Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

"Boris, my darling," said the princess to her son, as they drove down the hay-paved street into the courtyard of Count Bezukhov's house in Countess Rostov's carriage, "Paulis." Reese, my darling," she stretched out her hand from the old cloak, and placed it in her son's hand carefully and affectionately, "be kind and courteous to him. Count Bezukhov is your godfather after all, and your His future depends entirely on him. Remember, my dear, you must try to please him..." "I know, apart from being angry, there will be no other results..." The son replied coldly, "But I promise you, I will do as you say."

Although the porter knew whose carriage was parked at the gate, he looked at the mother and son (they walked unannounced through the two rows of statues in niches into the wide door and window), and looked at Look at the old cloaks, and ask who they want to see, whether they want to see the princesses or the earl.Knowing that he wanted to see the count, he said that the master was sicker today, and no one was seen. "Let's go," the son said in French. "My good friend!" said the mother in a pleading tone, and touched her son's hand, as if to stabilize him or cheer him up.

Paulis said nothing, did not take off his coat, and only looked at his mother questioningly. "Old friend," said the princess softly to the porter, "I know that Count Bezukhov is very ill... I have come to see him... I am a relative of him... I will not bother him , old friend... I just want to see Duke Vasili. Doesn't he live here? Please inform me." The porter unhappily rang the bell upstairs and turned away. "Princess Drubetsky wants to see Prince Vasili!" cried the porter to the footman in stockings, low shoes, and tailcoat, who ran down the stairs and looked down at the bend of the stairs.

Mother adjusted the folds of her dyed silk dress and looked at the Venetian mirror on the wall before striding vigorously up the carpeted stairs in her old shoes. "My friend, you promised me," she said to her son again, touching him encouragingly. The son lowered his eyes and followed her up as if nothing had happened. They went into the hall, where there was a door leading to the room of the Duke of Vasili. The mother and son walked to the middle of the hall and were about to ask the way to the old servant who had stood up as soon as he saw them, when the bronze handle of a door moved. Xingzhang, send out a beautiful dark-haired man.This man was Lauran, a famous doctor in Petersburg.

"Is this true?" Prince Vasili asked. "Duke, as the saying goes: 'There is nothing wrong with you'..." Dr. Lauland spoke Latin idioms in French. "very good……" Prince Vasili, noticing Princess Drubetsky, mother and son, bowed to the doctor, and went up to them in silence with a puzzled expression.The son noticed the sudden deep sadness in his mother's eyes, and smiled slightly. "Alas, Prince, what a sad place we meet... And how is our dear patient?" she said, as if oblivious to the embarrassingly cold look that was fixed on her. Prince Vasily looked at her suspiciously, and then at Boris.Paulis bowed respectfully.Prince Vasily did not answer, but turned to Princess Drubetsky, shook his head at her question, and moved his lips, expressing the hope that the sick man was hopeless.

"Really?" exclaimed Princess Drubetsky. "Oh, it's terrible! It's frightening to think about it... This is my son," she said, pointing to Boris added, "he I want to come and thank you in person.” Boris bowed respectfully again. "Believe me, duke, a mother's heart will never forget your kindness." "I am glad to be at your service, my dear princess," said Prince Vasili, straightening the collar of his shirt, and here in Moscow his tone and attitude towards his patronage, Princess Drubetsky, were more Much more pompous at the Anna Scheler Gala in Petersburg.

"You must do your best and live up to the Emperor's grace," said Prince Vasili sternly to Boris. "I am very glad... Are you here for vacation?" he said coldly and dryly. "My lord, I am on standby to take up my new duties," replied Paulis, not angry at the duke's sternness, nor willing to join in the conversation, but calm and courteous.Prince Vasili could not help but look at him. "Living with your mother?" "I live at the Countess Rostov's," said Boris, adding, "My lord." "The family of Ilya Rostov, who married Natasha," said Princess Drubetsky.

"I know, I know," Prince Vasily said flatly, "I can't understand how Natasha would marry this dirty bear. This man is stupid and ridiculous. It is said that he is also a gambler." "But he is kind, prince," said Princess Drubetsky, smiling charmingly, as if she knew that Count Rostov deserved such criticism, but begged for sympathy for the poor old man. "What did the doctors say?" the Duchess asked after being silent for a while, and her mournful face showed great grief again. "Not much hope," said the duke. "I want to thank my uncle again for his kindness to me and Boris. This is his godson." She spoke in a tone that seemed to indicate that Prince Vasili would be pleased to know this.

Prince Vasili frowned and pondered.Princess Drubetsky understood that he was afraid that she would become a rival for Count Bezukhov's inheritance, so she quickly reassured him. "I am indeed sincere and loyal to my uncle," she said in a firm and natural tone when she said the word uncle, "I know he is noble and straightforward, but he only has a few princesses around him...they are still young... She lowered her head and asked in a low voice, "Has he fulfilled his final duty, Duke? This last moment is too precious! The situation cannot be worse, and in this case, we must prepare for the funeral. Duke, We ladies and gentlemen," she smiled softly, "know what to say about such things. I must see him. No matter how hard it is for me, I am a man of sorrows."

Prince Vasili evidently understood that it would be difficult to get rid of Princess Drubetsky, as he had been at the Anna Scheele party last time. "Will it be painful for him to see you, dear Princess Drubetsky?" said Prince Vasili. "Let's wait until evening, the doctor estimates that there may be a crisis." "But, duke, it is impossible to wait any longer at such a time. You understand that the salvation of his soul is at stake here. . . . Oh, it is a terrible duty, a Christian's duty . . . " The door of the back room opened, and a princess came out.She is the niece of Count Bezukhov, with a sad and indifferent face, long upper body, short lower body, and a very ugly figure.

Prince Vasili turned to her. "Oh, how is he?" "It's still the same. What can you expect, all this noise..." The princess looked back at Princess Drubetsky, as if she didn't know her. "Oh, dear, I didn't recognize you," said Princess Drubetsky, with a happy smile on her face, and tiptoed up to the count's niece. "I'm here to help you take care of your uncle. I can imagine, How hard you work," she added, rolling her eyes in sympathy. The princess turned away without answering anything, without smiling.Princess Drubetsky took off her gloves, sat down in the easy chair as if occupying a position, and asked Prince Vasily to sit beside her. "Boris!" she said to her son, with a slight smile on her face, "I'll go and see the count, my uncle, my dear, and first you go and see Pierre, and don't forget to tell him about the invitation from the Rostovs. They Invite him to dinner. I don't think he should?" she said to Prince Vasily. "On the contrary," said Prince Vasili very displeased, "I would be very glad if you would get this young man away for me... He stays here, but the count never asks about him." Prince Vasily shrugged.The footman led the young man down and up the stairs of the house where Pierre lived.