Book Two: 1805 - Chapter IV

by Leo Tolstoy

　　The Pavlograd Hussars were stationed two miles from Braunau. Thesquadron in which Nicholas Rostov served as a cadet was quartered inthe German village of Salzeneck. The best quarters in the village wereassigned to cavalry-captain Denisov, the squadron commander, knownthroughout the whole cavalry division as Vaska Denisov. CadetRostov, ever since he had overtaken the regiment in Poland, hadlived with the squadron commander.

　　On October 11, the day when all was astir at headquarters over thenews of Mack's defeat, the camp life of the officers of thissquadron was proceeding as usual. Denisov, who had been losing atcards all night, had not yet come home when Rostov rode back earlyin the morning from a foraging expedition. Rostov in his cadetuniform, with a jerk to his horse, rode up to the porch, swung his legover the saddle with a supple youthful movement, stood for a moment inthe stirrup as if loathe to part from his horse, and at last sprangdown and called to his orderly.

　　"Ah, Bondarenko, dear friend!" said he to the hussar who rushed upheadlong to the horse. "Walk him up and down, my dear fellow," hecontinued, with that gay brotherly cordiality which goodheartedyoung people show to everyone when they are happy.

　　"Yes, your excellency," answered the Ukrainian gaily, tossing hishead.

　　"Mind, walk him up and down well!"

　　Another hussar also rushed toward the horse, but Bondarenko hadalready thrown the reins of the snaffle bridle over the horse'shead. It was evident that the cadet was liberal with his tips and thatit paid to serve him. Rostov patted the horse's neck and then hisflank, and lingered for a moment.

　　"Splendid! What a horse he will be!" he thought with a smile, andholding up his saber, his spurs jingling, he ran up the steps of theporch. His landlord, who in a waistcoat and a pointed cap, pitchforkin hand, was clearing manure from the cowhouse, looked out, and hisface immediately brightened on seeing Rostov. "Schon gut Morgen! Schongut Morgen!"* he said winking with a merry smile, evidently pleased togreet the young man.

　　*"A very good morning! A very good morning!"

　　"Schon fleissig?"* said Rostov with the same gay brotherly smilewhich did not leave his eager face. "Hoch Oestreicher! Hoch Russen!Kaiser Alexander hoch!"*[2] said he, quoting words often repeated bythe German landlord.

　　*"Busy already?"

　　*[2] "Hurrah for the Austrians! Hurrah for the Russians! Hurrahfor Emperor Alexander!"

　　The German laughed, came out of the cowshed, pulled off his cap, andwaving it above his head cried:

　　"Und die ganze Welt hoch!"*

　　*"And hurrah for the whole world!"

　　Rostov waved his cap above his head like the German and ctiedlaughing, "Und vivat die ganze Welt!" Though neither the Germancleaning his cowshed nor Rostov back with his platoon from foragingfor hay had any reason for rejoicing, they looked at each other withjoyful delight and brotherly love, wagged their heads in token oftheir mutual affection, and parted smiling, the German returning tohis cowshed and Rostov going to the cottage he occupied with Denisov.

　　"What about your master?" he asked Lavrushka, Denisov's orderly,whom all the regiment knew for a rogue.

　　"Hasn't been in since the evening. Must have been losing,"answered Lavrushka. "I know by now, if he wins he comes back earlyto brag about it, but if he stays out till morning it means he'slost and will come back in a rage. Will you have coffee?"

　　"Yes, bring some."

　　Ten minutes later Lavrushka brought the coffee. "He's coming!"said he. "Now for trouble!" Rostov looked out of the window and sawDenisov coming home. Denisov was a small man with a red face,sparkling black eyes, and black tousled mustache and hair. He worean unfastened cloak, wide breeches hanging down in creases, and acrumpled shako on the back of his head. He came up to the porchgloomily, hanging his head.

　　"Lavwuska!" he shouted loudly and angrily, "take it off, blockhead!"

　　"Well, I am taking it off," replied Lavrushka's voice.

　　"Ah, you're up already," said Denisov, entering the room.

　　"Long ago," answered Rostov, "I have already been for the hay, andhave seen Fraulein Mathilde."

　　"Weally! And I've been losing, bwother. I lost yesterday like adamned fool!" cried Denisov, not pronouncing his r's. "Such illluck! Such ill luck. As soon as you left, it began and went on.Hullo there! Tea!"

　　Puckering up his face though smiling, and showing his short strongteeth, he began with stubby fingers of both hands to ruffle up histhick tangled black hair.

　　"And what devil made me go to that wat?" (an officer nicknamed"the rat") he said, rubbing his forehead and whole face with bothhands. "Just fancy, he didn't let me win a single cahd, not one cahd."

　　He took the lighted pipe that was offered to him, gripped it inhis fist, and tapped it on the floor, making the sparks fly, whilehe continued to shout.

　　"He lets one win the singles and collahs it as soon as one doublesit; gives the singles and snatches the doubles!"

　　He scattered the burning tobacco, smashed the pipe, and threw itaway. Then he remained silent for a while, and all at once lookedcheerfully with his glittering, black eyes at Rostov.

　　"If at least we had some women here; but there's nothing foh oneto do but dwink. If we could only get to fighting soon. Hullo, who'sthere?" he said, turning to the door as he heard a tread of heavyboots and the clinking of spurs that came to a stop, and arespectful cough.

　　"The squadron quartermaster!" said Lavrushka.

　　Denisov's face puckered still more.

　　"Wetched!" he muttered, throwing down a purse with some gold init. "Wostov, deah fellow, just see how much there is left and shovethe purse undah the pillow," he said, and went out to thequartermaster.

　　Rostov took the money and, mechanically arranging the old and newcoins in separate piles, began counting them.

　　"Ah! Telyanin! How d'ye do? They plucked me last night," cameDenisov's voice from the next room.

　　"Where? At Bykov's, at the rat's... I knew it," replied a pipingvoice, and Lieutenant Telyanin, a small officer of the samesquadron, entered the room.

　　Rostov thrust the purse under the pillow and shook the damp littlehand which was offered him. Telyanin for some reason had beentransferred from the Guards just before this campaign. He behaved verywell in the regiment but was not liked; Rostov especially detested himand was unable to overcome or conceal his groundless antipathy tothe man.

　　"Well, young cavalryman, how is my Rook behaving?" he asked. (Rookwas a young horse Telyanin had sold to Rostov.)

　　The lieutenant never looked the man he was speaking to straight inthe face; his eyes continually wandered from one object to another.

　　"I saw you riding this morning..." he added.

　　"Oh, he's all right, a good horse," answered Rostov, though thehorse for which he had paid seven hundred rubbles was not worth halfthat sum. "He's begun to go a little lame on the left foreleg," headded.

　　"The hoof's cracked! That's nothing. I'll teach you what to do andshow you what kind of rivet to use."

　　"Yes, please do," said Rostov.

　　"I'll show you, I'll show you! It's not a secret. And it's a horseyou'll thank me for."

　　"Then I'll have it brought round," said Rostov wishing to avoidTelyanin, and he went out to give the order.

　　In the passage Denisov, with a pipe, was squatting on thethreshold facing the quartermaster who was reporting to him. On seeingRostov, Denisov screwed up his face and pointing over his shoulderwith his thumb to the room where Telyanin was sitting, he frownedand gave a shudder of disgust.

　　"Ugh! I don't like that fellow"' he said, regardless of thequartermaster's presence.

　　Rostov shrugged his shoulders as much as to say: "Nor do I, butwhat's one to do?" and, having given his order, he returned toTelyanin.

　　Telyanin was sitting in the same indolent pose in which Rostov hadleft him, rubbing his small white hands.

　　"Well there certainly are disgusting people," thought Rostov as heentered.

　　"Have you told them to bring the horse?" asked Telyanin, gettingup and looking carelessly about him.

　　"I have."

　　"Let us go ourselves. I only came round to ask Denisov aboutyesterday's order. Have you got it, Denisov?"

　　"Not yet. But where are you off to?"

　　"I want to teach this young man how to shoe a horse," said Telyanin.

　　They went through the porch and into the stable. The lieutenantexplained how to rivet the hoof and went away to his own quarters.

　　When Rostov went back there was a bottle of vodka and a sausage onthe table. Denisov was sitting there scratching with his pen on asheet of paper. He looked gloomily in Rostov's face and said: "I amwiting to her."

　　He leaned his elbows on the table with his pen in his hand and,evidently glad of a chance to say quicker in words what he wanted towrite, told Rostov the contents of his letter.

　　"You see, my fwiend," he said, "we sleep when we don't love. Weare childwen of the dust... but one falls in love and one is a God,one is pua' as on the first day of cweation... Who's that now? Sendhim to the devil, I'm busy!" he shouted to Lavrushka, who went up tohim not in the least abashed.

　　"Who should it be? You yourself told him to come. It's thequartermaster for the money."

　　Denisov frowned and was about to shout some reply but stopped.

　　"Wetched business," he muttered to himself. "How much is left in thepuhse?" he asked, turning to Rostov.

　　"Seven new and three old imperials."

　　"Oh, it's wetched! Well, what are you standing there for, yousca'cwow? Call the quahtehmasteh," he shouted to Lavrushka.

　　"Please, Denisov, let me lend you some: I have some, you know," saidRostov, blushing.

　　"Don't like bowwowing from my own fellows, I don't," growledDenisov.

　　"But if you won't accept money from me like a comrade, you willoffend me. Really I have some," Rostov repeated.

　　"No, I tell you."

　　And Denisov went to the bed to get the purse from under the pillow.

　　"Where have you put it, Wostov?"

　　"Under the lower pillow."

　　"It's not there."

　　Denisov threw both pillows on the floor. The purse was not there.

　　"That's a miwacle."

　　"Wait, haven't you dropped it?" said Rostov, picking up thepillows one at a time and shaking them.

　　He pulled off the quilt and shook it. The purse was not there.

　　"Dear me, can I have forgotten? No, I remember thinking that youkept it under your head like a treasure," said Rostov. "I put itjust here. Where is it?" he asked, turning to Lavrushka.

　　"I haven't been in the room. It must be where you put it."

　　"But it isn't?..."

　　"You're always like that; you thwow a thing down anywhere and forgetit. Feel in your pockets."

　　"No, if I hadn't thought of it being a treasure," said Rostov,"but I remember putting it there."

　　Lavrushka turned all the bedding over, looked under the bed andunder the table, searched everywhere, and stood still in the middle ofthe room. Denisov silently watched Lavrushka's movements, and when thelatter threw up his arms in surprise saying it was nowhere to be foundDenisov glanced at Rostov.

　　"Wostov, you've not been playing schoolboy twicks..."

　　Rostov felt Denisov's gaze fixed on him, raised his eyes, andinstantly dropped them again. All the blood which had seemed congestedsomewhere below his throat rushed to his face and eyes. He could notdraw breath.

　　"And there hasn't been anyone in the room except the lieutenantand yourselves. It must be here somewhere," said Lavrushka.

　　"Now then, you devil's puppet, look alive and hunt for it!"shouted Denisov, suddenly, turning purple and rushing at the manwith a threatening gesture. "If the purse isn't found I'll flog you,I'll flog you all."

　　Rostov, his eyes avoiding Denisov, began buttoning his coat, buckledon his saber, and put on his cap.

　　"I must have that purse, I tell you," shouted Denisov, shaking hisorderly by the shoulders and knocking him against the wall.

　　"Denisov, let him alone, I know who has taken it," said Rostov,going toward the door without raising his eyes. Denisov paused,thought a moment, and, evidently understanding what Rostov hintedat, seized his arm.

　　"Nonsense!" he cried, and the veins on his forehead and neck stoodout like cords. "You are mad, I tell you. I won't allow it. Thepurse is here! I'll flay this scoundwel alive, and it will be found."

　　"I know who has taken it," repeated Rostov in an unsteady voice, andwent to the door.

　　"And I tell you, don't you dahe to do it!" shouted Denisov,rushing at the cadet to restrain him.

　　But Rostov pulled away his arm and, with as much anger as thoughDenisov were his worst enemy, firmly fixed his eyes directly on hisface.

　　"Do you understand what you're saying?" he said in a tremblingvoice. "There was no one else in the room except myself. So that if itis not so, then..."

　　He could not finish, and ran out of the room.

　　"Ah, may the devil take you and evewybody," were the last wordsRostov heard.

　　Rostov went to Telyanin's quarters.

　　"The master is not in, he's gone to headquarters," said Telyanin'sorderly. "Has something happened?" he added, surprised at thecadet's troubled face.

　　"No, nothing."

　　"You've only just missed him," said the orderly.

　　The headquarters were situated two miles away from Salzeneck, andRostov, without returning home, took a horse and rode there. There wasan inn in the village which the officers frequented. Rostov rode up toit and saw Telyanin's horse at the porch.

　　In the second room of the inn the lieutenant was sitting over a dishof sausages and a bottle of wine.

　　"Ah, you've come here too, young man!" he said, smiling andraising his eyebrows.

　　"Yes," said Rostov as if it cost him a great deal to utter the word;and he sat down at the nearest table.

　　Both were silent. There were two Germans and a Russian officer inthe room. No one spoke and the only sounds heard were the clatter ofknives and the munching of the lieutenant.

　　When Telyanin had finished his lunch he took out of his pocket adouble purse and, drawing its rings aside with his small, white,turned-up fingers, drew out a gold imperial, and lifting hiseyebrows gave it to the waiter.

　　"Please be quick," he said.

　　The coin was a new one. Rostov rose and went up to Telyanin.

　　"Allow me to look at your purse," he said in a low, almostinaudible, voice.

　　With shifting eyes but eyebrows still raised, Telyanin handed himthe purse.

　　"Yes, it's a nice purse. Yes, yes," he said, growing suddenlypale, and added, "Look at it, young man."

　　Rostov took the purse in his hand, examined it and the money init, and looked at Telyanin. The lieutenant was looking about in hisusual way and suddenly seemed to grow very merry.

　　"If we get to Vienna I'll get rid of it there but in thesewretched little towns there's nowhere to spend it," said he. "Well,let me have it, young man, I'm going."

　　Rostov did not speak.

　　"And you? Are you going to have lunch too? They feed you quitedecently here," continued Telyanin. "Now then, let me have it."

　　He stretched out his hand to take hold of the purse. Rostov let goof it. Telyanin took the purse and began carelessly slipping it intothe pocket of his riding breeches, with his eyebrows lifted and hismouth slightly open, as if to say, "Yes, yes, I am putting my purse inmy pocket and that's quite simple and is no else's business."

　　"Well, young man?" he said with a sigh, and from under his liftedbrows he glanced into Rostov's eyes.

　　Some flash as of an electric spark shot from Telyanin's eyes toRostov's and back, and back again and again in an instant.

　　"Come here," said Rostov, catching hold of Telyanin's arm and almostdragging him to the window. "That money is Denisov's; you tookit..." he whispered just above Telyanin's ear.

　　"What? What? How dare you? What?" said Telyanin.

　　But these words came like a piteous, despairing cry and anentreaty for pardon. As soon as Rostov heard them, an enormous load ofdoubt fell from him. He was glad, and at the same instant began topity the miserable man who stood before him, but the task he had begunhad to be completed.

　　"Heaven only knows what the people here may imagine," mutteredTelyanin, taking up his cap and moving toward a small empty room."We must have an explanation..."

　　"I know it and shall prove it," said Rostov.

　　"I..."

　　Every muscle of Telyanin's pale, terrified face began to quiver, hiseyes still shifted from side to side but with a downward look notrising to Rostov's face, and his sobs were audible.

　　"Count!... Don't ruin a young fellow... here is this wretched money,take it..." He threw it on the table. "I have an old father andmother!..."

　　Rostov took the money, avoiding Telyanin's eyes, and went out of theroom without a word. But at the door he stopped and then retracedhis steps. "O God," he said with tears in his eyes, "how could youdo it?"

　　"Count..." said Telyanin drawing nearer to him.

　　"Don't touch me," said Rostov, drawing back. "If you need it, takethe money," and he threw the purse to him and ran out of the inn.