Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

Pierre did not stay for lunch, but he left the room immediately and set off on the road.He had gone all over the city looking for Anatoly Kuragin, and now the thought of Kuragin brought blood to his heart, and it was difficult for him to breathe.He was not seen on the sledge, at the gipsy's house, at Comoneno's.Pierre went to the club.All the activities of the club went on as usual: the guests who came to dinner sat there in small groups, all said hello to Pierre, and talked about the latest news in the city.The servants, who knew his acquaintances and his habits, greeted him and told him that they had reserved a place for him in the small dining room, that Prince Mikhail Zakharech was still in the library, and that Pavel Diinfejic has not yet returned.One of Pierre's acquaintances, talking about the weather, asked him if he had heard anything about Kuragin's abduction of Rostova.Pierre could not help smiling, and said something absurd, for he had just come from the Rostovs.He asked everyone about Anatole, and someone told him that Anatole hadn't come back yet, and another said he would be back for lunch today.Pierre wondered at this group of calm and indifferent people who did not know what was going on in his heart.He paced up and down the hall until the guests had assembled, but before Anatole arrived he did not eat lunch and went home.

On that day, Anatoly, whom he was looking for, was having lunch at Dolokhov's and conferring with him on how to undo the mess.It seemed to him that he must meet Rostova.In the evening he went to his sister to discuss with her how to arrange an appointment.When Pierre returned home after having wandered in vain through Moscow, the servants informed him that Prince Anatoly Vasilyevich was staying with the countess. The Countess's drawing room was full of guests. Pierre did not greet his wife, whom he had not seen since his arrival (he felt her more hated than ever), went into the drawing room, saw Anatole, and went up to him.

"Ah, Pierre," said the countess, going up to her husband. "You don't know what my Anatole is in . . . " She stopped, seeing from her husband's bowed head, shining eyes, and determined gait that he and Doro She had known and experienced Hof's frenzied, terrified expression after the duel. "Where there is lewdness and evil, there you are," said Pierre to his wife. "Anatole, let us go, I want to talk to you," he said in French. Anatole looked back at his sister, rose obediently, and was about to follow Pierre. Pierre took his hand, pulled him towards him, and left the room.

"Sivousvousvouspermettezdansmonsalon," said Helene in a low voice, but Pierre did not answer her, and started out of the room. -------- ①French: If you are presumptuous in my living room. Anatoly followed him with vigorous steps as usual.But the expression of panic and uneasiness was evident on his face. Pierre went into his study, closed the door, and turned to him without even looking at him. "Do you wish Countess Rostova to marry her? Do you want to abduct her?" "My dear," replied Anatole in French (the whole conversation was in French), "I don't think I should answer what you are asking me in this tone."

Pierre's face, which had been pale before, was now disfigured by rage.With his big hand he seized the collar of Anatole's uniform and shook it from side to side until a look of horror appeared on Anatole's face. "When I say, I want to talk to you..." repeated Pierre. "Why, what a fool, eh?" said Anatole, touching the collar button which had been torn off with the woolen cloth. "You are a wretch and a villain, I don't know what is holding me, and I'm sorry I didn't break your head with such a thing," said Pierre,--because he spoke French, he cursed in affected language. .He grabbed the heavy blotter, held it up to frighten him, and quickly put it back in its place.

"Have you promised to marry her?" "I, I, I didn't think so, in fact, I never agreed, because..." Pierre interrupted him. "Have you a letter from her? Have you a letter?" Pierre went up to Anatole, repeating what he had said. Anatole glanced at him, immediately reached into his pocket and took out a wallet. Pierre picked up a letter that was handed to him, pushed aside the table that stood in the way, and sank down on the sofa. "Jeneseraipasviolent, necraignezrien," Pierre replied, noticing the bewildered look on Anatole's face. "The first is: leave the letter here," said Pierre, as if by endorsement. "Secondly,"—he went on after a moment's silence, getting up again and beginning to walk—"to-morrow you must leave Moscow."

-------- ①French: Don't be afraid, I won't do anything to you. "But how could I..." "Thirdly," continued Pierre, ignoring him, "you should never say a word about the matter between you and the countess. I know that I cannot forbid you to do so, but if you have a little In good conscience..." Pierre paced back and forth in the room several times.Anatole frowned, bit his lip, and sat at the table. "After all, you can't fail to understand that besides your joy, there is other people's happiness and peace, and you want to ruin other people's lives by wanting to have fun. You play, women like my wife, you think you play These women are the logical thing, they know, what your heart desires. They all have the same lascivious experience to deal with you, but promise to marry a girl... cheat her, kidnap her...

How come you don't understand that you are as despicable as beating an old man or a child! ..." Pierre fell silent, and glanced at Anatole with a look that was not angry, but questioning. "I don't know that. Huh?" said Anatole, who gradually recovered himself while Pierre suppressed his anger. "I don't know that, and I don't want to know," he said, looking away from Pierre, his chin trembling a little, "but you say this to me: Despicable, wait a minute, I commeunhommed' honneur, never allow anyone to say such things. " --------

①French: honest man. Pierre looked at him in amazement, he could not understand what he wanted. "Though no one else was there," continued Anatole, "but I cannot..." "Why, do you want compensation?" said Pierre sarcastically. "At least you can take back what you said. Huh? If you want me to grant your wish. Huh?" "I take it back, I take it back," said Pierre, "and please forgive me." Pierre looked involuntarily at the collar button which had been torn off for him. "If you need travel expenses, take the money." Anatoly smiled slightly.

This timid and despicable smile he had seen on his wife's face offended Pierre. "Oh, despicable, cruel fellow!" he said, and left the room. The next day Anatole went to Petersburg.