Book Eleven: 1812 - Chapter XI

by Leo Tolstoy

　　In the middle of this fresh tale Pierre was summoned to thecommander in chief.

　　When he entered the private room Count Rostopchin, puckering hisface, was rubbing his forehead and eyes with his hand. A short man wassaying something, but when Pierre entered he stopped speaking and wentout.

　　"Ah, how do you do, great warrior?" said Rostopchin as soon as theshort man had left the room. "We have heard of your prowess. Butthat's not the point. Between ourselves, mon cher, do you belong tothe Masons?" he went on severely, as though there were something wrongabout it which he nevertheless intended to pardon. Pierre remainedsilent. "I am well informed, my friend, but I am aware that thereare Masons and Masons and I hope that you are not one of those whoon pretense of saving mankind wish to ruin Russia."

　　"Yes, I am a Mason," Pierre replied.

　　"There, you see, mon cher! I expect you know that Messrs.Speranski and Magnitski have been deported to their proper place.Mr. Klyucharev has been treated in the same way, and so have otherswho on the plea of building up the temple of Solomon have tried todestroy the temple of their fatherland. You can understand thatthere are reasons for this and that I could not have exiled thePostmaster had he not been a harmful person. It has now come to myknowledge that you lent him your carriage for his removal from town,and that you have even accepted papers from him for safe custody. Ilike you and don't wish you any harm and- as you are only half my age-I advise you, as a father would, to cease all communication with menof that stamp and to leave here as soon as possible."

　　"But what did Klyucharev do wrong, Count?" asked Pierre.

　　"That is for me to know, but not for you to ask," shoutedRostopchin.

　　"If he is accused of circulating Napoleon's proclamation it is notproved that he did so," said Pierre without looking at Rostopchin,"and Vereshchagin..."

　　"There we are!" Rostopchin shouted at Pierre louder than before,frowning suddenly. "Vereshchagin is a renegade and a traitor whowill be punished as he deserves," said he with the vindictive heatwith which people speak when recalling an insult. "But I did notsummon you to discuss my actions, but to give you advice- or anorder if you prefer it. I beg you to leave the town and break offall communication with such men as Klyucharev. And I will knock thenonsense out of anybody"- but probably realizing that he wasshouting at Bezukhov who so far was not guilty of anything, headded, taking Pierre's hand in a friendly manner, "We are on the eveof a public disaster and I haven't time to be polite to everybodywho has business with me. My head is sometimes in a whirl. Well, moncher, what are you doing personally?"

　　"Why, nothing," answered Pierre without raising his eyes or changingthe thoughtful expression of his face.

　　The count frowned.

　　"A word of friendly advice, mon cher. Be off as soon as you can,that's all I have to tell you. Happy he who has ears to hear. Good-by,my dear fellow. Oh, by the by!" he shouted through the doorway afterPierre, "is it true that the countess has fallen into the clutchesof the holy fathers of the Society of Jesus?"

　　Pierre did not answer and left Rostopchin's room more sullen andangry than he had ever before shown himself.

　　When he reached home it was already getting dark. Some eightpeople had come to see him that evening: the secretary of a committee,the colonel of his battalion, his steward, his major-domo, and variouspetitioners. They all had business with Pierre and wanted decisionsfrom him. Pierre did not understand and was not interested in any ofthese questions and only answered them in order to get rid of thesepeople. When left alone at last he opened and read his wife's letter.

　　"They, the soldiers at the battery, Prince Andrew killed... that oldman... Simplicity is submission to God. Suffering is necessary...the meaning of all... one must harness... my wife is gettingmarried... One must forget and understand..." And going to his bedhe threw himself on it without undressing and immediately fell asleep.

　　When he awoke next morning the major-domo came to inform him thata special messenger, a police officer, had come from CountRostopchin to know whether Count Bezukhov had left or was leavingthe town.

　　A dozen persons who had business with Pierre were awaiting him inthe drawing room. Pierre dressed hurriedly and, instead of going tosee them, went to the back porch and out through the gate.

　　From that time till the end of the destruction of Moscow no one ofBezukhov's household, despite all the search they made, saw Pierreagain or knew where he was.