战争与和平(上)-第170章

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rincess　Alina　and　Sophie　spend　whole　days　with　me；　and　we；　unhappy　windows　of　living　husbands；　have　delightful　talks　over　scraping　lint。　We　only　want　you；　my　darling；　to　make　us　complete；”　etc。；　etc。
The　principal　reason　why　Princess　Marya　failed　to　grasp　the　significance　of　the　war　was　that　the　old　prince　never　spoke　of　it；　refused　to　recognize　its　existence；　and　laughed　at　Dessalle　when　he　mentioned　the　war　at　dinner…time。　The　prince’s　tone　was　so　calm　and　confident　that　Princess　Marya　put　implicit　faith　in　him。
During　the　whole　of　July　the　old　prince　was　excessively　active　and　even　lively。　He　laid　out　another　new　garden　and　a　new　wing　for　the　servants。　The　only　thing　that　made　Princess　Marya　anxious　about　him　was　that　he　slept　badly；　and　gave　up　his　old　habit　of　sleeping　in　his　study；　and　had　a　bed　made　up　for　him　in　a　new　place　every　day。　One　night　he　would　have　his　travelling　bedstead　set　up　in　the　gallery；　the　next　night　he　would　spend　dozing　dressed　on　the　sofa　or　in　the　lounge…chair　in　the　drawing…room；　while　the　lad　Petrushka；　who　had　replaced　Mademoiselle　Bourienne　in　attendance　on　him；　read　aloud　to　him；　then　he　would　try　spending　a　night　in　the　dining…room。
On　the　first　of　August　a　second　letter　came　from　Prince　Andrey。　In　his　first　letter；　which　had　been　received　shortly　after　he　left　home；　Prince　Andrey　had　humbly　asked　his　father’s　forgiveness　for　what　he　had　permitted　himself　to　say　to　him；　and　had　begged　to　be　restored　to　his　favour。　To　this　letter；　the　old　prince　had　sent　an　affectionate　answer；　and　from　that　time　he　had　kept　the　Frenchwoman　at　a　distance。　Prince　Andrey’s　second　letter　was　written　under　Vitebsk；　after　the　French　had　taken　it。　It　consisted　of　a　brief　account　of　the　whole　campaign；　with　a　plan　sketched　to　illustrate　it；　and　of　reflections　on　the　probable　course　it　would　take　in　the　future。　In　this　letter　Prince　Andrey　pointed　out　to　his　father　the　inconvenience　of　his　position　close　to　the　theatre　of　war；　and　in　the　direct　line　of　the　enemy’s　advance；　and　advised　him　to　move　to　Moscow。
At　dinner　that　day；　on　Dessalle’s　observing　that　he　had　heard　that　the　French　had　already　entered　Vitebsk；　the　old　prince　recollected　Prince　Andrey’s　letter。
“I　have　heard　from　Prince　Andrey　to…day；”　he　said　to　Princess　Marya；　“have　you　read　the　letter？”
“No；　mon　pére；”　the　Princess　answered　timidly。　She　could　not　possibly　have　read　the　letter；　of　which　indeed　she　had　not　heard　till　that　instant。
“He　writes　about　this　war；”　said　the　prince；　with　the　contemptuous　smile　that　had　become　habitual　with　him　in　speaking　of　the　present　war。
“It　must　be　very　interesting；”　said　Dessalle。　“Prince　Andrey　is　in　a　position　to　know。　…”
“Ah；　very　interesting！”　said　Mademoiselle　Bourienne。
“Go　and　get　it　for　me；”　said　the　old　prince　to　Mademoiselle　Bourienne。　“You　know；　on　the　little　table　under　the　paper…weight。”
Mademoiselle　Bourienne　jumped　up　eagerly。
“Ah；　no；”　he　shouted；　frowning。　“You　run；　Mihail　Ivanitch！”　Mihail　Ivanitch　got　up　and　went　to　the　study。　But　he　had　hardly　left　the　room　when　the　old　prince；　looking　about　him　nervously；　threw　down　his　dinner　napkin　and　went　himself。
“They　never　can　do　anything；　always　make　a　muddle。”
As　he　went　out；　Princess　Marya；　Dessalle；　Mademoiselle　Bourienne；　and　even　little　Nikolushka；　looked　at　one　another　without　speaking。　The　old　prince　accompanied　by　Mihail　Ivanitch　came　back　with　a　hurried　step；　bringing　the　letter　and　a　plan；　which　he　laid　beside　him；　and　did　not　give　to　any　one　to　read　during　dinner。
When　they　went　into　the　drawing…room；　he　handed　the　letter　to　Princess　Marya；　and　spreading　out　before　him　the　plan　of　his　new　buildings；　he　fixed　his　eyes　upon　it；　and　told　her　to　read　the　letter　aloud。
After　reading　the　letter；　Princess　Marya　looked　inquiringly　at　her　father。　He　was　gazing　at　the　plan；　evidently　engrossed　in　his　own　ideas。
“What　do　you　think　about　it；　prince？”　Dessalle　ventured　to　inquire。
“I？　eh？　…”　said　the　old　prince；　seeming　to　rouse　himself　with　a　painful　effort；　and　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　plan　of　the　building。
“It　is　very　possible　that　the　field　of　operations　may　be　brought　so　close　to　us　…”
“Ha…ha…ha！　The　field　of　operations　indeed！”　said　the　old　prince。　“I　have　always　said；　and　I　say　still；　that　the　field　of　operations　is　bound　to　be　Poland；　and　the　enemy　will　never　advance　beyond　the　Niemen。”　Dessalle　looked　in　amazement　at　the　prince；　who　was　talking　of　the　Niemen；　when　the　enemy　was　already　at　the　Dnieper。　But　Princess　Marya；　forgetting　the　geographical　position　of　the　Niemen；　supposed　that　what　her　father　said　was　true。
“When　the　snows　thaw　they’ll　drown　in　the　marshes　of　Poland。　It’s　only　that　they　can’t　see　it；”　said　the　old　prince；　obviously　thinking　of　the　campaign　of　1807；　which　seemed　to　him　so　recent。　“Bennigsen　ought　to　have　entered　Prussia　earlier；　and　things　would　have　taken　quite　another　turn。　…”
“But；　prince！”　said　Dessalle　timidly；　“the　letter　speaks　of　Vitebsk。　…”
“Ah；　the　letter？　Yes；　…”　said　the　prince；　with　displeasure。　“Yes　…　yes　…”　His　face　suddenly　assumed　a　gloomy　expression。　He　paused。　“Yes；　he　writes；　the　French　have　been　beaten。　On　what　river　was　it？”
Dessalle　dropped　his　eyes。　“The　prince　says　nothing　about　that；”　he　said　gently。
“What；　doesn’t　he？　Why；　you　don’t　suppose　I　imagined　it。”
Every　one　was　for　a　long　time　silent。
“Yes　…　yes　…　Well；　Mihail　Ivanitch；”　he　said　suddenly；　raising　his　head　and　pointing　to　the　plan　of　the　building；　“tell　me　how　you　propose　to　make　that　alteration。　…”
Mihail　Ivanitch　went　up　to　the　plan；　and　the　old　prince；　talking　to　him　about　it；　went　off　to　his　own　room；　casting　a　wrathful　glance　at　Princess　Marya　and　Dessalle。
Princess　Marya　saw　Dessalle’s　embarrassed　and　amazed　expression　as　he　looked　at　her　father。　She　noticed　his　silence　and　was　struck　by　the　fact　that　her　father　had　left　his　son’s　letter　forgotten　on　the　drawing…room　table。　But　she　was　afraid　to　speak　of　it；　to　ask　Dessalle　the　reason　of　his　embarrassed　silence；　afraid　even　to　think　about　it。
In　the　evening　Mihail　Ivanitch　was　sent　by　the　prince　to　Princess　Marya　to　ask　for　the　letter　that　had　been　forgotten　on　the　table。　Princess　Marya　gave　him　the　letter；　and　much　as　she　disliked　doing　so；　she　ventured　to　ask　what　her　father　was　doing
“Still　very　busy；”　said　Mihail　Ivanitch；　in　a　tone　of　deferential　irony；　that　made　her　turn　pale。　“Worrying　very　much　over　the　new　wing。　Been　reading　a　little：　but　now”　—　Mihail　Ivanitch　dropped　his　voice　—　“he’s　at　his　bureau　looking　after　his　will；　I　expect。”　One　of　the　old　prince’s　favourite　occupations　of　late　had　been　going　over　the　papers　which　he　meant　to　leave　at　his　death；　and　called　his　“will。”
“And　is　Alpatitch　being　sent　to　Smolensk？”　asked　Princess　Marya。
“To　be　sure；　he’s　been　waiting　a　long　while　for　his　orders。”


Chapter　3
WHEN　MIHAIL　IVANITCH　went　back　to　the　study　with　the　letter；　the　old　prince　was　sitting　in　his　spectacles　with　a　shade　over　his　eyes　and　shades　on　the　candles；　at　his　open　bureau；　surrounded　by　papers；　held　a　long　distance　off。　He　was　in　a　rather　solemn　attitude；　reading　the　papers　（the　“remarks；”　as　he　called　them）　which　were　to　be　given　to　the　Tsar　after　his　death。
When　Mihail　Ivanitch　went　in；　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes；　called　up　by　the　memory　of　the　time　when　he　had　written　what　he　was　now　reading。　He　took　the　letter　out　of　Mihail　Ivanitch’s　hand；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　folded　up　his　papers　and　called　in　Alpatitch；　who　had　been　waiting　a　long　while　to　see　him。
He　had　noted　down　on　a　sheet　of　paper　what　he　wanted　in　Smolensk；　and　he　began　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　as　he　gave　his　instructions　to　Alpatitch；　standing　at　the　door。
“First；　letter　paper；　do　you　hear；　eight　quires；　like　this　pattern；　you　see；　gilt　edged　…　take　the　pattern；　so　as　to　be　sure　to　match　it；　varnish；　sealing…wax　—　according　to　Mihail　Ivanitch’s　list。”
He　walked　up　and　down　the　room　and　glanced　at　the　memorandum。
“Then　deliver　the　letter　about　the　enrolment　to　the　governor　in　person。”
Then　bolts　for　the　doors　of　the　new　building　were　wanted；　and　must　be　of　a　new　pattern；　which　the　old　prince　had　himself　designed。　Then　an　iron…bound　box　was　to　be　ordered　for　keeping　his　will　in。
Giving　Alpatitch　his　instructions　occupied　over　two　hours。　The　prince　still　would　not　let　him　go。　He　sat　down；　sank　into　thought；　and　closing　his　eyes；　dropped　into　a　doze。　Alpatitch　made　a　slight　movement。
“Well；　go　along；　go　along；”　said　the　old　prince；　“if　anything　is　wanted　I’ll　send。”
Alpatitch　went　away。　The　prince　went　back　to　the　bureau；　glancing　into　it；　he　passed　his　hand　over　his　papers；　closed　it　again；　and　sat　down　to　the　table　to　write　to　the　governor。
It　was　late　when　he　sealed　the　letter　and　got　up。　He　was　sleepy；　but　he　knew　he　would　not　sleep；　and　that　he　would　be　haunted　by　most　miserable　thoughts　in　bed。　He　called　Tihon；　and　went　through　the　rooms　with　him；　to　tell　him　where　to　make　up　his　bed　for　that　night。　He　walked　about；　measuring　every　corner。
There　was　no　place　that　pleased　him；　but　worst　of　all　was　the　couch　in　the　study　that　he　had　been　used　to。　That　couch　had　become　an　object　of　dread　to　him；　probably　from　the　painful　thoughts　he　had　thought　lying　on　it。　No　place　was　quite　right；　but　best　of　them　all　was　the　corner　in　the　divan…room；　behind　the　piano；　he　had　never　slept　there　yet。
Tihon　brought　the　bedstead　in　with　the　footmen；　and　began　putting　it　up。
“That’s　not　right；　that’s　not　right！”　cried　the　old　prince。　With　his　own　hands　he　moved　the　bed　an　inch　further　from　the　corner；　and　then　closer　to　it　again。
“Well；　at　last；　I　have　done　everything；　now　I　shall　rest；”　thought　the　prince；　and　he　left　it　to　Tihon　to　undress　him。
Frowning　with　vexation　at　the　effort　he　had　to　make　to　take　off　his　coat　and　trousers；　the　prince　undressed；　dropped　heavily　down　on　his　bed；　and　seemed　to　sink　into　thought；　staring　contemptuously　at　his　yellow；　withered　legs。　He　was　not　really　thinking；　but　simply　pausing　before　the　effort　to　lift　his　legs　up　and　lay　them　in　the　bed。　“Ugh；　how　hard　it　is！　Ugh；　if　these　toils　could　soon　be　over；　and　if　you　would　let　me　go！”　he　mused。　Pinching　his　lips　tightly；　he　made　that　effort　for　the　twenty　thousandth　time；　and　lay　down。　But　he　had　hardly　lain　down；　when　all　at　once　the　bed　seemed　to　rock　regularly　to　and　fro　under　him；　as　though　it　were　heaving　and　jolting。　He　had　this　sensation　almost　every　night。　He　opened　his　eyes　that　were　closing　themselves。
“No　peace；　damn　them！”　he　grumbled；　with　inward　rage　at　some　persons　unknown。　“Yes；　yes；　there　was　something　else　of　importance　—　something　of　great　importance　I　was　saving　up　to　think　of　in　bed。　The　bolts？　No；　I　did　speak　about　them。　No；　there　was　something；　something　in　the　drawing…room。　Princess　Marya　talked　some　nonsense。　Dessalle　—　he’s　a　fool　—　said　something；　something　in　my　pocket　—　I　don’t　remember。”
“Tishka！　what　were　we　talking　about　at　dinner？”
“About　Prince　Mihail　…”
“Stay；　stay”　—　the　prince　slapped　his　hand　down　on　the　table。　“Yes；　I　know；　Prince　Andrey’s　letter。　Princess　Marya　read　it。　Dessalle　said　something　about　Vitebsk。　I’ll　read　it　now。”
He　told　Tihon　to　get　the　letter　out　of　his　pocket；　and　to　move　up　the　little