Війна і мир

Chapter 18

           Thiswasanoldbachelor,Shinshín,acousinofthecountess’,amanwith“asharptongue”astheysaidinMoscowsociety.Heseemedtobecondescendingtohiscompanion.Thelatter,afresh,rosyofficeroftheGuards,irreproachablywashed,brushed,andbuttoned,heldhispipeinthemiddleofhismouthandwithredlipsgentlyinhaledthesmoke,lettingitescapefromhishandsomemouthinrings.ThiswasLieutenantBerg,anofficerintheSemënovregimentwithwhomBoríswastotraveltojointhearmy,andaboutwhomNatáshahadteasedhereldersisterVéra,speakingofBergasher“intended.”Thecountsatbetweenthemandlistenedattentively.Hisfavoriteoccupationwhennotplayingboston,acardgamehewasveryfondof,wasthatoflistener,especiallywhenhesucceededinsettingtwoloquacioustalkersatoneanother.

           “Well,then,oldchap,montrèshonorableAlphonseKárlovich,”saidShinshín,laughingironicallyandmixingthemostordinaryRussianexpressionswiththechoicestFrenchphrases—whichwasapeculiarityofhisspeech.“Vouscomptezvousfairedesrentessurl’état;*youwanttomakesomethingoutofyourcompany?”

           *Youexpecttomakeanincomeoutofthegovernment.

           “No,PeterNikoláevich;Ionlywanttoshowthatinthecavalrytheadvantagesarefarlessthanintheinfantry.Justconsidermyownpositionnow,PeterNikoláevich...”

           Bergalwaysspokequietly,politely,andwithgreatprecision.Hisconversationalwaysrelatedentirelytohimself;hewouldremaincalmandsilentwhenthetalkrelatedtoanytopicthathadnodirectbearingonhimself.

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