War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [389]
Pierre dined at the club that day and heard talk on all sides about the attempted abduction of Miss Rostov, and he stubbornly refuted that talk, assuring everyone that there was nothing more to it than that his brother-in-law had made a proposal to the Rostovs and received a refusal. Pierre felt it was his duty to conceal the whole affair and restore Natasha’s reputation.
He fearfully awaited Prince Andrei’s return, and went to the old prince every day to ask about it.
Through Mlle Bourienne, Prince Nikolai Andreich knew all the rumors going around town and had read the note to Princess Marya in which Natasha refused her fiancé. He seemed more cheerful than usual and awaited his son with great impatience.
Several days after Anatole’s departure, Pierre received a note from Prince Andrei, informing him of his arrival and asking Pierre to come to see him.
Prince Andrei, on the first moment of his arrival in Moscow, had received from his father Natasha’s note to Princess Marya, in which she refused her fiancé (Mlle Bourienne had stolen this note from Princess Marya and given it to the prince), and had heard stories from his father about Natasha’s abduction, with additions.
Prince Andrei had arrived the evening before. Pierre came to see him the next morning. Pierre expected to find Prince Andrei in almost the same state Natasha was in, and was therefore surprised when, going into the drawing room, he heard Prince Andrei’s loud voice from the study, animatedly saying something about some Petersburg intrigue. Now and then the voice of the old prince and of someone else interrupted him. Princess Marya came out to meet Pierre. She sighed, indicating with her eyes the door of the room where Prince Andrei was, obviously wishing to express her sympathy for his grief; but Pierre saw from Princess Marya’s face that she was glad both of what had happened and of how her brother had taken the news of his fiancée’s betrayal.
“He said he had expected it,” she said. “I know his pride won’t allow him to express his feelings, but still he bore it better, much better, than I expected. Evidently this is how it had to be…”
“But can it all be over completely?” said Pierre.
Princess Marya looked at him with astonishment. She did not understand how it was even possible to ask about it. Pierre went into the study. Prince Andrei, quite changed, grown visibly healthier, but with a new crosswise wrinkle between his brows, in civilian dress, stood facing his father and Prince Meshchersky, arguing heatedly and making energetic gestures.
The talk was about Speransky, the news of whose sudden exile and alleged treason had just reached Moscow.17
“Now everybody who admired him a month ago denounces and accuses him,” Prince Andrei was saying, “including those who were unable to understand his goals. It’s very easy to judge a man in disgrace and shift the mistakes of others onto him; but I say that if there was anything good done during this reign, it was done by him—by him alone…” He stopped, seeing Pierre. His face twitched and at once assumed a spiteful expression. “And posterity will give him credit,” he finished and at once turned to Pierre.
“Well, how are you? Still getting fatter,” he said animatedly, but the newly appeared wrinkle cut still more deeply into his brow. “Yes, I’m in good health,” he replied to Pierre’s question and grinned. It was clear to Pierre that his grin said: “I’m in good health, but nobody needs my good health.” Having said a few words to