Chapter 21 Chapter 21

There was no one else in the reception room except Prince Vasily and the prince's eldest daughter, who were sitting under the portrait of Catherine and talking about something with great interest.As soon as they saw Pierre and his guide, they fell silent. Pierre seemed to see the princess's lady hiding something, and said softly: "I can't meet this woman." "Caticheafaitdonnerduthedanslepetitesalon," said Prince Vasily to Anna Mihalovna, "Allez, mapauvre Anna Mihalovna, prenezquequeclhose, autrementvousnesuffirezpas." He said nothing to Pierre, but shook his hand affectionately.Pierre and Anna Mikhailovna went to petit Aalon.

①French: He is unconscious. ②French: Let's go. ③ French: Katish has ordered tea to be brought into the small living room.Poor Anna Mikhailovna, you'd better get your spirits up, or you'll lose your strength. ④ French: small living room. "Ilnyarienquirestaure, commeunetassedecetexcelBlenttherusseapresunenuitblanche," ① Roland was standing in front of the round table in the small living room, where the tea set and dinner cold dishes were placed, and he was holding a very delicate Chinese tea bowl without a handle, sipping Tea, said with a suppressed look on his face.Those who were at Count Bezukhov's house that evening gathered around the table for refreshment.Pierre remembered very well the small circular living room with its mirrors and coffee tables.When the count held a ball at home, Pierre could not dance, but liked to sit in this small living room with a mirror embedded in it, watching from the side the ladies in ball gowns with diamond and pearl necklaces on their bare shoulders passing by. When looking in the mirror in this living room, several shiny mirrors reflected their figures several times in a row.Now this room is only lit by two dimly lit candles, and in the middle of the night, a small coffee table is littered with tea sets and plates, and colorful people not very elegantly dressed sit in this room whispering, speaking and acting Both said that no one will forget what happened now and what might happen.Pierre did not eat, although he was eager to eat.He looked questioningly at his guide, and saw her go again on tiptoe to the ante-room, where Prince Vasily and the prince's eldest lady remained and did not go out.Pierre thought it necessary to do so, paused for a moment, and followed her.Anna Mikhaylovna was standing near the prince's eldest daughter, and they were talking softly and emotionally at the same time.

①French: After a sleepless night, there is nothing more refreshing than a very tasty bowl of Russian tea. "Princess, please let me know what is needed and what is not needed," said the Duke's eldest lady, apparently with the same emotion as she had when the door slammed shut. "But, dear princess," said Anna Mikhaylovna, blocking the way to the bedroom and preventing the princess from passing, "you can do this when poor uncle needs a rest." Wouldn't it make him too uncomfortable? Talking about worldly things when he was already mentally prepared..."

Prince Vasily sat in an easy chair, one leg crossed over the other, in a very affectionate gesture.His sunken cheeks, which looked fatter underneath, were throbbing, but he acted as if he didn't really care what the two ladies were talking about. "Voyons, mabonne, Anna Mihalovna, laissezfaire Catiche, you know how much the count loves her." "What is in this document, I really don't know," said the princess, turning her face to Prince Vasili, and pointing to the inlaid leather bag she was holding in her hand, "I only know that his real will is in the In an old desk, and this is a forgotten document..."

She tried to go around Anna Mikhaylovna, but Anna Mikhaylovna jumped up to her and blocked her way. "My dear, philanthropic princess, I know," said Anna Mikhaylovna, clutching her purse so tightly that it seemed she would not let go anytime soon, "my dear princess, I beg you, I beg you, have mercy on him. Jevousen conjure..."② ①French: But, my dear Anna Mikhailovna, let Katish do what she knows to do. ② French: I beg you. The Duke's Missy was silent.The only sound was the sound of a purse being snatched away.It follows that, if she had spoken, she would have said nothing in praise of Anna Mikhaylovna.Anna Mikhaylovna held fast, but her voice was drawn, flattering and tactful.

"Pierre, my friend, come here. I don't think he is superfluous in the affairs of relatives. Isn't that so, duke?" "My cousin, why don't you say anything?" cried the Duke's young lady suddenly, so loudly that it could be heard in the living room, but it frightened everyone. "God knows who dares to interfere with other people's affairs here Why don't you say anything at this moment when you're making a fuss in the house of a dying man? A scheming woman!" she whispered ferociously, pulling her purse with all her strength, but Anna M. Hailovna took a few steps forward, not wanting to let go of the purse, and took hold of it with the other hand.

"Alas!" said Prince Vasily, with reproach and surprise, and he got up. "Cestridicule, voyons, let go, and let me tell you." The Duke's Miss let go. "Let go of your hands too!" Anna Mikhaylovna did not listen to him. "Let go, let me tell you. I'm responsible for everything. I'll ask him. I... Please don't do this. " "Mais, monnpuince," said Anna Mikhaylovna, "after such a grand sacrament, let him be quiet for a while. Pierre, speak your mind," she turned her face said the young man; Pierre, coming close to them, looked with surprise at the princess's fierce, disreputable face and at Prince Vasily's quivering cheeks.

①French: This is ridiculous.Come on. ② French: But, my Duke. "Remember that you are responsible for all consequences," said Prince Vasili gravely, "you don't know what you're up to." "Damn woman!" cried the princess, and suddenly rushed at Anna Mikhaylovna and snatched the bag from her. Prince Vasili bowed his head and spread his hands. At that moment, the door—a dreadful door that always opened gently, Pierre watched it for a long time—was suddenly pushed open with a bang and hit the wall, the prince. The second young lady ran out from there, raised her hands and patted it lightly.

"What are you doing?" she said without hesitation, "Ilsenvaetvousmelaissezseule."① ①French: He was dying, but you left me there alone. The Duke's eldest daughter lost her purse.Anna Mikhaylovna stooped quickly, picked up the object in dispute, and went into the bedroom.The princess's eldest daughter and Prince Vasily, after they came to their senses, followed her.After a few minutes, the Duke's eldest daughter came out from there first, her face was pale and her lower lip was tightly closed.When she saw Pierre, an uncontrollable resentment appeared on her face.

"Well, you're happy now," she said, "that's what you've been looking forward to." Then she burst into tears, covered her face with her handkerchief, and ran out of the room. Prince Vasili went out after the prince's eldest daughter.He staggered up to the couch where Pierre was sitting, covered his eyes with one hand, and fell down on the couch.Pierre noticed that he was pale, his jaw was throbbing, and he was trembling as if he were suffering from a fever. "Alas, my friend!" he said, grabbing Pierre by the elbow, with an honest weakness in his voice which Pierre had never noticed before, "what a crime we have done, we How many people have been deceived, and what is all this for? My friend, I am in my fifties. . . . You know, I .

Anna Mikhaylovna was the last to emerge.She walked up to Pierre with slow steps. "Pierre! . . . " she said. Pierre looked at her questioningly.She kissed the young man's forehead, wet with tears.She was silent for a moment. "Ilnest plus..."① Pierre looked at her through his glasses. "Allons, jevous reconduirai Tachezdepleurer. Riennesoulage, commeles larmes."② ①French: He is dead. ②French: Let's go, I'll take you there.Try to cry, nothing relieves pain like tears. She took him into the dim drawing room, where Pierre was glad that no one saw his face there.Anna Mikhaylovna moved away from him.When she came back he was fast asleep with one hand under his head. Early the next morning Anna Mikhaylovna said to Pierre: "Oui, moncher, cestunegrandepertepournoustous, Jeneparlepasdevous. Maisdieuvoussoutiendra, vowesjeuneetvousvoilaalateteduneimensefortune, jelespere, Letestanentnapaseteencoreouvert, Jevousconnaisassezpourquecelanevoustounrnerapaslatete, maiscelavousetirposeim- homme． "① Pierre was silent. "Peut—etre plus stard jevousdirai, moncher, quesijenavaispasetela, Dieusaitcequiseraitarrive. Voussavezmononcleavant—hierencoremepromettaitdenepasoubliBerBoris. Maisilnapaseuletemps. Jespere, moncherami, quevousremplirezledesirdevotrepere."② ①French: Yes, my friend, it would be a great loss to all of us not to mention you.But God bless you, you are young and I hope you are the owner of a large fortune today.The will has not been opened, and I know your situation well enough to trust that it will not drive you to your head.But it's your duty, and you have to be a man. ②French: I might tell you later, God knows what would have happened if I hadn't been there.You know, my uncle promised me the day before yesterday not to ignore Boris, but he was too late.My friend, I hope you will fulfill your father's wishes. Pierre understood nothing, was silent, blushed shyly, and raised his eyes to Princess Anna Mikhaylovna.After a few words with Pierre, Anna Mikhaylovna left him and went to the Rostovs to spend the night.Waking up the next morning, she told the Rostov family and various acquaintances the details of Count Bezukhov's death.She said that the count had died as she had expected, and that his death was not only touching but instructive.The last meeting of father and son was so moving that she could cry when she thought of it, and she wondered which of the father and son behaved better in this terrible time, when they were dying. Is it the father who looks back on everything and everyone one by one and speaks touching words to his son, or the one who is distraught and hides his inner sorrow so that the father who is dying will not feel sad? Poor Pierre. "Cestpenible, maiscelafaitdu bien: cae level ame de voir de shommes, commele vieux comte et son dignefils. ’ she said. She also spoke in secret and in a low voice about the conduct of the prince’s mistress and Prince Vasili, but did not praise it. ①French: It is distressing, but instructive, and the soul is ennobled when you see the old earl and his well-deserved son.