战争与和平(上)-第31章

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　enemy。
“Do　you　understand　what　you’re　saying？”　he　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　“except　me；　there　has　been　no　one　else　in　the　room。　So　that；　if　it’s　not　so；　why　then　…”
He　could　not　utter　the　rest；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。
“Oh；　damn　you　and　all　the　rest；”　were　the　last　words　Rostov　heard。
Rostov　went　to　Telyanin’s　quarters。
“The　master’s　not　at　home；　he’s　gone　to　the　staff；”　Telyanin’s　orderly　told　him。　“Has　something　happened？”　the　orderly　added；　wondering　at　the　ensign’s　troubled　face。
“No；　nothing。”
“You’ve　only　just　missed　him；”　said　the　orderly。
The　staff　quarters　were　two　miles　and　a　half　from　Salzeneck。　Not　having　found　him　at　home；　Rostov　took　his　horse　and　rode　to　the　quarters　of　the　staff。　In　the　village；　where　the　staff　was　quartered；　there　was　a　restaurant　which　the　officers　frequented。　Rostov　reached　the　restaurant　and　saw　Telyanin’s　horse　at　the　entry。
In　the　second　room　the　lieutenant　was　sitting　over　a　dish　of　sausages　and　a　bottle　of　wine。
“Ah；　you　have　come　here　too；　young　man；”　he　said；　smiling　and　lifting　his　eyebrows。
“Yes；”　said　Rostov；　speaking　as　though　the　utterance　of　the　word　cost　him　great　effort；　and　he　sat　down　at　the　nearest　table。
Both　were　silent；　there　were　two　Germans　and　a　Russian　officer　in　the　room。　Every　one　was　mute；　and　the　only　sounds　audible　were　the　clatter　of　knives　on　the　plates　and　the　munching　of　the　lieutenant。　When　Telyanin　had　finished　his　lunch；　he　took　out　of　his　pocket　a　double　purse；　with　his　little　white　fingers；　that　were　curved　at　the　tips；　he　parted　the　rings；　took　out　some　gold；　and　raising　his　eyebrows；　gave　the　money　to　the　attendant。
“Make　haste；　please；”　he　said。
The　gold　was　new。　Rostov　got　up　and　went　to　Telyanin。
“Let　me　look　at　the　purse；”　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　scarcely　audible。
With　shifting　eyes；　but　eyebrows　still　raised；　Telyanin　gave　him　the　purse。
“Yes；　it’s　a　pretty　purse　…　yes　…”　he　said；　and　suddenly　he　turned　white。　“You　can　look　at　it；　young　man；”　he　added。
Rostov　took　the　purse　in　his　hand　and　looked　both　at　it　and　at　the　money　in　it；　and　also　at　Telyanin。　The　lieutenant　looked　about　him；　as　his　way　was；　and　seemed　suddenly　to　have　grown　very　good…humoured。
“If　we　go　to　Vienna；　I　suspect　I　shall　leave　it　all　there；　but　now　there’s　nowhere　to　spend　our　money　in　these　wretched　little　places；”　he　said。　“Come；　give　it　me；　young　man；　I’m　going。”
Rostov　did　not　speak。
“What　are　you　going　to　do？　have　lunch　too？　They　give　you　decent　food；”　Telyanin　went　on。　“Give　it　me。”　He　put　out　his　hand　and　took。　hold　of　the　purse。　Rostov　let　go　of　it。　Telyanin　took　the　purse　and　began　carelessly　dropping　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　riding　trousers；　while　his　eyebrows　were　carelessly　lifted　and　his　mouth　stood　a　little　open；　as　though　he　would　say：　“Yes；　yes；　I’m　putting　my　purse　in　my　pocket；　and　that’s　a　very　simple　matter；　and　no　one　has　anything　to　do　with　it。”
“Well；　young　man？”　he　said　with　a　sign；　and　from　under　his　lifted　eyebrows　he　glanced　into　Rostov’s　eyes。　A　kind　of　gleam　passed　with　the　swiftness　of　an　electric　flash　from　Telyanin’s　eyes　to　the　eyes　of　Rostov；　and　back　again　and　back　again　and　again；　all　in　one　instant。
“Come　here；”　said　Rostov；　taking　Telyanin　by　the　arm。　He　almost　dragged　him　to　the　window。　“That’s　Denisov’s　money；　you　took　it　…”　he　whispered　in　his　ear。
“What？　…　what？　…　How　dare　you？　What？”　…　said　Telyanin。　But　the　words　sounded　like　a　plaintive；　despairing　cry　and　prayer　for　forgiveness。　As　soon　as　Rostov　heard　the　sound　of　his　voice；　a　great　weight　of　suspense；　like　a　stone；　rolled　off　his　heart。　He　felt　glad；　and　at　the　same　instant　he　pitied　the　luckless　creature　standing　before　him；　but　he　had　to　carry　the　thing　through　to　the　end。
“God　knows　what　the　people　here　may　think；”　muttered　Telyanin；　snatching　up　his　forage…cap　and　turning　towards　a　small　empty　room。　“You　must　explain　…”
“I　know　that；　and　I’ll　prove　it；”　said　Rostov。
“I　…”
The　terrified；　white　face　of　Telyanin　began　twitching　in　every　muscle；　his　eyes　still　moved　uneasily；　but　on　the　ground；　never　rising　to　the　level　of　Rostov’s　face；　and　tearful　sobs　could　be　heard。
“Count！　…　don’t　ruin　a　young　man　…　here　is　the　wretched　money；　take　it。”　…　He　threw　it　on　the　table。　“I’ve　an　old　father　and　mother！”
Rostov　took　the　money；　avoiding　Telyanin’s　eyes；　and　without　uttering　a　word；　he　went　out　of　the　room。　But　in　the　doorway　he　stopped　and　turned　back。
“My　God！”　he　said；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　“how　could　you　do　it？”
“Count；”　said　Telyanin；　coming　nearer　to　the　ensign。
“Don’t　touch　me；”　said　Rostov；　drawing　back。　“If　you’re　in　need　take　the　money。”
He　thrust　a　purse　on　him　and　ran　out　of　the　restaurant。


Chapter　5
IN　THE　EVENING　of　the　same　day　a　lively　discussion　was　taking　place　in　Denisov’s　quarters　between　some　officers　of　the　squadron。
“But　I　tell　you；　Rostov；　that　you　must　apologise　to　the　colonel；”　the　tall　staff…captain　was　saying；　addressing　Rostov；　who　was　crimson　with　excitement。　The　staff…captain；　Kirsten；　a　man　with　grizzled　hair；　immense　whiskers；　thick　features　and　a　wrinkled　face；　had　been　twice　degraded　to　the　ranks　for　affairs　of　honour；　and　had　twice　risen　again　to　holding　a　commission。
“I　permit　no　one　to　tell　me　I’m　lying！”　cried　Rostov。　“He　told　me　I　was　lying　and　I　told　him　he　was　lying。　And　there　it　rests。　He　can　put　me　on　duty　every　day；　he　can　place　me　under　arrest；　but　no　one　can　compel　me　to　apologise；　because　if　he；　as　the　colonel；　considers　it　beneath　his　dignity　to　give　me　satisfaction；　then　…”
“But　you　wait　a　bit；　my　good　fellow；　you　listen　to　me；”　interrupted　the　staff…captain　in　his　bass　voice；　calmly　stroking　his　long　whiskers。　“You　tell　the　colonel　in　the　presence　of　other　officers　that　an　officer　has　stolen—”
“I’m　not　to　blame　for　the　conversation　being　in　the　presence　of　other　officers。　Possibly　I　ought　not　to　have　spoken　before　them；　but　I’m　not　a　diplomatist。　That’s　just　why　I　went　into　the　hussars；　I　thought　that　here　I　should　have　no　need　of　such　finicky　considerations；　and　he　tells　me　I’m　a　liar　…　so　let　him　give　me　satisfaction。”
“That’s　all　very　fine；　no　one　imagines　that　you’re　a　coward；　but　that’s　not　the　point。　Ask　Denisov　if　it’s　not　utterly　out　of　the　question　for　an　ensign　to　demand　satisfaction　of　his　colonel？”
Denisov　was　biting　his　moustache　with　a　morose　air；　listening　to　the　conversation；　evidently　with　no　desire　to　take　part　in　it。　To　the　captain’s　question；　he　replied　by　a　negative　shake　of　the　head。
“You　speak　to　the　colonel　in　the　presence　of　other　officers　of　this　dirty　business；”　pursued　the　staff…captain。　“Bogdanitch”　（Bogdanitch　was　what　they　called　the　colonel）　“snubbed　you　…”
“No；　he　didn’t。　He　said　I　was　telling　an　untruth。”
“Quite　so；　and　you　talked　nonsense　to　him；　and　you　must　apologise。”
“Not　on　any　consideration！”　shouted　Rostov。
“I　shouldn’t　have　expected　this　of　you；”　said　the　staff…captain　seriously　and　severely。　“You　won’t　apologise；　but；　my　good　sir；　it’s　not　only　him；　but　all　the　regiment；　all　of　us；　that　you’ve　acted　wrongly　by；　you’re　to　blame　all　round。　Look　here；　if　you’d　only　thought　it　over；　and　taken　advice　how　to　deal　with　the　matter；　but　you　must　go　and　blurt　it　all　straight　out　before　the　officers。　What　was　the　colonel　to　do　then？　Is　he　to　bring　the　officer　up　for　trial　and　disgrace　the　whole　regiment？　On　account　of　one　scoundrel　is　the　whole　regiment　to　be　put　to　shame？　Is　that　the　thing　for　him　to　do；　to　your　thinking？　It　is　not　to　our　thinking。　And　Bogdanitch　did　the　right　thing。　He　told　you　that　you　were　telling　an　untruth。　It’s　unpleasant；　but　what　could　he　do？　you　brought　it　on　yourself。　And　now　when　they　try　to　smooth　the　thing　over；　you’re　so　high　and　mighty；　you　won’t　apologise；　and　want　to　have　the　whole　story　out。　You’re　huffy　at　being　put　on　duty；　but　what　is　it　for　you　to　apologise　to　an　old　and　honourable　officer！　Whatever　Bogdanitch　may　be；　any　way　he’s　an　honourable　and　gallant　old　colonel；　you’re　offended　at　that；　but　disgracing　the　regiment’s　nothing　to　you。”　The　staff…captain’s　voice　began　to　quaver。　“You；　sir；　have　been　next　to　no　time　in　the　regiment；　you’re　here　to…day；　and　to…morrow　you’ll　be　passed　on　somewhere　as　an　adjutant；　you　don’t　care　a　straw　for　people　saying：　‘There　are　thieves　among　the　Pavlograd　officers！’　But　we　do　care！　Don’t　we；　Denisov？　Do　we　care？”
Denisov　still　did　not　speak　or　stir；　his　gleaming　black　eyes　glanced　now　and　then　at　Rostov。
“Your　pride　is　dear　to　you；　you　don’t　want　to　apologise；”　continued　the　staff…captain；　“but　we　old　fellows；　as　we　grew　up　in　the　regiment　and；　please　God；　we　hope　to　die　in　it；　it’s　the　honour　of　the　regiment　is　dear　to　us；　and　Bogdanitch　knows　that。　Ah；　isn’t　it　dear　to　us！　But　this　isn’t　right；　it’s　not　right！　You　may　take　offence　or　not；　but　I　always　speak　the　plain　truth。　It’s　not　right！”
And　the　staff…captain　got　up　and　turned　away　from　Rostov。
“That’s　the　truth；　damn　it！”　shouted　Denisov；　jumping　up。　“Come；　Rostov；　come！”
Rostov；　turning　crimson　and　white　again；　looked　first　at　one　officer　and　then　at　the　other。
“No；　gentlemen；　no　…　you　mustn’t　think　…　I　quite　understand；　you’re　wrong　in　thinking　that　of　me　…　I　…　for　me　…　for　the　honour　of　the　regiment　I’d　…　but　why　talk？　I’ll　prove　that　in　action　and　for　me　the　honour　of　the　flag　…　well；　never　mind；　it’s　true；　I’m　to　blame！”　…　There　were　tears　in　his　eyes。　“I’m　wrong；　wrong　all　round！　Well；　what　more　do　you　want？”　…
“Come；　that’s　right；　count；”　cried　the　staff…captain；　turning　round　and　clapping　him　on　the　shoulder　with　his　big　hand。
“I　tell　you；”　shouted　Denisov；　“he’s　a　capital　fellow。”
‘That’s　better；　count；”　repeated　the　captain；　beginning　to　address　him　by　his　title　as　though　in　acknowledgment　of　his　confession。　“Go　and　apologise；　your　excellency。”
“Gentlemen；　I’ll　do　anything；　no　one　shall　hear　a　word　from　me；”　Rostov　protested　in　an　imploring　voice；　“but　I　can’t　apologise；　by　God；　I　can’t；　say　what　you　will！　How　can　I　apologise；　like　a　little　boy　begging　pardon！”
Denisov　laughed。
“It’ll　be　the　worse　for　you；　if　you　don’t。　Bogdanitch　doesn’t　forget　things；　he’ll　make　you　pay　for　your　obstinacy；”　said　Kirsten。
“By　God；　it’s　not　obstinacy！　I　can’t　describe　the　feeling　it　gives　me。　I　can’t　do　it。”
“Well；　as　you　like；”　said　the　staff…captain。　“What　has　the　scoundrel　done　with　himself？”　he　asked　Denisov。
“He　has　reported　himself　ill；　to…morrow　the　order’s　given　for　him　to　be　struck　off；”　said　Denisov。
“It　is　an　illness；　there’s　no　other　way　of　explaining　it；”　said　the　staff…captain。
“Whether　it’s　illness　or　whether　it’s　not；　he’d　better　not　cross　my　path—I’d　kill　him；”　Denisov　shouted　bloodthirstily。
Zherkov　walked　into　the　room。
“How　do　you　come　here？”　the　officers　cried　to　the　newcomer　at　once。
“To　the　front；　gentlemen。　Mack　has　surrendered　with　his　whole　army。”
“Nonsense！”
“I’ve　seen　him　myself。”
“What？　Seen　Mack　alive；　with　all　his　arms　and　legs？”
“To　the　front！　to　the　front！　Give　him　a　bottle　for　such　news。　How　did　you　come　here？”
“I’ve　been　dismissed　back　to　the　regiment　again　on　account　of　that　devil；　Mack。　The　Austrian　general　complain