Война и мир

Chapter 4

           

           Immediatelyonleavingthegovernor’s,Nicholashiredposthorsesand,takinghissquadronquartermasterwithhim,droveatagalloptothelandowner,fourteenmilesaway,whohadthestud.EverythingseemedtohimpleasantandeasyduringthatfirstpartofhisstayinVorónezhand,asusuallyhappenswhenamanisinapleasantstateofmind,everythingwentwellandeasily.

           ThelandownertowhomNicholaswentwasabachelor,anoldcavalryman,ahorsefancier,asportsman,thepossessorofsomecentury-oldbrandyandsomeoldHungarianwine,whohadasnuggerywherehesmoked,andwhoownedsomesplendidhorses.

           InveryfewwordsNicholasboughtseventeenpickedstallionsforsixthousandrubles—toserve,ashesaid,assamplesofhisremounts.AfterdiningandtakingrathertoomuchoftheHungarianwine,Nicholas—havingexchangedkisseswiththelandowner,withwhomhewasalreadyonthefriendliestterms—gallopedbackoverabominableroads,inthebrightestframeofmind,continuallyurgingonthedriversoastobeintimeforthegovernor’sparty.

           Whenhehadchanged,pouredwateroverhishead,andscentedhimself,Nicholasarrivedatthegovernor’sratherlate,butwiththephrase“betterlatethannever”onhislips.

           Itwasnotaball,norhaddancingbeenannounced,buteveryoneknewthatCatherinePetróvnawouldplayvalsesandtheécossaiseontheclavichordandthattherewouldbedancing,andsoeveryonehadcomeastoaball.

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