Chapter 6 Chapter Six

In spite of the Emperor's strict measures against duels at that time, the affair between Pierre and Dolokhov was settled privately, and neither the dueling parties nor their witnesses suffered.The fact of the duel spread in society, and Pierre's falling out with his wife confirmed it.When Pierre had been an illegitimate child, he had been looked upon with generous protection, when he had been a good fiancé of the Russian Empire, he had been fondled and praised, and after his marriage, fiancées and mothers treated him well. There is nothing to look forward to, and Pierre has been eclipsed in public opinion since then, and he is not good at and does not want to win public appreciation.He was now blamed for what had happened, and he was said to be a muddled, jealous man, prone to fits of cruelty, like his father.After Pierre's departure, Helen returned to Petersburg, where her acquaintances received her not only with hospitality, but with respect for her misfortune.When the conversation concerned her husband, Helen showed a dignified look, which, though she did not understand its meaning, was a natural part of Helen's habit of dealing with people.This expression showed that she was determined to bear her misfortune without complaint. Her husband was a cross sent by God.Prince Vasili expressed his opinion more frankly.When the conversation came to Pierre, he shrugged his shoulders, pointed to his brow, and said:

"Uncerveaufe'le-jelediasaistoujours.①" "I said beforehand," Anna Pavlovna said of Pierre, "that when I spoke first (she insisted on being the first to speak), it was a presumptuous, spoiled by the obscene ideas of the age. Young man. When everyone was praising him, he just came back from abroad, you remember, when he was at my place one night when he disguised himself as Marat (one of the leaders of the Jacobins), I Having said this, what was the result? I did not wish to consummate the marriage at that time, and I foretold what would happen afterwards."

Anna Pavlovna gave evenings at her own house in her free time, as before, evenings which she alone had the talent to give, and, as Anna Pavlovna said, at The merits of the reality of gatherings at evening parties", practice is the verification and criterion of the objectivity of cognition. Put forward, first of all: Lacreme del averitalle bonnesociete, lafinefleur del'essence intellectuelle de la societe de Petersbourg. ②In addition to the careful selection of characters, Anna Pavlovna organized It was also a peculiarity of the evenings that Anna Pavlovna introduced a new and interesting person to her group at each evening, and in no place was it like at these evenings that political cold and heat The degree indicated by the watch is extremely clear and accurate, and the mood of the orthodox court society in Petersburg can be observed on the cold and heat watch.

-------- ①French: He is half mad,—I always say so. ②French: The essence of the real high society, the outstanding figures in the intellectual circles of Petersburg society. After 1806, when we had sadly detailed information concerning the annihilation of the Prussian army by Napoleon at Nana and Auerstedt, and the abandonment of most of the fortresses by the Prussians, when our troops had advanced into Prussia and When the Second War was launched against Napoleon, Anna Pavlovna gave a party in her home.The la creme del averitable bonnesociete at the evening included the bewildered, unfortunate Helene, deserted by her husband, Mortemar, the admirable Duke Hippolyte who had just returned from Vienna, two diplomats, his aunt, one in the drawing room The young man called unhommedebeaucoupdemerite, a newly promoted lady-in-waiting and her mother, and several other lesser-known characters.

-------- ① French: the essence of the real upper class. ② French: noble character. Anna Pavlovna's new guest (to entertain her guests) this evening was Boris Drubetskoy, who had just returned from the Prussian army as a messenger Deputy under the name of the officer. At this evening, the political calendar indicated the following degrees to the group: No matter how much the kings and strategists of Europe try to indulge Bonaparte, and generally cause us trouble and distress, our opinion of Bonaparte will not change.We cannot fail to say what we really think on this point, and we can only say to the King of Prussia and others: "That would be worse for you. Tul'asvoulu, George Dandin, that's all we can say." That's what the political calendar would indicate at Anna Pavlovna's evening party.When the new character Boris, who was dedicated to the guests, entered the drawing room, almost all the people present at the evening party were present, and the conversation led by Anna Pavlovna concerned our country's diplomatic relations with Austria, our country's Prospects for an alliance with Austria.

Boris, in the fine uniform of an adjutant, a strong, strong, vigorous man with rosy cheeks, entered the drawing room with ease and cheerfulness, first greeted his aunt as usual, and then joined the conversational group. Anna Pavlovna let him kiss her thin hand, introduced him to persons he did not know, and described each one in soft words. "LeprinceHippolyteKouraguine-charmantjeAunehomme. M-rKrongcharged'affairesdKopenhague-unespritprofond, Suoxing said: M-rShitltoff, unhommedebeaucoupdemerite. ②" refers to the person with this title. -------- ①French: Molière's quotation has become a proverb, and its meaning is: You have brought it upon yourself.

②French: Duke Hippolyte Kuragin is a lovely young man. Mr. Kruger is the chargé d'affaires of the Copenhagen embassy in Russia. During his tenure, thanks to the care of Anna Pavlovna, and because the work suited his own inclinations and prudent nature, Boris had obtained the most favorable position.He served as an aide-de-camp under the name of a rather prominent official, went to Prussia on an entrusted business, and returned from Prussia as a courier.He fully understood the unwritten hierarchy of obedience practiced by Olmitz to his liking, according to which a warrant officer was incomparably superior to a general, and according to which, if one wanted to To seek fame and fortune, to make a fortune, you don't need to work hard and tired, you don't need to be brave, and you don't need to be loyal. You just need to be good at socializing with those who reward people for their merits. Therefore, he is often surprised by his rapid achievements. And amazed that others cannot understand this mystery.He discovered this mystery, and his whole way of life, his relations with former acquaintances, his plans for the future were completely changed.He was not very rich, but he spent the last of his money to dress himself better than others, and he would rather forsake many entertainments than to show himself in the streets of Petersburg in a cheap buggy or in an old uniform.He only associates with those who are superior to him and who are therefore beneficial to him.He loved Petersburg and despised Moscow.He recalled the Rostovs' house, his childhood admiration for Natasha, and he was so unhappy that he had not once entered the Rostovs' house since his enlistment.He had previously thought that staying in Anna Pavlovna's drawing room was a great promotion in his position, but now he immediately understood his role, and he let Anna Pavlovna enjoy what interested him. , he watched every face with his heart, and estimated the benefits and opportunities of his approach to each one.He sat in the seat assigned to him beside the handsome Helen, and listened attentively to the conversation.

"Vienne rouve les bases du trait' proposaletellementhorsd'atteinte, qu'onnesauraityparvenirmemeparunecontinuitedesucceslesplusbrillants, etellemetendoutelesmoyensquipourraientnouslesprocurev, C'estlaphraseauthentiqueducabi-netdeVienne," said the charge d'affaires of the Danish embassy. "C'estledoututequiestflatteur! "l'hommeal'espritprofond."② said with a reserved smile. "IlfautdistinguerentrelecabinetdeViAenneetl'Empereurd'Autriche," said Mottmar. "L'Em Apereurd'Autrichen'ajamaispupenseraunechosepareille, cen'estquelecabinetquiledit.③"

"Eh, monchervicomte," put in Anna Pavlovna, "l'Urope (she pronounces Europe l'Urope somehow, which is the nuance of French pronunciation that she emphasizes when she speaks to French people. characteristic), l'Uropeneserajamaisnotreallieesincere．④” -------- ① French: Vienna believes that the grounds for the treaty being concluded are still beyond the limits of possibility, and can only be obtained by virtue of a series of brilliant achievements. Vienna doubts whether we have the means to achieve achievements. This is the truth of the Vienna Cabinet. ②French: "This doubt is to be praised!" Said the man of great intellect.

③ French: It is necessary to distinguish the Cabinet of Vienna from the Emperor of Austria," said Mottmar. The "Emperor of Austria" would never think so, only the Cabinet would say so." ④ French: Oh, my dear Viscount, Europe will never be our loyal ally. Then Anna Pavlovna turned the subject to the fortitude and conviction of the King of Prussia, with the aim of leading Boris into the conversation. Boris listened attentively to the others, waiting for his turn to speak, but at this moment, he turned his head to look at the beautiful Helen next to him several times. Helen smiled, and her eyes met the eyes of the young and beautiful adjutant several times. .

Naturally, when Anna Pavlovna spoke of the situation in Prussia, she asked Boris to describe his trip to Glogau and the state of the Prussian army as he found it.Boris took his time, and in his pure French spoke many interesting details about the army and court, and while he spoke he took pains to avoid giving his own opinion of the facts he presented.For a while Boris attracted everyone's attention, and Anna Pavlovna felt that she was welcome by all the guests with her new persona.Helen listened to Boris more attentively than anyone else.Several times she asked him about the details of his travels, and she seemed to be very concerned about the situation with the Prussian army.As soon as he had finished speaking, she turned to him with her usual smile. "Ilfautabsolumentquevousveniezmevoir," she said to him, in a tone as if she were reasoning from thoughts which he had no way of knowing, and which were entirely necessary. "Mardientreles8et9heures. Vousmeferezgrandplaisir."② -------- ①French: You must come and meet me. ②French: Tuesday, eight o'clock to nine o'clock.You will bring me great pleasure. Boris promised to honor her wish, and was about to start a conversation with her, when Anna Pavlovna called him away on the pretext that her aunt wanted to hear him. "Don't you know her husband?" said Anna Pavlovna, closing her eyes and pretending to be sad, pointing to Helen. Don't talk about her husband to her face. She is too uncomfortable."