Chapter 3

           

           AnnaPávlovna’sreceptionwasinfullswing.Thespindleshummedsteadilyandceaselesslyonallsides.Withtheexceptionoftheaunt,besidewhomsatonlyoneelderlylady,whowithherthincarewornfacewasratheroutofplaceinthisbrilliantsociety,thewholecompanyhadsettledintothreegroups.One,chieflymasculine,hadformedroundtheabbé.Another,ofyoungpeople,wasgroupedroundthebeautifulPrincessHélène,PrinceVasíli’sdaughter,andthelittlePrincessBolkónskaya,veryprettyandrosy,thoughrathertooplumpforherage.ThethirdgroupwasgatheredroundMortemartandAnnaPávlovna.

           Thevicomtewasanice-lookingyoungmanwithsoftfeaturesandpolishedmanners,whoevidentlyconsideredhimselfacelebritybutoutofpolitenessmodestlyplacedhimselfatthedisposalofthecircleinwhichhefoundhimself.AnnaPávlovnawasobviouslyservinghimupasatreattoherguests.Asaclevermaîtred’hôtelservesupasaspeciallychoicedelicacyapieceofmeatthatnoonewhohadseenitinthekitchenwouldhavecaredtoeat,soAnnaPávlovnaserveduptoherguests,firstthevicomteandthentheabbé,aspeculiarlychoicemorsels.ThegroupaboutMortemartimmediatelybegandiscussingthemurderoftheDucd’Enghien.ThevicomtesaidthattheDucd’Enghienhadperishedbyhisownmagnanimity,andthattherewereparticularreasonsforBuonaparte’shatredofhim.

           “Ah,yes!Dotellusallaboutit,Vicomte,”saidAnnaPávlovna,withapleasantfeelingthattherewassomethingàlaLouisXVinthesoundofthatsentence:“Conteznousçela,Vicomte.

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