　Her　kindly；　careworn　face　expressed　nothing　but　anxiety　and　alarm。
“What　have　you　to　tell　me；　prince；　of　my　Boris？”　she　said；　catching　him　in　the　hall。　“I　can’t　stay　any　longer　in　Petersburg。　Tell　me　what　news　am　I　to　take　to　my　poor　boy？”
Although　Prince　Vassily　listened　reluctantly　and　almost　uncivilly　to　the　elderly　lady　and　even　showed　signs　of　impatience；　she　gave　him　an　ingratiating　and　appealing　smile；　and　to　prevent　his　going　away　she　took　him　by　the　arm。　“It　is　nothing　for　you　to　say　a　word　to　the　Emperor；　and　he　will　be　transferred　at　once　to　the　Guards；”　she　implored。
“Believe　me；　I　will　do　all　I　can；　princess；”　answered　Prince　Vassily；　“but　it’s　not　easy　for　me　to　petition　the　Emperor。　I　should　advise　you　to　apply　to　Rumyantsov；　through　Prince　Galitsin；　that　would　be　the　wisest　course。”
The　elderly　lady　was　a　Princess　Drubetskoy；　one　of　the　best　families　in　Russia；　but　she　was　poor；　had　been　a　long　while　out　of　society；　and　had　lost　touch　with　her　former　connections。　She　had　come　now　to　try　and　obtain　the　appointment　of　her　only　son　to　the　Guards。　It　was　simply　in　order