Book One: 1805 - Chapter IV

by Leo Tolstoy

　　Just them another visitor entered the drawing room: Prince AndrewBolkonski, the little princess' husband. He was a very handsomeyoung man, of medium height, with firm, clearcut features.Everything about him, from his weary, bored expression to his quiet,measured step, offered a most striking contrast to his quiet, littlewife. It was evident that he not only knew everyone in the drawingroom, but had found them to be so tiresome that it wearied him to lookat or listen to them. And among all these faces that he found sotedious, none seemed to bore him so much as that of his pretty wife.He turned away from her with a grimace that distorted his handsomeface, kissed Anna Pavlovna's hand, and screwing up his eyes scannedthe whole company.

　　"You are off to the war, Prince?" said Anna Pavlovna.

　　"General Kutuzov," said Bolkonski, speaking French and stressing thelast syllable of the general's name like a Frenchman, "has beenpleased to take me as an aide-de-camp...."

　　"And Lise, your wife?"

　　"She will go to the country."

　　"Are you not ashamed to deprive us of your charming wife?"

　　"Andre," said his wife, addressing her husband in the samecoquettish manner in which she spoke to other men, "the vicomte hasbeen telling us such a tale about Mademoiselle George and Buonaparte!"

　　Prince Andrew screwed up his eyes and turned away. Pierre, whofrom the moment Prince Andrew entered the room had watched him withglad, affectionate eyes, now came up and took his arm. Before helooked round Prince Andrew frowned again, expressing his annoyancewith whoever was touching his arm, but when he saw Pierre's beamingface he gave him an unexpectedly kind and pleasant smile.

　　"There now!... So you, too, are in the great world?" said he toPierre.

　　"I knew you would be here," replied Pierre. "I will come to supperwith you. May I?" he added in a low voice so as not to disturb thevicomte who was continuing his story.

　　"No, impossible!" said Prince Andrew, laughing and pressing Pierre'shand to show that there was no need to ask the question. He wishedto say something more, but at that moment Prince Vasili and hisdaughter got up to go and the two young men rose to let them pass.

　　"You must excuse me, dear Vicomte," said Prince Vasili to theFrenchman, holding him down by the sleeve in a friendly way to preventhis rising. "This unfortunate fete at the ambassador's deprives meof a pleasure, and obliges me to interrupt you. I am very sorry toleave your enchanting party," said he, turning to Anna Pavlovna.

　　His daughter, Princess Helene, passed between the chairs, lightlyholding up the folds of her dress, and the smile shone still moreradiantly on her beautiful face. Pierre gazed at her with rapturous,almost frightened, eyes as she passed him.

　　"Very lovely," said Prince Andrew.

　　"Very," said Pierre.

　　In passing Prince Vasili seized Pierre's hand and said to AnnaPavlovna: "Educate this bear for me! He has been staying with me awhole month and this is the first time I have seen him in society.Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the society of cleverwomen."

　　Anna Pavlovna smiled and promised to take Pierre in hand. She knewhis father to be a connection of Prince Vasili's. The elderly lady whohad been sitting with the old aunt rose hurriedly and overtookPrince Vasili in the anteroom. All the affectation of interest she hadassumed had left her kindly and tearworn face and it now expressedonly anxiety and fear.

　　"How about my son Boris, Prince?" said she, hurrying after himinto the anteroom. "I can't remain any longer in Petersburg. Tell mewhat news I may take back to my poor boy."

　　Although Prince Vasili listened reluctantly and not very politely tothe elderly lady, even betraying some impatience, she gave him aningratiating and appealing smile, and took his hand that he mightnot go away.

　　"What would it cost you to say a word to the Emperor, and then hewould be transferred to the Guards at once?" said she.

　　"Believe me, Princess, I am ready to do all I can," answeredPrince Vasili, "but it is difficult for me to ask the Emperor. Ishould advise you to appeal to Rumyantsev through Prince Golitsyn.That would be the best way."

　　The elderly lady was a Princess Drubetskaya, belonging to one of thebest families in Russia, but she was poor, and having long been out ofsociety had lost her former influential connections. She had nowcome to Petersburg to procure an appointment in the Guards for heronly son. It was, in fact, solely to meet Prince Vasili that she hadobtained an invitation to Anna Pavlovna's reception and had satlistening to the vicomte's story. Prince Vasili's words frightenedher, an embittered look clouded her once handsome face, but only for amoment; then she smiled again and dutched Prince Vasili's arm moretightly.

　　"Listen to me, Prince," said she. "I have never yet asked you foranything and I never will again, nor have I ever reminded you of myfather's friendship for you; but now I entreat you for God's sake todo this for my son- and I shall always regard you as a benefactor,"she added hurriedly. "No, don't be angry, but promise! I have askedGolitsyn and he has refused. Be the kindhearted man you alwayswere," she said, trying to smile though tears were in her eyes.

　　"Papa, we shall be late," said Princess Helene, turning herbeautiful head and looking over her classically molded shoulder as shestood waiting by the door.

　　Influence in society, however, is a capital which has to beeconomized if it is to last. Prince Vasili knew this, and havingonce realized that if he asked on behalf of all who begged of him,he would soon be unable to ask for himself, he became chary of usinghis influence. But in Princess Drubetskaya's case he felt, after hersecond appeal, something like qualms of conscience. She had remindedhim of what was quite true; he had been indebted to her father for thefirst steps in his career. Moreover, he could see by her mannersthat she was one of those women- mostly mothers- who, having once madeup their minds, will not rest until they have gained their end, andare prepared if necessary to go on insisting day after day and hourafter hour, and even to make scenes. This last consideration movedhim.

　　"My dear Anna Mikhaylovna," said he with his usual familiarity andweariness of tone, "it is almost impossible for me to do what you ask;but to prove my devotion to you and how I respect your father'smemory, I will do the impossible- your son shall be transferred to theGuards. Here is my hand on it. Are you satisfied?"

　　"My dear benefactor! This is what I expected from you- I knew yourkindness!" He turned to go.

　　"Wait- just a word! When he has been transferred to the Guards..."she faltered. "You are on good terms with Michael IlarionovichKutuzov... recommend Boris to him as adjutant! Then I shall be atrest, and then..."

　　Prince Vasili smiled.

　　"No, I won't promise that. You don't know how Kutuzov is pesteredsince his appointment as Commander in Chief. He told me himself thatall the Moscow ladies have conspired to give him all their sons asadjutants."

　　"No, but do promise! I won't let you go! My dear benefactor..."

　　"Papa," said his beautiful daughter in the same tone as before,"we shall be late."

　　"Well, au revoir! Good-by! You hear her?"

　　"Then tomorrow you will speak to the Emperor?"

　　"Certainly; but about Kutuzov, I don't promise."

　　"Do promise, do promise, Vasili!" cried Anna Mikhaylovna as he went,with the smile of a coquettish girl, which at one time probably camenaturally to her, but was now very ill-suited to her careworn face.

　　Apparently she had forgotten her age and by force of habitemployed all the old feminine arts. But as soon as the prince had goneher face resumed its former cold, artificial expression. Shereturned to the group where the vicomte was still talking, and againpretended to listen, while waiting till it would be time to leave. Hertask was accomplished.