Війна і мир

Chapter 22

           

           ThatdayCountessHélènehadareceptionatherhouse.TheFrenchambassadorwasthere,andaforeignprinceofthebloodwhohadoflatebecomeafrequentvisitorofhers,andmanybrilliantladiesandgentlemen.Pierre,whohadcomedownstairs,walkedthroughtheroomsandstruckeveryonebyhispreoccupied,absent-minded,andmoroseair.

           Sincetheballhehadfelttheapproachofafitofnervousdepressionandhadmadedesperateeffortstocombatit.Sincetheintimacyofhiswifewiththeroyalprince,Pierrehadunexpectedlybeenmadeagentlemanofthebedchamber,andfromthattimehehadbeguntofeeloppressedandashamedincourtsociety,anddarkthoughtsofthevanityofallthingshumancametohimoftenerthanbefore.AtthesametimethefeelinghehadnoticedbetweenhisprotégéeNatáshaandPrinceAndrewaccentuatedhisgloombythecontrastbetweenhisownpositionandhisfriend’s.Hetriedequallytoavoidthinkingabouthiswife,andaboutNatáshaandPrinceAndrew;andagaineverythingseemedtohiminsignificantincomparisonwitheternity;againthequestion:forwhat?presenteditself;andheforcedhimselftoworkdayandnightatMasoniclabors,hopingtodriveawaytheevilspiritthatthreatenedhim.Towardmidnight,afterhehadleftthecountess’apartments,hewassittingupstairsinashabbydressinggown,copyingouttheoriginaltransactionoftheScottishlodgeofFreemasonsatatableinhislowroomcloudywithtobaccosmoke,whensomeonecamein.ItwasPrinceAndrew.

           “Ah,it’syou!”saidPierrewithapreoccupied,dissatisfiedair.“AndI,yousee,amhardatit.

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