Chapter 18

           

           WhenPierrereturnedhomehewashandedtwoofRostopchín’sbroadsheetsthathadbeenbroughtthatday.

           ThefirstdeclaredthatthereportthatCountRostopchínhadforbiddenpeopletoleaveMoscowwasfalse;onthecontraryhewasgladthatladiesandtradesmen’swiveswereleavingthecity.“Therewillbelesspanicandlessgossip,”ranthebroadsheet“butIwillstakemylifeonitthatthatscoundrelwillnotenterMoscow.”ThesewordsshowedPierreclearlyforthefirsttimethattheFrenchwouldenterMoscow.ThesecondbroadsheetstatedthatourheadquarterswereatVyázma,thatCountWittgensteinhaddefeatedtheFrench,butthatasmanyoftheinhabitantsofMoscowwishedtobearmed,weaponswerereadyforthematthearsenal:sabers,pistols,andmusketswhichcouldbehadatalowprice.ThetoneoftheproclamationwasnotasjocoseasintheformerChigírintalks.Pierreponderedoverthesebroadsheets.Evidentlytheterriblestormcloudhehaddesiredwiththewholestrengthofhissoulbutwhichyetarousedinvoluntaryhorrorinhimwasdrawingnear.

           “ShallIjointhearmyandentertheservice,orwait?”heaskedhimselfforthehundredthtime.Hetookapackofcardsthatlayonthetableandbegantolaythemoutforagameofpatience.

           “Ifthispatiencecomesout,”hesaidtohimselfaftershufflingthecards,holdingtheminhishand,andliftinghishead,“ifitcomesout,itmeans...whatdoesitmean?”

           Hehadnotdecidedwhatitshouldmeanwhenheheardthevoiceoftheeldestprincessatthedooraskingwhethershemightcomein.

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