Chapter 20

           

           OnemorningColonelBerg,whomPierreknewashekneweverybodyinMoscowandPetersburg,cametoseehim.Bergarrivedinanimmaculatebrand-newuniform,withhishairpomadedandbrushedforwardoverhistemplesastheEmperorAlexanderworehishair.

           “Ihavejustbeentoseethecountess,yourwife.Unfortunatelyshecouldnotgrantmyrequest,butIhope,Count,Ishallbemorefortunatewithyou,”hesaidwithasmile.

           “Whatisityouwish,Colonel?Iamatyourservice.”

           “Ihavenowquitesettledinmynewrooms,Count”(Bergsaidthiswithperfectconvictionthatthisinformationcouldnotbutbeagreeable),“andsoIwishtoarrangejustasmallpartyformyownandmywife’sfriends.”(Hesmiledstillmorepleasantly.)“Iwishedtoaskthecountessandyoutodomethehonorofcomingtoteaandtosupper.”

           OnlyCountessHélène,consideringthesocietyofsuchpeopleastheBergsbeneathher,couldbecruelenoughtorefusesuchaninvitation.Bergexplainedsoclearlywhyhewantedtocollectathishouseasmallbutselectcompany,andwhythiswouldgivehimpleasure,andwhythoughhegrudgedspendingmoneyoncardsoranythingharmful,hewaspreparedtorunintosomeexpenseforthesakeofgoodsociety—thatPierrecouldnotrefuse,andpromisedtocome.

           “Butdon’tbelate,Count,ifImayventuretoask;abouttenminutestoeight,please.Weshallmakeuparubber.Ourgeneraliscoming.Heisverygoodtome.Weshallhavesupper,Count.Soyouwilldomethefavor.

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