Book Five: 1806-07 - Chapter VI

by Leo Tolstoy

　　The duel between Pierre and Dolokhov was hushed up and, in spiteof the Emperor's severity regarding duels at that time, neither theprincipals nor their seconds suffered for it. But the story of theduel, confirmed by Pierre's rupture with his wife, was the talk ofsociety. Pierre who had been regarded with patronizing condescensionwhen he was an illegitimate son, and petted and extolled when he wasthe best match in Russia, had sunk greatly in the esteem of societyafter his marriage- when the marriageable daughters and theirmothers had nothing to hope from him- especially as he did not knowhow, and did not wish, to court society's favor. Now he alone wasblamed for what had happened, he was said to be insanely jealous andsubject like his father to fits of bloodthirsty rage. And when afterPierre's departure Helene returned to Petersburg, she was receivedby all her acquaintances not only cordially, but even with a shadeof deference due to her misfortune. When conversation turned on herhusband Helene assumed a dignified expression, which withcharacteristic tact she had acquired though she did not understand itssignificance. This expression suggested that she had resolved toendure her troubles uncomplainingly and that her husband was a crosslaid upon her by God. Prince Vasili expressed his opinion more openly.He shrugged his shoulders when Pierre was mentioned and, pointing tohis forehead, remarked:

　　"A bit touched- I always said so."

　　"I said from the first," declared Anna Pavlovna referring to Pierre,"I said at the time and before anyone else" (she insisted on herpriority) "that that senseless young man was spoiled by the depravedideas of these days. I said so even at the time when everybody wasin raptures about him, when he had just returned from abroad, andwhen, if you remember, he posed as a sort of Marat at one of mysoirees. And how has it ended? I was against this marriage even thenand foretold all that has happened."

　　Anna Pavlovna continued to give on free evenings the same kind ofsoirees as before- such as she alone had the gift of arranging- atwhich was to be found "the cream of really good society, the bloomof the intellectual essence of Petersburg," as she herself put it.Besides this refined selection of society Anna Pavlovna's receptionswere also distinguished by the fact that she always presented some newand interesting person to the visitors and that nowhere else was thestate of the political thermometer of legitimate Petersburg courtsociety so dearly and distinctly indicated.

　　Toward the end of 1806, when all the sad details of Napoleon'sdestruction of the Prussian army at Jena and Auerstadt and thesurrender of most of the Prussian fortresses had been received, whenour troops had already entered Prussia and our second war withNapoleon was beginning, Anna Pavlovna gave one of her soirees. The"cream of really good society" consisted of the fascinating Helene,forsaken by her husband, Mortemart, the delightful Prince Hippolytewho had just returned from Vienna, two diplomatists, the old aunt, ayoung man referred to in that drawing room as "a man of great merit"(un homme de beaucoup de merite), a newly appointed maid of honorand her mother, and several other less noteworthy persons.

　　The novelty Anna Pavlovna was setting before her guests that eveningwas Boris Drubetskoy, who had just arrived as a special messenger fromthe Prussian army and was aide-de-camp to a very important personage.

　　The temperature shown by the political thermometer to the companythat evening was this:

　　"Whatever the European sovereigns and commanders may do tocountenance Bonaparte, and to cause me, and us in general, annoyanceand mortification, our opinion of Bonaparte cannot alter. We shall notcease to express our sincere views on that subject, and can only sayto the King Prussia and others: 'So much the worse for you. Tu l'asvoulu, George Dandin,' that's all we have to say about it!"

　　When Boris, who was to be served up to the guests, entered thedrawing room, almost all the company had assembled, and theconversation, guided by Anna Pavlovna, was about our diplomaticrelations with Austria and the hope of an alliance with her.

　　Boris, grown more manly and looking fresh, rosy andself-possessed, entered the drawing room elegantly dressed in theuniform of an aide-de-camp and was duly conducted to pay hisrespects to the aunt and then brought back to the general circle.

　　Anna Pavlovna gave him her shriveled hand to kiss and introduced himto several persons whom he did not know, giving him a whispereddescription of each.charge d'affaires from Copenhagen- a profound intellect," andsimply, "Mr. Shitov- a man of great merit"- this of the man usually sodescribed.

　　Thanks to Anna Mikhaylovna's efforts, his own tastes, and thepeculiarities of his reserved nature, Boris had managed during hisservice to place himself very advantageously. He was aide-de-camp to avery important personage, had been sent on a very important mission toPrussia, and had just returned from there as a special messenger. Hehad become thoroughly conversant with that unwritten code with whichhe had been so pleased at Olmutz and according to which an ensignmight rank incomparably higher than a general, and according towhich what was needed for success in the service was not effort orwork, or courage, or perseverance, but only the knowledge of how toget on with those who can grant rewards, and he was himself oftensurprised at the rapidity of his success and at the inability ofothers to understand these things. In consequence of this discoveryhis whole manner of life, all his relations with old friends, allhis plans for his future, were completely altered. He was not rich,but would spend his last groat to be better dressed than others, andwould rather deprive himself of many pleasures than allow himself tobe seen in a shabby equipage or appear in the streets of Petersburg inan old uniform. He made friends with and sought the acquaintance ofonly those above him in position and who could therefore be of useto him. He liked Petersburg and despised Moscow. The remembrance ofthe Rostovs' house and of his childish love for Natasha was unpleasantto him and he had not once been to see the Rostovs since the day ofhis departure for the army. To be in Anna Pavlovna's drawing room heconsidered an important step up in the service, and he at onceunderstood his role, letting his hostess make use of whatever interesthe had to offer. He himself carefully scanned each face, appraisingthe possibilities of establishing intimacy with each of those present,and the advantages that might accrue. He took the seat indicated tohim beside the fair Helene and listened to the general conversation.

　　"Vienna considers the bases of the proposed treaty so unattainablethat not even a continuity of most brilliant successes would securethem, and she doubts the means we have of gaining them. That is theactual phrase used by the Vienna cabinet," said the Danish charged'affaires.

　　"The doubt is flattering," said "the man of profound intellect,"with a subtle smile.

　　"We must distinguish between the Vienna cabinet and the Emperor ofAustria," said Mortemart. "The Emperor of Austria can never havethought of such a thing, it is only the cabinet that says it."

　　"Ah, my dear vicomte," put in Anna Pavlovna, "L'Urope" (for somereason she called it Urope as if that were a specially refinedFrench pronunciation which she could allow herself when conversingwith a Frenchman), "L'Urope ne sera jamais notre alliee sincere."*

　　*"Europe will never be our sincere ally."

　　After that Anna Pavlovna led up to the courage and firmness of theKing of Prussia, in order to draw Boris into the conversation.

　　Boris listened attentively to each of the speakers, awaiting histurn, but managed meanwhile to look round repeatedly at hisneighbor, the beautiful Helene, whose eyes several times met thoseof the handsome young aide-de-camp with a smile.

　　Speaking of the position of Prussia, Anna Pavlovna very naturallyasked Boris to tell them about his journey to Glogau and in what statehe found the Prussian army. Boris, speaking with deliberation, toldthem in pure, correct French many interesting details about the armiesand the court, carefully abstaining from expressing an opinion ofhis own about the facts he was recounting. For some time heengrossed the general attention, and Anna Pavlovna felt that thenovelty she had served up was received with pleasure by all hervisitors. The greatest attention of all to Boris' narrative wasshown by Helene. She asked him several questions about his journey andseemed greatly interested in the state of the Prussian army. As soonas he had finished she turned to him with her usual smile.

　　"You absolutely must come and see me," she said in a tone thatimplied that, for certain considerations he could not know of, thiswas absolutely necessary.

　　"On Tuesday between eight and nine. It will give me great pleasure."

　　Boris promised to fulfill her wish and was about to begin aconversation with her, when Anna Pavlovna called him away on thepretext that her aunt wished to hear him.

　　"You know her husband, of course?" said Anna Pavlovna, closing hereyes and indicating Helene with a sorrowful gesture. "Ah, she issuch an unfortunate and charming woman! Don't mention him beforeher- please don't! It is too painful for her!"