战争与和平(上)-第155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！


g　about　his　sister？”　the　old　prince　wondered。　“Why；　does　he　suppose　I’m　a　scoundrel　or　an　old　fool　to　be　alienated　from　my　daughter　and　friendly　with　this　Frenchwoman　for　no　good　reason？　He　doesn’t　understand；　and　so　I　must　explain　it　to　him；　he　must　hear　what　I　have　to　say　about　it；”　thought　the　old　prince；　and　so　he　began　to　explain　the　reason　why　he　could　not　put　up　with　his　daughter’s　unreasonable　character。
“If　you　ask　me；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　not　looking　at　his　father　（it　was　the　first　time　in　his　life　that　he　had　blamed　his　father）；　“I　did　not　wish　to　speak　of　it—but；　if　you　ask　me；　I’ll　tell　you　my　opinion　frankly　in　regard　to　the　whole　matter。　If　there　is　any　misunderstanding　and　estrangement　between　you　and　Masha；　I　can’t　blame　her　for　it—I　know　how　she　loves　and　respects　you。　If　you　ask　me；”　Prince　Andrey　continued；　losing　his　temper；　as　he　very　readily　did　in　these　latter　days；　“I　can　only　say　one　thing；　if　there　are　misunderstandings；　the　cause　of　them　is　that　worthless　woman；　who　is　not　fit　to　be　my　sister’s　companion。”
The　old　man　stared　for　a　moment　at　his　son；　and　a　forced　smile　revealed　the　loss　of　a　tooth；　to　which　Prince　Andrey　could　not　get　accustomed；　in　his　face。
“What　companion；　my　dear　fellow？　Eh！　So　you’ve　talked　it　over　already！　Eh？”
“Father；　I　had　no　wish　to　judge　you；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　in　a　hard　and　spiteful　tone；　“but　you　have　provoked　me；　and　I　have　said；　and　shall　always　say；　that　Marie　is　not　to　blame；　but　the　people　to　blame—the　person　to　blame—is　that　Frenchwoman　…”
“Ah；　he　has　passed　judgment！　…　he　has　passed　judgment！”　said　the　old　man；　in　a　low　voice；　and　Prince　Andrey　fancied；　with　embarrassment。　But　immediately　after　he　leapt　up　and　screamed；　“Go　away；　go　away！　Let　me　never　set　eyes　on　you　again！　…”
Prince　Andrey　would　have　set　off　at　once；　but　Princess　Marya　begged　him　to　stay　one　day　more。　During　that　day　Prince　Andrey　did　not　see　his　father；　who　never　left　his　room；　and　admitted　no　one　to　see　him　but　Mademoiselle　Bourienne　and　Tihon；　from　which　he　inquired　several　times　whether　his　son　had　gone。　The　following　day　before　starting；　Prince　Andrey　went　to　the　part　of　the　house　where　his　son　was　to　be　found。　The　sturdy　little　boy；　with　curls　like　his　mother’s；　sat　on　his　knee。　Prince　Andrey　began　telling　him　the　story　of　Bluebeard；　but　he　sank　into　dreamy　meditation　before　he　had　finished　the　story。　He　was　not　thinking　of　the　pretty　boy；　his　child；　even　while　he　held　him　on　his　knee；　he　was　thinking　of　himself。　He　sought　and　was　horrified　not　to　find　in　himself　either　remorse　for　having　provoked　his　father’s　anger；　or　regret　at　leaving　home　（for　the　first　time　in　his　life）　on　bad　terms　with　him。　What　meant　still　more　to　him　was　that　he　could　not　detect　in　himself　a　trace　of　the　tender　affection　he　had　once　felt　for　his　boy；　and　had　hoped　to　revive　in　his　heart；　when　he　petted　the　child　and　put　him　on　his　knee。
“Come；　tell　me　the　rest；”　said　the　boy。　Prince　Andrey　took　him　off　his　knee　without　answering；　and　went　out　of　the　room。
As　soon　as　Prince　Andrey　gave　up　his　daily　pursuits；　especially　to　return　to　the　old　surroundings　in　which　he　had　been　when　he　was　happy；　weariness　of　life　seized　upon　him　as　intensely　as　ever；　and　he　made　haste　to　escape　from　these　memories；　and　to　find　some　work　to　do　as　quickly　as　possible。
“Are　you　really　going；　Andrey？”　his　sister　said　to　him。
“Thank　God　that　I　can　go；”　said　Prince　Andrey。　“I　am　very　sorry　you　can’t　too。”
“What　makes　you　say　that？”　said　Princess　Marya。　“How　can　you　say　that　when　you　are　going　to　this　awful　war；　and　he　is　so　old？　Mademoiselle　Bourienne　told　me　he　keeps　asking　about　you。…”　As　soon　as　she　spoke　of　that；　her　lips　quivered；　and　tears　began　to　fall。　Prince　Andrey　turned　away　and　began　walking　up　and　down　the　room。
“Ah；　my　God！　my　God！”　he　said。　“And　to　think　what　and　who—what　scum　can　be　the　cause　of　misery　to　people！”　he　said　with　a　malignance　that　terrified　Princess　Marya。
She　felt　that　when　he　uttered　the　word　“scum；”　he　was　thinking　not　only　of　Mademoiselle　Bourienne；　who　was　the　cause　of　her　misery；　but　also　of　the　man　who　had　ruined　his　own　happiness。　“Andrey；　one　thing　I　beg；　I　beseech　of　you；”　she　said；　touching　his　elbow　and　looking　at　him　with　eyes　that　shone　through　her　tears。　“I　understand　you。”　（Princess　Marya　dropped　her　eyes。）　“Don’t　imagine　that　sorrow　is　the　work　of　men。　Men　are　His　instruments。”　She　glanced　upwards　a　little　above　Prince　Andrey’s　head　with　the　confident；　accustomed　glance　with　which　one　looks　towards　a　familiar　portrait。　“Sorrow　is　sent　by　Him；　and　not　by　men。　Men　are　the　instrument　of　His　will；　they　are　not　to　blame。　If　it　seems　to　you　that　some　one　has　wronged　you—forget　it；　and　forgive。　We　have　no　right　to　punish。　And　you　will　know　the　happiness　of　forgiveness。”
“If　I　were　a　woman；　I　would；　Marie。　That’s　woman’s　virtue。　But　a　man　must　not；　and　cannot；　forgive　and　forget；”　he　said；　and　though　till　that　minute　he　had　not　been　thinking　of　Kuragin；　all　his　unsatisfied　revenge　rose　up　again　in　his　heart。　“If　Marie　is　beginning　to　persuade　me　to　forgive；　it　means　that　I　ought　long　ago　to　have　punished　him；”　he　thought。
And　making　no　further　reply　to　Princess　Marya；　he　began　dreaming　now　of　the　happy　moment　of　satisfied　hate　when　he　would　meet　Kuragin。　He　knew　he　was　with　the　army。
Princess　Marya　besought　her　brother　to　stay　another　day；　telling　him　how　wretched　her　father　would　be；　she　knew；　if　Andrey　went　away　without　being　reconciled　to　him。　But　Prince　Andrey　answered　that　he　would　probably　soon　be　back　from　the　army；　that　he　would　certainly　write　to　his　father；　and　that　their　quarrel　would　only　be　more　embittered　by　his　staying　longer　now。　“Remember　that　misfortunes　come　from　God；　and　that　men　are　never　to　blame；”　were　the　last　words　he　heard　from　his　sister；　as　he　said　good…bye　to　her。
“So　it　must　be　so！”　thought　Prince　Andrey；　as　he　drove　out　of　the　avenue。　“She；　poor　innocent　creature；　is　left　to　be　victimised　by　an　old　man；　who　has　outlived　his　wits。　The　old　man　feels　he　is　wrong；　but　he　can’t　help　himself。　My　boy　is　growing　up　and　enjoying　life　in　which　he　will　be　deceived　or　deceiving　like　every　one　else。　I　am　going　to　the　army—what　for？　I　don’t　know　myself；　and　I　want　to　meet　that　man　whom　I　despise；　so　as　to　give　him　a　chance　to　kill　me　and　sneer　at　me！”　All　the　conditions　of　life　had　been　the　same　before；　but　before　they　had　all　seemed　to　him　coherent；　and　now　they　had　all　fallen　apart。　Life　seemed　to　Prince　Andrey　a　series　of　senseless　phenomena　following　one　another　without　any　connection。


Chapter　9
PRINCE　ANDREY　reached　the　headquarters　of　the　army　at　the　end　of　June。　The　first　army；　with　which　the　Tsar　was；　was　stationed　in　a　fortified　camp　at　Drissa。　The　second　army　was　retreating；　striving　to　effect　a　junction　with　the　first　army；　from　which—so　it　was　said—it　had　been　cut　off　by　immense　forces　of　the　French。　Every　one　was　dissatisfied　with　the　general　course　of　events　in　the　Russian　army。　But　no　one　even　dreamed　of　any　danger　of　the　Russian　provinces　being　invaded；　no　one　imagined　the　war　could　extend　beyond　the　frontiers　of　the　western　Polish　provinces。
Prince　Andrey　found　Barclay　de　Tolly；　to　whom　he　was　sent；　on　the　bank　of　the　Drissa。　Since　there　was　not　one　large　village　nor　dwelling…place　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　camp；　the　immense　multitude　of　generals　and　courtiers　accompanying　the　army　were　distributed　about　the　neighborhood　for　ten　versts　round　in　the　best　houses　of　the　village　on　both　sides　of　the　river。　Barclay　de　Tolly　was　staying　four　versts　away　from　the　Tsar。　He　gave　Bolkonsky　a　dry　and　frigid　reception；　and　said　in　his　German　accent　that　he　would　mention　him　to　the　Tsar　so　that　a　definite　appointment　might　be　given　him；　and　that　meanwhile　he　begged　him　to　remain　on　his　staff。　Anatole　Kuragin；　whom　Prince　Andrey　had　expected　to　find　in　the　army；　was　not　here。　He　was　in　Petersburg；　and　Bolkonsky　was　glad　to　hear　it。　He　was　absorbed　in　the　interest　of　being　at　the　centre　of　the　immense　war　that　was　in　progress；　and　he　was　relieved　to　be　free　for　a　time　from　the　irritability　produced　in　him　by　the　idea　of　Kuragin。　The　first　four　days；　during　which　he　was　not　called　upon　to　do　anything；　he　spent　in　riding　round　the　whole　of　the　fortified　camp；　and　by　the　aid　of　his　experiences　and　his　conversations　with　persons　of　greater　experience；　he　tried　to　form　a　definite　idea　about　it。　But　the　question　whether　such　a　camp　were　of　use　at　all　or　not　remained　an　open　one　in　his　mind。　He　had　already；　from　his　own　military　experience；　formed　the　conviction　that　in　war　the　most　deeply　meditated　plans　are　of　no　avail　（as　he　had　seen　at　Austerlitz）；　that　everything　depends　on　how　unexpected　actions　of　the　enemy；　actions　that　cannot　possibly　be　foreseen；　are　met；　that　all　depends　on　how；　and　by　whom；　the　battle　is　led。　In　order　to　settle　this　last　question　to　his　own　satisfaction；　Prince　Andrey　took　advantage　of　his　position　and　his　acquaintances　to　try　to　get　an　insight　into　the　character　of　the　persons　and　parties　who　had　a　hand　in　the　organisation　of　the　army。　This　was　the　general　idea　he　gained　of　the　position　of　affairs。
While　the　Tsar　had　been　at　Vilna；　the　army　had　been　divided　into　three。　The　first　army　was　under　the　command　of　Barclay　de　Tolly；　the　second　under　the　command　of　Bagration；　and　the　third　under　the　command　of　Tormasov。　The　Tsar　was　with　the　first　army；　but　not　in　the　capacity　of　commander…in…chief。　In　the　proclamations；　it　was　announced　that　the　Tsar　would　be　with　the　army；　but　it　was　not　announced　that　he　would　take　the　command。　Moreover；　there　was　in　attendance　on　the　Tsar　personally　not　a　commander…in…chief’s　staff；　but　the　staff　of　the　imperial　headquarters。　The　chief　officer　of　the　imperial　staff　was　General…Quartermaster　Volkonsky；　and　it　contained　generals；　aides…de…camp；　diplomatic　officials；　and　an　immense　number　of　foreigners；　but　it　was　not　a　military　staff。　The　Tsar　had　also　in　attendance　on　him　in　no　definite　capacity；　Araktcheev；　the　late　minister　of　war；　Count　Bennigsen；　by　seniority　the　first　of　the　generals；　the　Tsarevitch；　Konstantin　Pavlovitch；　Count　Rumyantsev；　the　chancellor；　Stein；　the　former　Prussian　minister；　Armfeldt；　the　Swedish　general；　Pfuhl；　the　chief　organiser　of　the　plan　of　the　campaign；　Paulucci；　a　Sardinian　refugee；　who　had　been　made　a　general…adjutant；　Woltzogen；　and　many　others。　Though　those　personages　had　no　definite　posts　in　the　army；　yet；　from　their　position；　they　had　influence；　and　often　the　commander　of　a　corps；　or　even　one　of　the　commanders…in…chief；　did　not　know　in　what　capacity　Bennigsen　or　the　Tsarevitch　or　Araktcheev　or　Prince　Volkonsky　addressed　some　advice　or　inquiry　to　him；　and　could　not　tell　whether　some　command　in　the　form　of　advice　came　directly　from　the　person　who　got　it　or　through　him　from　the　Tsar；　and　whether　he　ought　or　ought　not　to　obey　it。　But　all　this　formed　simply　the　external　aspect　of　the　situation；　the　inner　import　of　the　presence　of　the　Tsar　and　all　these　great　personages　was；　from　a　courtier’s　point　of　view　（and　in　the　presence　of　a　monarch　all　men　become　courtiers）；　plain　to　all。　All　grasped　the　fact　that　though　the　Tsar　was　not　formally　assuming　the　position　of　commander…in…chief；　he　did；　in　fact；　hold　the　supr