BK4CH16
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　ItwaslongsinceRostovhadfeltsuchenjoymentfrommusicashedidthatday。ButnosoonerhadNatashafinishedherbarcarollethanrealityagainpresenteditself。Hegotupwithoutsayingawordandwentdownstairstohisownroom。AquarterofanhourlatertheoldcountcameinfromhisClub，cheerfulandcontented。Nicholas，hearinghimdriveup，wenttomeethim。
　　"Well—hadagoodtime？"saidtheoldcount，smilinggailyandproudlyathisson。
　　Nicholastriedtosay"Yes，"butcouldnot：andhenearlyburstintosobs。Thecountwaslightinghispipeanddidnotnoticehisson’scondition。
　　"Ah，itcan’tbeavoided！"thoughtNicholas，forthefirstandlasttime。Andsuddenly，inthemostcasualtone，whichmadehimfeelashamedfeelofhimself，hesaid，asifmerelyaskinghisfathertolethimhavethecarriagetodrivetotown：
　　"Papa，Ihavecomeonamatterofbusiness。Iwasnearlyforgetting。
　　Ineedsomemoney。"
　　"Dearme！"saidhisfather，whowasinaspeciallygoodhumor。"I
　　toldyouitwouldnotbeenough。Howmuch？"
　　"Verymuch，"saidNicholasflushing，andwithastupidcarelesssmile，forwhichhewaslongunabletoforgivehimself，"Ihavelostalittle，Imeanagooddeal，agreatdeal—fortythreethousand。"
　　"What！Towhom？……Nonsense！"criedthecount，suddenlyreddeningwithanapoplecticflushoverneckandnapeasoldpeopledo。
　　"Ipromisedtopaytomorrow，"saidNicholas。
　　"Well！……"saidtheoldcount，spreadingouthisarmsandsinkinghelplesslyonthesofa。
　　"Itcan’tbehelpedIthappenstoeveryone！"saidtheson，withabold，free，andeasytone，whileinhissoulheregardedhimselfasaworthlessscoundrelwhosewholelifecouldnotatoneforhiscrime。Helongedtokisshisfather’shandsandkneeltobeghisforgiveness，butsaid，inacarelessandevenrudevoice，thatithappenstoeveryone！
　　Theoldcountcastdownhiseyesonhearinghisson’swordsandbeganbustlinglysearchingforsomething。
　　"Yes，yes，"hemuttered，"itwillbedifficult，Ifear，difficulttoraise……happenstoeverybody！Yes，whohasnotdoneit？"
　　Andwithafurtiveglanceathisson’sface，thecountwentoutoftheroom……Nicholashadbeenpreparedforresistance，buthadnotatallexpectedthis。
　　"Papa！Pa—pa！"hecalledafterhim，sobbing，"forgiveme！"Andseizinghisfather’shand，hepressedittohislipsandburstintotears。
　　Whilefatherandsonwerehavingtheirexplanation，themotheranddaughterwerehavingonenotlessimportant。Natashacamerunningtohermother，quiteexcited。
　　"Mamma！……Mamma！……Hehasmademe……"
　　"Madewhat？"
　　"Made，mademeanoffer，Mamma！Mamma！"sheexclaimed。
　　Thecountessdidnotbelieveherears。Denisovhadproposed。Towhom？Tothischitofagirl，Natasha，whonotsolongagowasplayingwithdollsandwhowasstillhavinglessons。
　　"Don’t，Natasha！Whatnonsense！"shesaid，hopingitwasajoke。
　　"Nonsense，indeed！Iamtellingyouthefact，"saidNatashaindignantly。"Icometoaskyouwhattodo，andyoucallit’nonsense！’"
　　Thecountessshruggedhershoulders。
　　"IfittruethatMonsieurDenisovhasmadeyouaproposal，tellhimheisafool，that’sall！"
　　"No，he’snotafool！"repliedNatashaindignantlyandseriously。
　　"Wellthen，whatdoyouwant？You’reallinlovenowadays。Well，ifyouareinlove，marryhim！"saidthecountess，withalaughofannoyance。"Goodlucktoyou！"
　　"No，Mamma，I’mnotinlovewithhim，IsupposeI’mnotinlovewithhim。"
　　"Wellthen，tellhimso。"
　　"Mamma，areyoucross？Don’tbecross，dear！Isitmyfault？"
　　"No，butwhatisit，mydear？Doyouwantmetogoandtellhim？"
　　saidthecountesssmiling。
　　"No，Iwilldoitmyself，onlytellmewhattosay。It’sallverywellforyou，"saidNatasha，witharesponsivesmile。"Youshouldhaveseenhowhesaidit！Iknowhedidnotmeantosayit，butitcameoutaccidently。"
　　"Well，allthesame，youmustrefusehim。"
　　"No，Imustn’t。Iamsosorryforhim！He’ssonice。"
　　"Wellthen，accepthisoffer。It’shightimeforyoutobemarried，"
　　answeredthecountesssharplyandsarcastically。
　　"No，Mamma，butI’msosorryforhim。Idon’tknowhowI’mtosayit。"
　　"Andthere’snothingforyoutosay。Ishallspeaktohimmyself，"
　　saidthecountess，indignantthattheyshouldhavedaredtotreatthislittleNatashaasgrownup。
　　"No，notonanyaccount！Iwilltellhimmyself，andyou’lllistenatthedoor，"andNatasharanacrossthedrawingroomtothedancinghall，whereDenisovwassittingonthesamechairbytheclavichordwithhisfaceinhishands。
　　Hejumpedupatthesoundofherlightstep。
　　"Nataly，"hesaid，movingwithrapidstepstowardher，"decidemyfate。Itisinyourhands。"
　　"VasiliDmitrich，I’msosorryforyou！……No，butyouaresonice……butitwon’tdo……notthat……butasafriend，Ishallalwaysloveyou。"
　　Denisovbentoverherhandandsheheardstrangesoundsshedidnotunderstand。Shekissedhisroughcurlyblackhead。Atthisinstant，theyheardthequickrustleofthecountess’dress。Shecameuptothem。
　　"VasiliDmitrich，Ithankyouforthehonor，"shesaid，withanembarrassedvoice，thoughitsoundedseveretoDenisov—"butmydaughterissoyoung，andIthoughtthat，asmyson’sfriend，youwouldhaveaddressedyourselffirsttome。Inthatcaseyouwouldnothaveobligedmetogivethisrefusal。"
　　"Countess……"saidDenisov，withdowncasteyesandaguiltyface。Hetriedtosaymore，butfaltered。
　　Natashacouldnotremaincalm，seeinghiminsuchaplight。Shebegantosobaloud。
　　"Countess，Ihavedonew’ong，"Denisovwentoninanunsteadyvoice，"butbelieveme，IsoadoreyourdaughterandallyourfamilythatI
　　wouldgivemylifetwiceover……"Helookedatthecountess，andseeingherseverefacesaid："Well，good—by，Countess，"andkissingherhand，helefttheroomwithquickresolutestrides，withoutlookingatNatasha。
　　NextdayRostovsawDenisovoff。HenotwishtostayanotherdayinMoscow。AllDenisov’sMoscowfriendsgavehimafarewellentertainmentatthegypsies’，withtheresultthathehadnorecollectionofhowhewasputinthesleighorofthefirstthreestagesofhisjourney。
　　AfterDenisov’sdeparture，RostovspentanotherfortnightinMoscow，withoutgoingoutofthehouse，waitingforthemoneyhisfathercouldnotatonceraise，andhespentmostofhistimeinthegirls’room。
　　Sonyawasmoretenderanddevotedtohimthanever。Itwasasifshewantedtoshowhimthathislosseswereanachievementthatmadeherlovehimallthemore，butNicholasnowconsideredhimselfunworthyofher。
　　Hefilledthegirls’albumswithversesandmusic，andhavingatlastsentDolokhovthewholeforty—threethousandrublesandreceivedhisreceipt，heleftattheendofNovember，withouttakingleaveofanyofhisacquaintances，toovertakehisregimentwhichwasalreadyinPoland。
　　BOOKFIVE：1806—07
　　CHAPTERI
　　AfterhisinterviewwithhiswifePierreleftforPetersburg。AttheTorzhokpoststation，eithertherewerenohorsesorthepostmasterwouldnotsupplythem。Pierrewasobligedtowait。Withoutundressing，helaydownontheleathersofainfrontofaroundtable，puthisbigfeetintheiroverbootsonthetable，andbegantoreflect。
　　"Willyouhavetheportmanteausbroughtin？Andabedgotready，andtea？"askedhisvalet。
　　Pierregavenoanswer，forheneitherheardnorsawanything。Hehadbeguntothinkofthelaststationandwasstillponderingonthesamequestion—onesoimportantthathetooknonoticeofwhatwentonaroundhim。NotonlywasheindifferentastowhetherhegottoPetersburgearlierorlater，orwhetherhesecuredaccommodationatthisstation，butcomparedtothethoughtsthatnowoccupiedhimitwasamatterofindifferencewhetherheremainedthereforafewhoursorfortherestofhislife。
　　Thepostmaster，hiswife，thevalet，andapeasantwomansellingTorzhokembroiderycameintotheroomofferingtheirservices。Withoutchanginghiscarelessattitude，Pierrelookedatthemoverhisspectaclesunabletounderstandwhattheywantedorhowtheycouldgoonlivingwithouthavingsolvedtheproblemsthatsoabsorbedhim。HehadbeenengrossedbythesamethoughtseversincethedayhereturnedfromSokolnikiaftertheduelandhadspentthatfirstagonizing，sleeplessnight。Butnow，inthesolitudeofthejourney，theyseizedhimwithspecialforce。Nomatterwhathethoughtabout，healwaysreturnedtothesesamequestionswhichhecouldnotsolveandyetcouldnotceasetoaskhimself。Itwasasifthethreadofthechiefscrewwhichheldhislifetogetherwerestripped，sothatthescrewcouldnotgetinorout，butwentonturninguselesslyinthesameplace。
　　Thepostmastercameinandbeganobsequiouslytobeghisexcellencytowaitonlytwohours，when，comewhatmight，hewouldlethisexcellencyhavethecourierhorses。Itwasplainthathewaslyingandonlywantedtogetmoremoneyfromthetraveler。
　　"Isthisgoodorbad？"Pierreaskedhimself。"Itisgoodforme，badforanothertraveler，andforhimselfit’sunavoidable，becauseheneedsmoneyforfood；themansaidanofficerhadoncegivenhimathrashingforlettingaprivatetravelerhavethecourierhorses。
　　Buttheofficerthrashedhimbecausehehadtogetonasquicklyaspossible。AndI，"continuedPierre，"shotDolokhovbecauseI
　　consideredmyselfinjured，andLouisXVIwasexecutedbecausetheyconsideredhimacriminal，andayearlatertheyexecutedthosewhoexecutedhim—alsoforsomereason。Whatisbad？Whatisgood？Whatshouldoneloveandwhathate？Whatdoesonelivefor？AndwhatamI？Whatislife，andwhatisdeath？Whatpowergovernsall？"
　　Therewasnoanswertoanyofthesequestions，exceptone，andthatnotalogicalanswerandnotatallareplytothem。Theanswerwas："You’lldieandallwillend。You’lldieandknowall，orceaseasking。"Butdyingwasalsodreadful。
　　TheTorzhokpeddlerwoman，inawhiningvoice，wentonofferingherwares，especiallyapairofgoatskinslippers。"IhavehundredsofrublesIdon’tknowwhattodowith，andshestandsinhertatteredcloaklookingtimidlyatme，"hethought。"Andwhatdoesshewantthemoneyfor？Asifthatmoneycouldaddahair’sbreadthtohappinessorpeaceofmind。Cananythingintheworldmakeherormelessapreytoevilanddeath？—deathwhichendsallandmustcometodayortomorrow—atanyrate，inaninstantascomparedwitheternity。"Andagainhetwistedthescrewwiththestrippedthread，andagainitturneduselesslyinthesameplace。
　　Hisservanthandedhimahalf—cutnovel，intheformofletters，byMadamedeSouza。HebeganreadingaboutthesufferingsandvirtuousstrugglesofacertainEmiliedeMansfeld。"Andwhydidsheresistherseducerwhenshelovedhim？"hethought。"GodcouldnothaveputintoherheartanimpulsethatwasagainstHiswill。Mywife—assheoncewas—didnotstruggle，andperhapsshewasright。Nothinghasbeenfoundout，nothingdiscovered，"Pierreagainsaidtohimself。
　　"Allwecanknowisthatweknownothing。Andthat’stheheightofhumanwisdom。"
　　Everythingwithinandaroundhimseemedconfused，senseless，andrepellent。YetinthisveryrepugnancetoallhiscircumstancesPierrefoundakindoftantalizingsatisfaction。
　　"Imakeboldtoaskyourexcellencytomovealittleforthisgentleman，"saidthepostmaster，enteringtheroomfollowedbyanothertraveler，alsodetainedforlackofhorses。
　　Thenewcomerwasashort，large—boned，yellow—faced，wrinkledoldman，withgraybushyeyebrowsoverhangingbrighteyesofanindefinitegrayishcolor。
　　Pierretookhisfeetoffthetable，stoodup，andlaydownonabedthathadbeengotreadyforhim，glancingnowandthenatthenewcomer，who，withagloomyandtiredface，waswearilytakingoffhiswrapswiththeaidofhisservant，andnotlookingatPierre。Withapairoffeltbootsonhisthinbonylegs，andkeepingonaworn，nankeen—covered，sheepskincoat，thetravelersatdownonthesofa，leanedbackhisbigheadwithitsbroadtemplesandclose—croppedhair，andlookedatBezukhov。Thestern，shrewd，andpenetratingexpressionofthatlookstruckPierre。Hefeltawishtospeaktothestranger，butbythetimehehadmadeuphismindtoaskhimaquestionabouttheroads，thetravelerhadclosedhiseyes。HisshriveledoldhandswerefoldedandonthefingerofoneofthemPierrenoticedalargecastironringwithasealrepresentingadeath’shead。Thestrangersatwithoutstirring，eitherrestingor，asitseemedtoPierre，sunkinprofoundandcalmmeditation。Hisservantwasalsoayellow，wrinkledoldman，withoutbeardormustache，evidentlynotbecausehewasshavenbutbecausetheyhadnevergrown。Thisactiveoldservantwasunpackingthetraveler’scanteenandpreparingtea。Hebroughtinaboilingsamovar。Wheneverythingwasready，thestrangeropenedhiseyes，movedtothetable，filledatumblerwithteaforhimselfandoneforthebeardlessoldmantowhomhepassedit。Pierrebegantofeelasenseofuneasiness，andtheneed，eventheinevitability，ofenteringintoconversationwiththisstranger。
　　Theservantbroughtbackhistumblerturnedupsidedown，*withanunfinishedbitofnibbledsugar，andaskedifanythingmorewouldbewanted。
　　*Toindicatehedidnotwantmoretea。
　　"No。Givemethebook，"saidthestranger。
　　TheservanthandedhimabookwhichPierretooktobeadevotionalwork，andthetravelerbecameabsorbedinit。Pierrelookedathim。
　　Allatoncethestrangerclosedthebook，puttinginamarker，andagain，leaningwithhisarmsonthebackofthesofa，satinhisformerpositionwithhiseyesshut。Pierrelookedathimandhadnottimetoturnawaywhentheoldman，openinghiseyes，fixedhissteadyandseveregazestraightonPierre’sface。
　　Pierrefeltconfusedandwishedtoavoidthatlook，butthebrightoldeyesattractedhimirresistibly。
　　BK5CH2
　　CHAPTERII
　　"IhavethepleasureofaddressingCountBezukhov，ifIamnotmistaken，"saidthestrangerinadeliberateandloudvoice。
　　Pierrelookedsilentlyandinquiringlyathimoverhisspectacles。
　　"Ihaveheardofyou，mydearsir，"continuedthestranger，"andofyourmisfortune。"Heseemedtoemphasizethelastword，asiftosay—"Yes，misfortune！Callitwhatyouplease，IknowthatwhathappenedtoyouinMoscowwasamisfortune。"—"Iregretitverymuch，mydearsir。"
　　Pierreflushedand，hurriedlyputtinghislegsdownfromthebed，bentforwardtowardtheoldmanwithaforcedandtimidsmile。
　　"Ihavenotreferredtothisoutofcuriosity，mydearsir，butforgreaterreasons。"
　　Hepaused，hisgazestillonPierre，andmovedasideonthesofabywayofinvitingtheothertotakeaseatbesidehim。Pierrefeltreluctanttoenterintoconversationwiththisoldman，but，submittingtohiminvoluntarily，cameupandsatdownbesidehim。
　　"Youareunhappy，mydearsir，"thestrangercontinued。"YouareyoungandIamold。Ishouldliketohelpyouasfarasliesinmypower。"
　　"Oh，yes！"saidPierre，withaforcedsmile。"Iamverygratefultoyou。Whereareyoutravelingfrom？"
　　Thestranger’sfacewasnotgenial，itwasevencoldandsevere，butinspiteofthis，boththefaceandwordsofhisnewacquaintancewereirresistiblyattractivetoPierre。
　　"Butifforreasonyoudon’tfeelinclinedtotalktome，"saidtheoldman，"sayso，mydearsir。"Andhesuddenlysmiled，inanunexpectedandtenderlypaternalway。
　　"Ohno，notatall！Onthecontrary，Iamverygladtomakeyouracquaintance，"saidPierre。Andagain，glancingatthestranger’shands，helookedmorecloselyatthering，withitsskull—aMasonicsign。
　　"Allowmetoask，"hesaid，"areyouaMason？"
　　"Yes，IbelongtotheBrotherhoodoftheFreemasons，"saidthestranger，lookingdeeperanddeeperintoPierre’seyes。"AndintheirnameandmyownIholdoutabrotherlyhandtoyou。"
　　"Iamafraid，"saidPierre，smiling，andwaveringbetweentheconfidencethepersonalityoftheFreemasoninspiredinhimandhisownhabitofridiculingtheMasonicbeliefs—"IamafraidIamveryfarfromunderstanding—howamItoputit？—Iamafraidmywayoflookingattheworldissoopposedtoyoursthatweshallnotunderstandoneanother。"
　　"Iknowyouroutlook，"saidtheMason，"andtheviewoflifeyoumention，andwhichyouthinkistheresultofyourownmentalefforts，istheoneheldbythemajorityofpeople，andistheinvariablefruitofpride，indolence，andignorance。Forgiveme，mydearsir，butifIhadnotknownitIshouldnothaveaddressedyou。Yourviewoflifeisaregrettabledelusion。"
　　"JustasImaysupposeyoutobedeluded，"saidPierre，withafaintsmile。
　　"IshouldneverdaretosaythatIknowthetruth，"saidtheMason，whosewordsstruckPierremoreandmorebytheirprecisionandfirmness。"Noonecanattaintotruthbyhimself。Onlybylayingstoneonstonewiththecooperationofall，bythemillionsofgenerationsfromourforefatherAdamtoourowntimes，isthattemplerearedwhichistobeaworthydwellingplaceoftheGreatGod，"headded，andclosedhiseyes。
　　"IoughttotellyouthatIdonotbelieve……donotbelieveinGod，saidPierre，regretfullyandwithaneffort，feelingitessentialtospeakthewholetruth。
　　TheMasonlookedintentlyatPierreandsmiledasarichmanwithmillionsinhandmightsmileatapoorfellowwhotoldhimthathe，poorman，hadnotthefiverublesthatwouldmakehimhappy。
　　"Yes，youdonotknowHim，mydearsir，"saidtheMason。"YoucannotknowHim。YoudonotknowHimandthatiswhyyouareunhappy。"
　　"Yes，yes，Iamunhappy，"assentedPierre。"ButwhatamItodo？"
　　"YouknowHimnot，mydearsir，andsoyouareveryunhappy。YoudonotknowHim，butHeishere，Heisinme，Heisinmywords，Heisinthee，andeveninthoseblasphemouswordsthouhastjustuttered！"pronouncedtheMasoninasternandtremulousvoice。
　　Hepausedandsighed，evidentlytryingtocalmhimself。
　　"IfHewerenot，"hesaidquietly，"youandIwouldnotbespeakingofHim，mydearsir。Ofwhat，ofwhom，arewespeaking？
　　Whomhastthoudenied？"hesuddenlyaskedwithexultingausterityandauthorityinhisvoice。"WhoinventedHim，ifHedidnotexist？
　　WhencecamethyconceptionoftheexistenceofsuchanincomprehensibleBeing？didstthou，andwhydidthewholeworld，conceivetheideaoftheexistenceofsuchanincomprehensibleBeing，aBeingall—powerful，eternal，andinfiniteinallHisattributes？……"
　　Hestoppedandremainedsilentforalongtime。
　　Pierrecouldnotanddidnotwishtobreakthissilence。
　　"Heexists，buttounderstandHimishard，"theMasonbeganagain，lookingnotatPierrebutstraightbeforehim，andturningtheleavesofhisbookwithhisoldhandswhichfromexcitementhecouldnotkeepstill。"IfitwereamanwhoseexistencethoudidstdoubtI
　　couldbringhimtothee，couldtakehimbythehandandshowhimtothee。ButhowcanI，aninsignificantmortal，showHisomnipotence，Hisinfinity，andallHismercytoonewhoisblind，orwhoshutshiseyesthathemaynotseeorunderstandHimandmaynotseeorunderstandhisownvilenessandsinfulness？"Hepausedagain。"Whoartthou？Thoudreamestthatthouartwisebecausethoucouldstutterthoseblasphemouswords，"hewenton，withasomberandscornfulsmile。"Andthouartmorefoolishandunreasonablethanalittlechild，who，playingwiththepartsofaskillfullymadewatch，darestosaythat，ashedoesnotunderstanditsuse，hedoesnotbelieveinthemasterwhomadeit。ToknowHimishard……Forages，fromourforefatherAdamtoourownday，welabortoattainthatknowledgeandarestillinfinitelyfarfromouraim；butinourlackofunderstandingweseeonlyourweaknessandHisgreatness……"
　　Pierrelistenedwithswellingheart，gazingintotheMason’sfacewithshiningeyes，notinterruptingorquestioninghim，butbelievingwithhiswholesoulwhatthestrangersaid。WhetherheacceptedthewisereasoningcontainedintheMason’swords，orbelievedasachildbelieves，inthespeaker’stoneofconvictionandearnestness，orthetremorofthespeaker’svoice—whichsometimesalmostbroke—orthosebrilliantagedeyesgrownoldinthisconviction，orthecalmfirmnessandcertaintyofhisvocation，whichradiatedfromhiswholebeingandwhichstruckPierreespeciallybycontrastwithhisowndejectionandhopelessness—atanyrate，Pierrelongedwithhiswholesoultobelieveandhedidbelieve，andfeltajoyfulsenseofcomfort，regeneration，andreturntolife。
　　"Heisnottobeapprehendedbyreason，butbylife，"saidtheMason。
　　"Idonotunderstand，"saidPierre，feelingwithdismaydoubtsreawakening。Hewasafraidofanywantofclearness，anyweakness，intheMason’sarguments；hedreadednottobeabletobelieveinhim。
　　"Idon’tunderstand，"hesaid，"howitisthatthemindofmancannotattaintheknowledgeofwhichyouspeak。"
　　TheMasonsmiledwithhisgentlefatherlysmile。
　　"Thehighestwisdomandtrutharelikethepurestliquidwemaywishtoimbibe，"hesaid。"CanIreceivethatpureliquidintoanimpurevesselandjudgeofitspurity？OnlybytheinnerpurificationofmyselfcanIretaininsomedegreeofpuritytheliquidIreceive。"
　　"Yes，yes，thatisso，"saidPierrejoyfully。
　　"Thehighestwisdomisnotfoundedonreasonalone，notonthoseworldlysciencesofphysics，history，chemistry，andthelike，intowhichintellectualknowledgeisdivided。Thehighestwisdomisone。
　　Thehighestwisdomhasbutonescience—thescienceofthewhole—
　　thescienceexplainingthewholecreationandman’splaceinit。Toreceivethatscienceitisnecessarytopurifyandrenewone’sinnerself，andsobeforeonecanknow，itisnecessarytobelieveandtoperfectone’sself。Andtoattainthisend，wehavethelightcalledconsciencethatGodhasimplantedinoursouls。"
　　"Yes，yes，"assentedPierre。
　　"Lookthenatthyinnerselfwiththeeyesofthespirit，andaskthyselfwhetherthouartcontentwiththyself。Whathastthouattainedrelyingonreasononly？Whatartthou？Youareyoung，youarerich，youareclever，youarewelleducated。Andwhathaveyoudonewithallthesegoodgifts？Areyoucontentwithyourselfandwithyourlife？"
　　"No，Ihatemylife，"Pierremuttered，wincing。
　　"Thouhatestit。Thenchangeit，purifythyself；andasthouartpurified，thouwiltgainwisdom。Lookatyourlife，mydearsir。Howhaveyouspentit？Inriotousorgiesanddebauchery，receivingeverythingfromsocietyandgivingnothinginreturn。Youhavebecomethepossessorofwealth。Howhaveyouusedit？Whathaveyoudoneforyourneighbor？Haveyoueverthoughtofyourtensofthousandsofslaves？Haveyouhelpedthemphysicallyandmorally？
　　No！Youhaveprofitedbytheirtoiltoleadaprofligatelife。Thatiswhatyouhavedone。Haveyouchosenapostinwhichyoumightbeofservicetoyourneighbor？No！Youhavespentyourlifeinidleness。
　　Thenyoumarried，mydearsir—tookonyourselfresponsibilityfortheguidanceofayoungwoman；andwhathaveyoudone？Youhavenothelpedhertofindthewayoftruth，mydearsir，buthavethrustherintoanabyssofdeceitandmisery。Amanoffendedyouandyoushothim，andyousayyoudonotknowGodandhateyourlife。Thereisnothingstrangeinthat，mydearsir！"
　　Afterthesewords，theMason，asiftiredbyhislongdiscourse，againleanedhisarmsonthebackofthesofaandclosedhiseyes。
　　Pierrelookedatthataged，stern，motionless，almostlifelessfaceandmovedhislipswithoututteringasound。Hewishedtosay，"Yes，avile，idle，viciouslife！"butdarednotbreakthesilence。
　　TheMasonclearedhisthroathuskily，asoldmendo，andcalledhisservant。
　　"Howaboutthehorses？"heasked，withoutlookingatPierre。
　　"Theexchangehorseshavejustcome，"answeredtheservant。"Willyounotresthere？"
　　"No，tellthemtoharness。"
　　"Canhereallybegoingawayleavingmealonewithouthavingtoldmeall，andwithoutpromisingtohelpme？"thoughtPierre，risingwithdowncasthead；andhebegantopacetheroom，glancingoccasionallyattheMason。"Yes，Ineverthoughtofit，butIhaveledacontemptibleandprofligatelife，thoughIdidnotlikeitanddidnotwantto，"thoughtPierre。"Butthismanknowsthetruthand，ifhewishedto，coulddiscloseittome。"
　　PierrewishedtosaythistotheMason，butdidnotdareto。Thetraveler，havingpackedhisthingswithhispracticedhands，beganfasteninghiscoat。Whenhehadfinished，heturnedtoBezukhov，andsaidinatoneofindifferentpoliteness：
　　"Whereareyougoingtonow，mydearsir？"
　　"I？……I’mgoingtoPetersburg，"answeredPierre，inachildlike，hesitatingvoice。"Ithankyou。Iagreewithallyouhavesaid。Butdonotsupposemetobesobad。WithmywholesoulIwishtobewhatyouwouldhavemebe，butIhaveneverhadhelpfromanyone……ButitisI，aboveall，whoamtoblameforeverything。Helpme，teachme，andperhapsImay……"
　　Pierrecouldnotgoon。Hegulpedandturnedaway。
　　TheMasonremainedsilentforalongtime，evidentlyconsidering。
　　"HelpcomesfromGodalone，"hesaid，"butsuchmeasureofhelpasourOrdercanbestowitwillrenderyou，mydearsir。YouaregoingtoPetersburg。HandthistoCountWillarski"hetookouthisnotebookandwroteafewwordsonalargesheetofpaperfoldedinfour。
　　"Allowmetogiveyouapieceofadvice。Whenyoureachthecapital，firstofalldevotesometimetosolitudeandself—examinationanddonotresumeyourformerwayoflife。AndnowIwishyouagoodjourney，mydearsir，"headded，seeingthathisservanthadentered……"andsuccess。"
　　ThetravelerwasJosephAlexeevichBazdeev，asPierresawfromthepostmaster’sbook。Bazdeevhadbeenoneofthebest—knownFreemasonsandMartinists，eveninNovikov’stime。Foralongwhileafterhehadgone，Pierredidnotgotobedororderhorsesbutpacedupanddowntheroom，ponderingoverhisviciouspast，andwitharapturoussenseofbeginninganewpicturedtohimselftheblissful，irreproachable，virtuousfuturethatseemedtohimsoeasy。Itseemedtohimthathehadbeenviciousonlybecausehehadsomehowforgottenhowgooditistobevirtuous。Notatraceofhisformerdoubtsremainedinhissoul。Hefirmlybelievedinthepossibilityofthebrotherhoodofmenunitedintheaimofsupportingoneanotherinthepathofvirtue，andthatishowFreemasonrypresenteditselftohim。
　　BK5CH3
　　CHAPTERIII
　　OnreachingPetersburgPierredidnotletanyoneknowofhisarrival，hewentnowhereandspentwholedaysinreadingThomasaKempis，whosebookhadbeensenthimbysomeoneunknown。Onethinghecontinuallyrealizedashereadthatbook：thejoy，hithertounknowntohim，ofbelievinginthepossibilityofattainingperfection，andinthepossibilityofactivebrotherlyloveamongmen，whichJosephAlexeevichhadrevealedtohim。Aweekafterhisarrival，theyoungPolishcount，Willarski，whomPierrehadknownslightlyinPetersburgsociety，cameintohisroomoneeveningintheofficialandceremoniousmannerinwhichDolokhov’ssecondhadcalledonhim，and，havingclosedthedoorbehindhimandsatisfiedhimselfthattherewasnobodyelseintheroom，addressedPierre。
　　"Ihavecometoyouwithamessageandanoffer，Count，"hesaidwithoutsittingdown。"ApersonofveryhighstandinginourBrotherhoodhasmadeapplicationforyoutobereceivedintoourOrderbeforetheusualtermandhasproposedtometobeyoursponsor。I
　　consideritasacreddutytofulfillthatperson’swishes。DoyouwishtoentertheBrotherhoodofFreemasonsundermysponsorship？"
　　Thecold，austeretoneofthisman，whomhehadalmostalwaysbeforemetatballs，amiablysmilinginthesocietyofthemostbrilliantwomen，surprisedPierre。
　　"Yes，Idowishit，"saidhe。
　　Willarskibowedhishead。
　　"Onemorequestion，Count，"hesaid，"whichbegyoutoanswerinallsincerity—notasafutureMasonbutasanhonestman：haveyourenouncedyourformerconvictions—doyoubelieveinGod？"
　　Pierreconsidered。
　　"Yes……yes，IbelieveinGod，"hesaid。
　　"Inthatcase……"beganWillarski，butPierreinterruptedhim。
　　"Yes，IdobelieveinGod，"herepeated。
　　"Inthatcasewecango，"saidWillarski。"Mycarriageisatyourservice。"
　　Willarskiwassilentthroughoutthedrive。ToPierre’sinquiriesastowhathemustdoandhowheshouldanswer，WillarskionlyrepliedthatbrothersmoreworthythanhewouldtesthimandthatPierrehadonlytotellthetruth。
　　HavingenteredthecourtyardofalargehousewheretheLodgehaditsheadquarters，andhavingascendedadarkstaircase，theyenteredasmallwell—litanteroomwheretheytookofftheircloakswithouttheaidofaservant。Fromtheretheypassedintoanotherroom。Amaninstrangeattireappearedatthedoor。Willarski，steppingtowardhim，saidsomethingtohiminFrenchinanundertoneandthenwentuptoasmallwardrobeinwhichPierrenoticedgarmentssuchashehadneverseenbefore。Havingtakenakerchieffromthecupboard，WillarskiboundPierre’seyeswithitandtieditinaknotbehind，catchingsomehairspainfullyintheknot。Thenhedrewhisfacedown，kissedhim，andtakinghimbythehandledhimforward。ThehairstiedintheknothurtPierreandtherewerelinesofpainonhisfaceandashamefacedsmile。Hishugefigure，witharmshangingdownandwithapuckered，thoughsmilingface，movedafterWillarskiwithuncertain，timidsteps。
　　Havingledhimabouttenpaces，Willarskistopped。
　　"Whateverhappenstoyou，"hesaid，"youmustbearitallmanfullyifyouhavefirmlyresolvedtojoinourBrotherhood。"Pierrenoddedaffirmatively。"Whenyouhearaknockatthedoor，youwilluncoveryoureyes，"addedWillarski。"Iwishyoucourageandsuccess，"and，pressingPierre’shand，hewentout。
　　Leftalone，Pierrewentonsmilinginthesameway。Onceortwiceheshruggedhisandraisedhishandtothekerchief，asifwishingtotakeitoff，butletitdropagain。Thefiveminutesspentwithhiseyesbandagedseemedtohimanhour。Hisarmsfeltnumb，hislegsalmostgaveway，itseemedtohimthathewastiredout。Heexperiencedavarietyofmostcomplexsensations。Hefeltafraidofwhatwouldhappentohimandstillmoreafraidofshowinghisfear。Hefeltcurioustoknowwhatwasgoingtohappenandwhatwouldberevealedtohim；butmostofall，hefeltjoyfulthatthemomenthadcomewhenhewouldatlaststartonthatpathofregenerationandontheactivelyvirtuouslifeofwhichhehadbeendreamingsincehemetJosephAlexeevich。Loudknockswereheardatthedoor。Pierretookthebandageoffhiseyesandglancedaroundhim。Theroomwasinblackdarkness，onlyasmalllampwasburninginsidesomethingwhite。Pierrewentnearerandsawthatthelampstoodonablacktableonwhichlayanopenbook。ThebookwastheGospel，andthewhitethingwiththelampinsidewasahumanskullwithitscavitiesandteeth。AfterreadingthefirstwordsoftheGospel："InthebeginningwastheWordandtheWordwaswithGod，"Pierrewentroundthetableandsawalargeopenboxfilledwithsomething。Itwasacoffinwithbonesinside。Hewasnotatallsurprisedbywhathesaw。Hopingtoenteronanentirelynewlifequiteunliketheoldone，heexpectedeverythingtobeunusual，evenmoreunusualthanwhathewasseeing。A
　　skull，acoffin，theGospel—itseemedtohimthathehadexpectedallthisandevenmore。Tryingtostimulatehisemotionshelookedaround。
　　"God，death，love，thebrotherhoodofman，"hekeptsayingtohimself，associatingthesewordswithvagueyetjoyfulideas。Thedooropenedandsomeonecamein。
　　Bythedimlight，towhichPierrehadalreadybecomeaccustomed，hesawrathershortman。Havingevidentlycomefromthelightintothedarkness，themanpaused，thenmovedwithcautiousstepstowardthetableandplacedonithissmallleather—glovedhands。
　　Thisshortmanhadonawhiteleatherapronwhichcoveredhischestandpartofhislegs；hehadonakindofnecklaceabovewhichroseahighwhiteruffle，outlininghisratherlongfacewhichwaslitupfrombelow。
　　"Forwhathaveyoucomehither？"askedthenewcomer，turninginPierre’sdirectionataslightrustlemadebythelatter。"Whyhaveyou，whodonotbelieveinthetruthofthelightandwhohavenotseenthelight，comehere？Whatdoyouseekfromus？Wisdom，virtue，enlightenment？"
　　Atthemomentthedooropenedandthestrangercamein，Pierrefeltasenseofaweandvenerationsuchashehadexperiencedinhisboyhoodatconfession；hefelthimselfinthepresenceofonesociallyacompletestranger，yetnearertohimthroughthebrotherhoodofman。
　　WithbatedbreathandbeatinghearthemovedtowardtheRhetorbywhichnamethebrotherwhopreparedaseekerforentranceintotheBrotherhoodwasknown。Drawingnearer，herecognizedintheRhetoramanheknew，Smolyaninov，anditmortifiedhimtothinkthatthenewcomerwasanacquaintance—hewishedhimsimplyabrotherandavirtuousinstructor。Foralongtimehecouldnotutteraword，sothattheRhetorhadtorepeathisquestion。
　　"Yes……I……I……desireregeneration，"Pierreutteredwithdifficulty。
　　"Verywell，"saidSmolyaninov，andwentonatonce："HaveyouanyideaofthemeansbywhichourholyOrderwillhelpyoutoreachyouraim？"saidhequietlyandquickly。
　　"I……hope……forguidance……help……inregeneration，"saidPierre，withatremblingvoiceandsomedifficultyinutteranceduetohisexcitementandtobeingunaccustomedtospeakofabstractmattersinRussian。
　　"WhatisyourconceptionofFreemasonry？"
　　"IimaginethatFreemasonryisthefraternityandequalityofmenwhohavevirtuousaims，"saidPierre，feelingashamedoftheinadequacyofhiswordsforthesolemnityofthemoment，ashespoke。"Iimagine……"
　　"Good！"saidtheRhetorquickly，apparentlysatisfiedwiththisanswer。"Haveyousoughtformeansofattainingyouraiminreligion？"
　　"No，Iconsiderediterroneousanddidnotfollowit，"saidPierre，sosoftlythattheRhetordidnothearhimandaskedhimwhathewassaying。"Ihavebeenanatheist，"answeredPierre。
　　"Youareseekingfortruthinordertofollowitslawsinyourlife，thereforeyouseekwisdomandvirtue。Isthatnotso？"saidtheRhetor，afteramoment’spause。
　　"Yes，yes，"assentedPierre。
　　TheRhetorclearedhisthroat，crossedhisglovedhandsonhisbreast，andbegantospeak。
　　"NowImustdisclosetoyouthechiefaimofourOrder，"hesaid，"andifthisaimcoincideswithyours，youmayenterourBrotherhoodwithprofit。ThefirstandchiefobjectofourOrder，thefoundationonwhichitrestsandwhichnohumanpowercandestroy，isthepreservationandhandingontoposterityofacertainimportantmystery……whichhascomedowntousfromtheremotestages，evenfromthefirstman—amysteryonwhichperhapsthefateofmankinddepends。
　　Butsincethismysteryisofsuchanaturethatnobodycanknoworuseitunlesshebepreparedbylonganddiligentself—purification，noteveryonecanhopetoattainitquickly。Hencewehaveasecondaryaim，thatofpreparingourmembersasmuchaspossibletoreformtheirhearts，topurifyandenlightentheirminds，bymeanshandedontousbytraditionfromthosewhohavestriventoattainthismystery，andtherebytorenderthemcapableofreceivingit。
　　"Bypurifyingandregeneratingourmemberswetry，thirdly，toimprovethewholehumanrace，offeringitinourmembersanexampleofpietyandvirtue，andtherebytrywithallourmighttocombattheevilwhichswaystheworld。ThinkthisoverandIwillcometoyouagain。"
　　"Tocombattheevilwhichswaystheworld……"Pierrerepeated，andamentalimageofhisfutureactivityinthisdirectionroseinhismind。Heimaginedmensuchashehadhimselfbeenafortnightago，andheaddressedanedifyingexhortationtothem。Heimaginedtohimselfviciousandunfortunatepeoplewhomhewouldassistbywordanddeed，imaginedoppressorswhosevictimshewouldrescue。OfthethreeobjectsmentionedbytheRhetor，thislast，thatofimprovingmankind，especiallyappealedtoPierre。TheimportantmysterymentionedbytheRhetor，thoughitarousedhiscuriosity，didnotseemtohimessential，andthesecondaim，thatofpurifyingandregeneratinghimself，didnotmuchinteresthimbecauseatthatmomenthefeltwithdelightthathewasalreadyperfectlycuredofhisformerfaultsandwasreadyforallthatwasgood。
　　Halfanhourlater，theRhetorreturnedtoinformtheseekerofthesevenvirtues，correspondingtothesevenstepsofSolomon’stemple，whicheveryFreemasonshouldcultivateinhimself。Thesevirtueswere：1。Discretion，thekeepingofthesecretsoftheOrder。
　　2。ObediencetothoseofhigherranksintheOrder。3。Morality。4。
　　Loveofmankind。5。Courage。6。Generosity。7。Theloveofdeath。
　　"Intheseventhplace，try，bythefrequentthoughtofdeath，"theRhetorsaid，"tobringyourselftoregarditnotasadreadedfoe，butasafriendthatfreesthesoulgrownwearyinthelaborsofvirtuefromthisdistressfullife，andleadsittoitsplaceofrecompenseandpeace。"
　　"Yes，thatmustbeso，"thoughtPierre，whenafterthesewordstheRhetorwentaway，leavinghimtosolitarymeditation。"Itmustbeso，butIamstillsoweakthatIlovemylife，themeaningofwhichisonlynowgraduallyopeningbeforeme。"ButfiveoftheothervirtueswhichPierrerecalled，countingthemonhisfingers，hefeltalreadyinhissoul：courage，generosity，morality，loveofmankind，andespeciallyobedience—whichdidnotevenseemtohimavirtue，butajoy。Henowfeltsogladtobefreefromhisownlawlessnessandtosubmithiswilltothosewhoknewtheindubitabletruth。Heforgotwhattheseventhvirtuewasandcouldnotrecallit。
　　ThethirdtimetheRhetorcamebackmorequicklyandaskedPierrewhetherhewasstillfirminhisintentionanddeterminedtosubmittoallthatwouldberequiredofhim。
　　"Iamreadyforeverything，"saidPierre。
　　"Imustalsoinformyou，"saidtheRhetor，"thatourOrderdeliversitsteachingnotinwordsonlybutalsobyothermeans，whichmayperhapshaveastrongereffectonthesincereseekerafterwisdomandvirtuethanmerewords。Thischamberwithwhatyouseethereinshouldalreadyhavesuggestedtoyourheart，ifitissincere，morethanwordscoulddo。Youwillperhapsalsoseeinyourfurtherinitiationalikemethodofenlightenment。OurOrderimitatestheancientsocietiesthatexplainedtheirteachingbyhieroglyphics。A
　　hieroglyph，"saidtheRhetor，"isanemblemofsomethingnotcognizablebythesensesbutwhichpossessesqualitiesresemblingthoseofthesymbol。"
　　Pierreknewverywellwhatahieroglyphwas，butdarednotspeak。HelistenedtotheRhetorinsilence，feelingfromallhesaidthathisordealwasabouttobegin。
　　"Ifyouareresolved，Imustbeginyourinitiation，"saidtheRhetorcomingclosertoPierre。"IntokenofgenerosityIaskyoutogivemeallyourvaluables。"
　　"ButIhavenothinghere，"repliedPierre，supposingthathewasaskedtogiveupallhepossessed。
　　"Whatyouhavewithyou：watch，money，rings……"
　　Pierrequicklytookouthispurseandwatch，butcouldnotmanageforsometimetogettheweddingringoffhisfatfinger。Whenthathadbeendone，theRhetorsaid：
　　"Intokenofobedience，Iaskyoutoundress。"
　　Pierretookoffhiscoat，waistcoat，andleftbootaccordingtotheRhetor’sinstructions。TheMasondrewtheshirtbackfromPierre’sleftbreast，andstoopingdownpulleduptheleftlegofhistrouserstoabovetheknee。Pierrehurriedlybegantakingoffhisrightbootalsoandwasgoingtotuckuptheothertrouserlegtosavethisstrangerthetrouble，buttheMasontoldhimthatwasnotnecessaryandgavehimaslipperforhisleftfoot。Withachildlikesmileofembarrassment，doubt，andself—derision，whichappearedonhisfaceagainsthiswill，Pierrestoodwithhisarmshangingdownandlegsapart，beforehisbrotherRhetor，andawaitedhisfurthercommands。
　　"Andnow，intokenofcandor，Iaskyoutorevealtomeyourchiefpassion，"saidthelatter。
　　"Mypassion！Ihavehadsomany，"repliedPierre。
　　"Thatpassionwhichmorethanallotherscausedyoutowaveronthepathofvirtue，"saidtheMason。
　　Pierrepaused，seekingareply。
　　"Wine？Gluttony？Idleness？Laziness？Irritability？Anger？Women？"Hewentoverhisvicesinhismind，notknowingtowhichofthemtogivethepre—eminence。
　　"Women，"hesaidinalow，scarcelyaudiblevoice。
　　TheMasondidnotmoveandforalongtimesaidnothingafterthisanswer。AtlasthemoveduptoPierreand，takingthekerchiefthatlayonthetable，againboundhiseyes。
　　"ForthelasttimeIsaytoyou—turnallyourattentionuponyourself，putabridleonyoursenses，andseekblessedness，notinpassionbutinyourownheart。Thesourceofblessednessisnotwithoutusbutwithin……"
　　Pierrehadalreadylongbeenfeelinginhimselfthatrefreshingsourceofblessednesswhichnowfloodedhisheartwithglademotion。
　　BK5CH4
　　CHAPTERIV
　　SoonafterthistherecameintothedarkchambertofetchPierre，nottheRhetorbutPierre’ssponsor，Willarski，whomherecognizedbyhisvoice。TofreshquestionsastothefirmnessofhisresolutionPierrereplied："Yes，yes，Iagree，"andwithabeaming，childlikesmile，hisfatchestuncovered，steppingunevenlyandtimidlyinoneslipperedandonebootedfoot，headvanced，whileWillarskiheldaswordtohisbarechest。HewasconductedfromthatroomalongpassagesthatturnedbackwardsandforwardsandwasatlastbroughttothedoorsoftheLodge。Willarskicoughed，hewasansweredbytheMasonicknockwithmallets，thedoorsopenedbeforethem。AbassvoicePierrewasstillblindfoldquestionedhimastowhohewas，whenandwherehewasborn，andsoon。Thenhewasagainledsomewherestillblindfold，andastheywentalonghewastoldallegoriesofthetoilsofhispilgrimage，ofholyfriendship，oftheEternalArchitectoftheuniverse，andofthecouragewithwhichheshouldenduretoilsanddangers。Duringthesewanderings，Pierrenoticedthathewasspokenofnowasthe"Seeker，"nowasthe"Sufferer，"andnowasthe"Postulant，"totheaccompanimentofvariousknockingswithmalletsandswords。Ashewasbeingleduptosomeobjecthenoticedahesitationanduncertaintyamonghisconductors。Heheardthosearoundhimdisputinginwhispersandoneoftheminsistingthatheshouldbeledalongacertaincarpet。Afterthattheytookhisrighthand，placeditonsomething，andtoldhimtoholdapairofcompassestohisleftbreastwiththeotherhandandtorepeataftersomeonewhoreadaloudanoathoffidelitytothelawsoftheOrder。Thecandleswerethenextinguishedandsomespiritlighted，asPierreknewbythesmell，andhewastoldthathewouldnowseethelesserlight。Thebandagewastakenoffhiseyesand，bythefaintlightoftheburningspirit，Pierre，asinadream，sawseveralmenstandingbeforehim，wearingapronsliketheRhetor’sandholdingswordsintheirhandspointedathisbreast。Amongthemstoodamanwhosewhiteshirtwasstainedwithblood。Onseeingthis，Pierremovedforwardwithhisbreasttowardtheswords，meaningthemtopierceit。Buttheswordsweredrawnbackfromhimandhewasatonceblindfoldedagain。
　　"Nowthouhastseenthelesserlight，"utteredavoice。Thenthecandleswererelitandhewastoldthathewouldseethefulllight；
　　thebandagewasagainremovedandmorethantenvoicessaidtogether："Sictransitgloriamundi。"
　　Pierregraduallybegantorecoverhimselfandlookedaboutattheroomandatthepeopleinit。Roundalongtablecoveredwithblacksatsometwelvemeningarmentslikethosehehadalreadyseen。SomeofthemPierrehadmetinPetersburgsociety。InthePresident’schairsatayoungmanhedidnotknow，withapeculiarcrosshangingfromhisneck。OnhisrightsattheItalianabbewhomPierrehadmetatAnnaPavlovna’stwoyearsbefore。TherewerealsopresentaverydistinguisheddignitaryandaSwisswhohadformerlybeentutorattheKuragins’。Allmaintainedasolemnsilence，listeningtothewordsofthePresident，whoheldamalletinhishand。Letintothewallwasastar—shapedlight。Atonesideofthetablewasasmallcarpetwithvariousfiguresworkeduponit，attheotherwassomethingresemblinganaltaronwhichlayaTestamentandaskull。Rounditstoodsevenlargecandlestickslikethoseusedinchurches。TwoofthebrothersledPierreuptothealtar，placedhisfeetatrightangles，andbadehimliedown，sayingthathemustprostratehimselfattheGatesoftheTemple。
　　"Hemustfirstreceivethetrowel，"whisperedoneofthebrothers。
　　"Oh，hush，please！"saidanother。
　　Pierre，perplexed，lookedroundwithhisshortsightedeyeswithoutobeying，andsuddenlydoubtsaroseinhismind。"WhereamI？WhatamI
　　doing？Aren’ttheylaughingatme？Shan’tIbeashamedtorememberthis？"Butthesedoubtsonlylastedamoment。Pierreglancedattheseriousfacesofthosearound，rememberedallhehadalreadygonethrough，andrealizedthathecouldnotstophalfway。Hewasaghastathishesitationand，tryingtoarousehisformerdevotionalfeeling，prostratedhimselfbeforetheGatesoftheTemple。Andreally，thefeelingofdevotionreturnedtohimevenmorestronglythanbefore。
　　Whenhehadlaintheresometime，hewastoldtogetup，andawhiteleatherapron，suchastheotherswore，wasputonhim：hewasgivenatrowelandthreepairsofgloves，andthentheGrandMasteraddressedhim。Hetoldhimthatheshouldtrytodonothingtostainthewhitenessofthatapron，whichsymbolizedstrengthandpurity；
　　thenoftheunexplainedtrowel，hetoldhimtotoilwithittocleansehisownheartfromvice，andindulgentlytosmoothwithittheheartofhisneighbor。Astothefirstpairofgloves，aman’s，hesaidthatPierrecouldnotknowtheirmeaningbutmustkeepthem。Thesecondpairofman’sgloveshewastowearatthemeetings，andfinallyofthethird，apairofwomen’sgloves，hesaid："Dearbrother，thesewoman’sglovesareintendedforyoutoo。Givethemtothewomanwhomyoushallhonormostofall。ThisgiftwillbeapledgeofyourpurityofhearttoherwhomyouselecttobeyourworthyhelpmeetinMasonry。"Andafterapause，headded："Butbeware，dearbrother，thattheseglovesdonotdeckhandsthatareunclean。"WhiletheGrandMastersaidtheselastwordsitseemedtoPierrethathegrewembarrassed。Pierrehimselfgrewstillmoreconfused，blushedlikeachildtilltearscametohiseyes，beganlookingabouthimuneasily，andanawkwardpausefollowed。
　　Thissilencewasbrokenbyoneofthebrethren，wholedPierreuptotherugandbeganreadingtohimfromamanuscriptbookanexplanationofallthefiguresonit：thesun，themoon，ahammer，aplumbline，atrowel，aroughstoneandasquaredstone，apillar，threewindows，andsoon。ThenaplacewasassignedtoPierre，hewasshownthesignsoftheLodge，toldthepassword，andatlastwaspermittedtositdown。TheGrandMasterbeganreadingthestatutes。Theywereverylong，andPierre，fromjoy，agitation，andembarrassment，wasnotinastatetounderstandwhatwasbeingread。Hemanagedtofollowonlythelastwordsofthestatutesandtheseremainedinhismind。
　　"Inourtempleswerecognizenootherdistinctions，"readtheGrandMaster，"butthosebetweenvirtueandvice。Bewareofmakinganydistinctionswhichmayinfringeequality。Flytoabrother’saidwhoeverhemaybe，exhorthimwhogoethastray，raisehimthatfalleth，neverbearmaliceorenmitytowardthybrother。Bekindlyandcourteous。Kindleinallheartstheflameofvirtue。Sharethyhappinesswiththyneighbor，andmayenvyneverdimthepurityofthatbliss。Forgivethyenemy，donotavengethyselfexceptbydoinghimgood。Thusfulfillingthehighestlawthoushaltregaintracesoftheancientdignitywhichthouhastlost。"
　　Hefinishedand，gettingup，embracedandkissedPierre，who，withtearsofjoyinhiseyes，lookedroundhim，notknowinghowtoanswerthecongratulationsandgreetingsfromacquaintancesthatmethimonallsides。Heacknowledgednoacquaintancesbutsawinallthesemenonlybrothers，andburnedwithimpatiencetosettoworkwiththem。
　　TheGrandMasterrappedwithhismallet。AlltheMasonssatdownintheirplaces，andoneofthemreadanexhortationonthenecessityofhumility。
　　TheGrandMasterproposedthatthelastdutyshouldbeperformed，andthedistinguisheddignitarywhoborethetitleof"CollectorofAlms"wentroundtoallthebrothers。Pierrewouldhavelikedtosubscribeallhehad，butfearingthatitmightlooklikepridesubscribedthesameamountastheothers。
　　Themeetingwasatanend，andonreachinghomePierrefeltasifhehadreturnedfromalongjourneyonwhichhehadspentdozensofyears，hadbecomecompletelychanged，andhadquiteleftbehindhisformerhabitsandwayoflife。
　　BK5CH5
　　CHAPTERV
　　ThedayafterhehadbeenreceivedintotheLodge，PierrewassittingathomereadingabookandtryingtofathomthesignificanceoftheSquare，onesideofwhichsymbolizedGod，anothermoralthings，athirdphysicalthings，andthefourthacombinationofthese。NowandthenhisattentionwanderedfromthebookandtheSquareandheformedinimaginationanewplanoflife。OnthepreviouseveningattheLodge，hehadheardthatarumorofhisduelhadreachedtheEmperorandthatitwouldbewiserforhimtoleavePetersburg。Pierreproposedgoingtohisestatesinthesouthandthereattendingtothewelfareofhisserfs。Hewasjoyfullyplanningthisnewlife，whenPrinceVasilisuddenlyenteredtheroom。
　　"Mydearfellow，whathaveyoubeenuptoinMoscow？WhyhaveyouquarreledwithHelene，moncher？Youareunderadelusion，"saidPrinceVasili，asheentered。"Iknowallaboutit，andIcantellyoupositivelythatHeleneisasinnocentbeforeyouasChristwasbeforetheJews。"
　　Pierrewasabouttoreply，butPrinceVasiliinterruptedhim。
　　"Andwhydidn’tyousimplycomestraighttomeastoafriend？I
　　knowallaboutitandunderstanditall，"hesaid。"Youbehavedasbecomesamanvalueshishonor，perhapstoohastily，butwewon’tgointothat。Butconsiderthepositioninwhichyouareplacingherandmeintheeyesofsociety，andevenofthecourt，"headded，loweringhisvoice。"SheislivinginMoscowandyouarehere。
　　Remember，dearboy，"andhedrewPierre’sarmdownwards，"itissimplyamisunderstanding。Iexpectyoufeelitsoyourself。Letuswriteheraletteratonce，andshe’llcomehereandallwillbeexplained，orelse，mydearboy，letmetellyouit’squitelikelyyou’llhavetosufferforit。"
　　PrinceVasiligavePierreasignificantlook。
　　"IknowfromreliablesourcesthattheDowagerEmpressistakingakeeninterestinthewholeaffair。YouknowsheisverygracioustoHelene。"
　　Pierretriedseveraltimestospeak，but，ononehand，PrinceVasilididnotlethimand，ontheother，Pierrehimselffearedtobegintospeakinthetoneofdecidedrefusalanddisagreementinwhichhehadfirmlyresolvedtoanswerhisfather—in—law。Moreover，thewordsoftheMasonicstatutes，"bekindlyandcourteous，"recurredtohim。
　　Heblinked，wentred，gotupandsatdownagain，strugglingwithhimselftodowhatwasforhimthemostdifficultthinginlife—tosayanunpleasantthingtoaman’sface，tosaywhattheother，whoeverhemightbe，didnotexpect。HewassousedtosubmittingtoPrinceVasili’stoneofcarelessself—assurancethathefelthewouldbeunabletowithstanditnow，buthealsofeltthatonwhathesaidnowhisfuturedepended—whetherhewouldfollowthesameoldroad，orthatnewpathsoattractivelyshownhimbytheMasons，onwhichhefirmlybelievedhewouldbereborntoanewlife。
　　"Now，dearboy，"saidPrinceVasiliplayfully，"say’yes，’andI’llwritetohermyself，andwewillkillthefattedcalf。"
　　ButbeforePrinceVasilihadfinishedhisplayfulspeech，Pierre，withoutlookingathim，andwithakindoffurythatmadehimlikehisfather，mutteredinawhisper：
　　"Prince，Ididnotaskyouhere。Go，pleasego！"Andhejumpedupandopenedthedoorforhim。
　　"Go！"herepeated，amazedathimselfandgladtoseethelookofconfusionandfearthatshoweditselfonPrinceVasili’sface。
　　"What’sthematterwithyou？Areyouill？"
　　"Go！"thequiveringvoicerepeated。AndPrinceVasilihadtogowithoutreceivinganyexplanation。
　　Aweeklater，Pierre，havingtakenleaveofhisnewfriends，theMasons，andleavinglargesumsofmoneywiththemforalms，wentawaytohisestates。HisnewbrethrengavehimletterstotheKievandOdessaMasonsandpromisedtowritetohimandguidehiminhisnewactivity。
　　BK5CH6
　　CHAPTERVI
　　TheduelbetweenPierreandDolokhovwashushedupand，inspiteoftheEmperor’sseverityregardingduelsatthattime，neithertheprincipalsnortheirsecondssufferedforit。Butthestoryoftheduel，confirmedbyPierre’srupturewithhiswife，wasthetalkofsociety。Pierrewhohadbeenregardedwithpatronizingcondescensionwhenhewasanillegitimateson，andpettedandextolledwhenhewasthebestmatchinRussia，hadsunkgreatlyintheesteemofsocietyafterhismarriage—whenthemarriageabledaughtersandtheirmothershadnothingtohopefromhim—especiallyashedidnotknowhow，anddidnotwish，tocourtsociety’sfavor。Nowhealonewasblamedforwhathadhappened，hewassaidtobeinsanelyjealousandsubjectlikehisfathertofitsofbloodthirstyrage。AndwhenafterPierre’sdepartureHelenereturnedtoPetersburg，shewasreceivedbyallheracquaintancesnotonlycordially，butevenwithashadeofdeferenceduetohermisfortune。WhenconversationturnedonherhusbandHeleneassumedadignifiedexpression，whichwithcharacteristictactshehadacquiredthoughshedidnotunderstanditssignificance。ThisexpressionsuggestedthatshehadresolvedtoendurehertroublesuncomplaininglyandthatherhusbandwasacrosslaiduponherbyGod。PrinceVasiliexpressedhisopinionmoreopenly。
　　HeshruggedhisshoulderswhenPierrewasmentionedand，pointingtohisforehead，remarked：
　　"Abittouched—Ialwayssaidso。"
　　"Isaidfromthefirst，"declaredAnnaPavlovnareferringtoPierre，"Isaidatthetimeandbeforeanyoneelse"sheinsistedonherpriority"thatthatsenselessyoungmanwasspoiledbythedepravedideasofthesedays。Isaidsoevenatthetimewheneverybodywasinrapturesabouthim，whenhehadjustreturnedfromabroad，andwhen，ifyouremember，heposedasasortofMaratatoneofmysoirees。Andhowhasitended？Iwasagainstthismarriageeventhenandforetoldallthathashappened。"
　　AnnaPavlovnacontinuedtogiveonfreeeveningsthesamekindofsoireesasbefore—suchasshealonehadthegiftofarranging—atwhichwastobefound"thecreamofreallygoodsociety，thebloomoftheintellectualessenceofPetersburg，"assheherselfputit。
　　BesidesthisrefinedselectionofsocietyAnnaPavlovna’sreceptionswerealsodistinguishedbythefactthatshealwayspresentedsomenewandinterestingpersontothevisitorsandthatnowhereelsewasthestateofthepoliticalthermometeroflegitimatePetersburgcourtsocietysodearlyanddistinctlyindicated。
　　Towardtheendof1806，whenallthesaddetailsofNapoleon’sdestructionofthePrussianarmyatJenaandAuerstadtandthesurrenderofmostofthePrussianfortresseshadbeenreceived，whenourtroopshadalreadyenteredPrussiaandoursecondwarwithNapoleonwasbeginning，AnnaPavlovnagaveoneofhersoirees。The"creamofreallygoodsociety"consistedofthefascinatingHelene，forsakenbyherhusband，Mortemart，thedelightfulPrinceHippolytewhohadjustreturnedfromVienna，twodiplomatists，theoldaunt，ayoungmanreferredtointhatdrawingroomas"amanofgreatmerit"
　　unhommedebeaucoupdemerite，anewlyappointedmaidofhonorandhermother，andseveralotherlessnoteworthypersons。
　　ThenoveltyAnnaPavlovnawassettingbeforehergueststhateveningwasBorisDrubetskoy，whohadjustarrivedasaspecialmessengerfromthePrussianarmyandwasaide—de—camptoaveryimportantpersonage。
　　Thetemperatureshownbythepoliticalthermometertothecompanythateveningwasthis：
　　"WhatevertheEuropeansovereignsandcommandersmaydotocountenanceBonaparte，andtocauseme，andusingeneral，annoyanceandmortification，ouropinionofBonapartecannotalter。Weshallnotceasetoexpressoursincereviewsonthatsubject，andcanonlysaytotheKingPrussiaandothers：’Somuchtheworseforyou。Tul’asvoulu，GeorgeDandin，’that’sallwehavetosayaboutit！"
　　WhenBoris，whowastobeserveduptotheguests，enteredthedrawingroom，almostallthecompanyhadassembled，andtheconversation，guidedbyAnnaPavlovna，wasaboutourdiplomaticrelationswithAustriaandthehopeofanalliancewithher。
　　Boris，grownmoremanlyandlookingfresh，rosyandself—possessed，enteredthedrawingroomelegantlydressedintheuniformofanaide—de—campandwasdulyconductedtopayhisrespectstotheauntandthenbroughtbacktothegeneralcircle。
　　AnnaPavlovnagavehimhershriveledhandtokissandintroducedhimtoseveralpersonswhomhedidnotknow，givinghimawhispereddescriptionofeach。
　　charged’affairesfromCopenhagen—aprofoundintellect，"andsimply，"Mr。Shitov—amanofgreatmerit"—thisofthemanusuallysodescribed。
　　ThankstoAnnaMikhaylovna’sefforts，hisowntastes，andthepeculiaritiesofhisreservednature，Borishadmanagedduringhisservicetoplacehimselfveryadvantageously。Hewasaide—de—camptoaveryimportantpersonage，hadbeensentonaveryimportantmissiontoPrussia，andhadjustreturnedfromthereasaspecialmessenger。HehadbecomethoroughlyconversantwiththatunwrittencodewithwhichhehadbeensopleasedatOlmutzandaccordingtowhichanensignmightrankincomparablyhigherthanageneral，andaccordingtowhichwhatwasneededforsuccessintheservicewasnoteffortorwork，orcourage，orperseverance，butonlytheknowledgeofhowtogetonwiththosewhocangrantrewards，andhewashimselfoftensurprisedattherapidityofhissuccessandattheinabilityofotherstounderstandthesethings。Inconsequenceofthisdiscoveryhiswholemanneroflife，allhisrelationswitholdfriends，allhisplansforhisfuture，werecompletelyaltered。Hewasnotrich，butwouldspendhislastgroattobebetterdressedthanothers，andwouldratherdeprivehimselfofmanypleasuresthanallowhimselftobeseeninashabbyequipageorappearinthestreetsofPetersburginanolduniform。Hemadefriendswithandsoughttheacquaintanceofonlythoseabovehiminpositionandwhocouldthereforebeofusetohim。HelikedPetersburganddespisedMoscow。TheremembranceoftheRostovs’houseandofhischildishloveforNatashawasunpleasanttohimandhehadnotoncebeentoseetheRostovssincethedayofhisdepartureforthearmy。TobeinAnnaPavlovna’sdrawingroomheconsideredanimportantstepupintheservice，andheatonceunderstoodhisrole，lettinghishostessmakeuseofwhateverinteresthehadtooffer。Hehimselfcarefullyscannedeachface，appraisingthepossibilitiesofestablishingintimacywitheachofthosepresent，andtheadvantagesthatmightaccrue。HetooktheseatindicatedtohimbesidethefairHeleneandlistenedtothegeneralconversation。
　　"Viennaconsidersthebasesoftheproposedtreatysounattainablethatnotevenacontinuityofmostbrilliantsuccesseswouldsecurethem，andshedoubtsthemeanswehaveofgainingthem。ThatistheactualphraseusedbytheViennacabinet，"saidtheDanishcharged’affaires。
　　"Thedoubtisflattering，"said"themanofprofoundintellect，"
　　withasubtlesmile。
　　"WemustdistinguishbetweentheViennacabinetandtheEmperorofAustria，"saidMortemart。"TheEmperorofAustriacanneverhavethoughtofsuchathing，itisonlythecabinetthatsaysit。"
　　"Ah，mydearvicomte，"putinAnnaPavlovna，"L’Urope"forsomereasonshecalleditUropeasifthatwereaspeciallyrefinedFrenchpronunciationwhichshecouldallowherselfwhenconversingwithaFrenchman，"L’Uropeneserajamaisnotreallieesincere。"*
　　*"Europewillneverbeoursincereally。"
　　AfterthatAnnaPavlovnaleduptothecourageandfirmnessoftheKingofPrussia，inordertodrawBorisintotheconversation。
　　Borislistenedattentivelytoeachofthespeakers，awaitinghisturn，butmanagedmeanwhiletolookroundrepeatedlyathisneighbor，thebeautifulHelene，whoseeyesseveraltimesmetthoseofthehandsomeyoungaide—de—campwithasmile。
　　SpeakingofthepositionofPrussia，AnnaPavlovnaverynaturallyaskedBoristotellthemabouthisjourneytoGlogauandinwhatstatehefoundthePrussianarmy。Boris，speakingwithdeliberation，toldtheminpure，correctFrenchmanyinterestingdetailsaboutthearmiesandthecourt，carefullyabstainingfromexpressinganopinionofhisownaboutthefactshewasrecounting。Forsometimeheengrossedthegeneralattention，andAnnaPavlovnafeltthatthenoveltyshehadservedupwasreceivedwithpleasurebyallhervisitors。ThegreatestattentionofalltoBoris’narrativewasshownbyHelene。SheaskedhimseveralquestionsabouthisjourneyandseemedgreatlyinterestedinthestateofthePrussianarmy。Assoonashehadfinishedsheturnedtohimwithherusualsmile。
　　"Youabsolutelymustcomeandseeme，"shesaidinatonethatimpliedthat，forcertainconsiderationshecouldnotknowof，thiswasabsolutelynecessary。
　　"OnTuesdaybetweeneightandnine。Itwillgivemegreatpleasure。"
　　Borispromisedtofulfillherwishandwasabouttobeginaconversationwithher，whenAnnaPavlovnacalledhimawayonthepretextthatherauntwishedtohearhim。
　　"Youknowherhusband，ofcourse？"saidAnnaPavlovna，closinghereyesandindicatingHelenewithasorrowfulgesture。"Ah，sheissuchanunfortunateandcharmingwoman！Don’tmentionhimbeforeher—pleasedon’t！Itistoopainfulforher！"
　　BK5CH7
　　CHAPTERVII
　　WhenBorisandAnnaPavlovnareturnedtotheothersPrinceHippolytehadtheearofthecompany。
　　Bendingforwardinhisarmchairhesaid："LeRoidePrusse！"andhavingsaidthislaughed。Everyoneturnedtowardhim。
　　"LeRoidePrusse？"Hippolytesaidinterrogatively，againlaughing，andthencalmlyandseriouslysatbackinhischair。AnnaPavlovnawaitedforhimtogoon，butasheseemedquitedecidedtosaynomoreshebegantotellofhowatPotsdamtheimpiousBonapartehadstolentheswordofFredericktheGreat。
　　"ItistheswordofFredericktheGreatwhichI……"shebegan，butHippolyteinterruptedherwiththewords："LeRoidePrusse……"andagain，assoonassoonasallturnedtowardhim，excusedhimselfandsaidnomore。
　　AnnaPavlovnafrowned。Mortemart，Hippolyte’sfriend，addressedhimfirmly。
　　"Comenow，whataboutyourRoidePrusse？"
　　Hippolytelaughedasifashamedoflaughing。
　　"Oh，it’snothing。Ionlywishedtosay……"hewantedtorepeatajokehehadheardinViennaandwhichhehadbeentryingallthateveningtogetin"IonlywishedtosaythatwearewrongtofightpourleRoidePrusse！"
　　Borissmiledcircumspectly，sothatitmightbetakenasironicalorappreciativeaccordingtothewaythejokewasreceived。Everybodylaughed。
　　"Yourjokeistoobad，it’swittybutunjust，"saidAnnaPavlovna，shakingherlittleshriveledfingerathim。
　　"WearenotfightingpourleRoidePrusse，butforrightprinciples。Oh，thatwickedPrinceHippolyte！"shesaid。
　　Theconversationdidnotflagalleveningandturnedchieflyonthepoliticalnews。ItbecameparticularlyanimatedtowardtheendoftheeveningwhentherewardsbestowedbytheEmperorwerementioned。
　　"YouknowN—N—receivedasnuffboxwiththeportraitlastyear？"
　　said"themanofprofoundintellect。""Whyshouldn’tS—S—getthesamedistinction？"
　　"Pardonme！AsnuffboxwiththeEmperor’sportraitisarewardbutnotadistinction，"saidthediplomatist—"agift，rather。"
　　"Thereareprecedents，ImaymentionSchwarzenberg。"
　　"It’simpossible，"repliedanother。
　　"Willyoubet？Theribbonoftheorderisadifferentmatter……"
　　Wheneverybodyrosetogo，HelenewhohadspokenverylittlealltheeveningagainturnedtoBoris，askinghiminatoneofcaressingsignificantcommandtocometoheronTuesday。
　　"Itisofgreatimportancetome，"shesaid，turningwithasmiletowardAnnaPavlovna，andAnnaPavlovna，withthesamesadsmilewithwhichshespokeofherexaltedpatroness，supportedHelene’swish。
　　ItseemedasiffromsomewordsBorishadspokenthateveningaboutthePrussianarmy，Helenehadsuddenlyfounditnecessarytoseehim。SheseemedtopromisetoexplainthatnecessitytohimwhenhecameonTuesday。
　　ButonTuesdayevening，havingcometoHelene’ssplendidsalon，Borisreceivednoclearexplanationofwhyithadbeennecessaryforhimtocome。Therewereotherguestsandthecountesstalkedlittletohim，andonlyashekissedherhandontakingleavesaidunexpectedlyandinawhisper，withastrangelyunsmilingface：
　　"Cometodinnertomorrow……intheevening。Youmustcome……Come！"
　　DuringthatstayinPetersburg，Borisbecameanintimateinthecountess’house。
　　BK5CH8
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　ThewarwasflamingupandnearingtheRussianfrontier。
　　EverywhereoneheardcursesonBonaparte，"theenemyofmankind。"
　　Militiamenandrecruitswerebeingenrolledinthevillages，andfromtheseatofwarcamecontradictorynews，falseasusualandthereforevariouslyinterpreted。ThelifeofoldPrinceBolkonski，PrinceAndrew，andPrincessMaryhadgreatlychangedsince1805。
　　In1806theoldprincewasmadeoneoftheeightcommandersinchiefthenappointedtosupervisetheenrollmentdecreedthroughoutRussia。Despitetheweaknessofage，whichhadbecomeparticularlynoticeablesincethetimewhenhethoughthissonhadbeenkilled，hedidnotthinkitrighttorefuseadutytowhichhehadbeenappointedbytheEmperorhimself，andthisfreshopportunityforactiongavehimnewenergyandstrength。Hewascontinuallytravelingthroughthethreeprovincesentrustedtohim，waspedanticinthefulfillmentofhisduties，severetocrueltywithhissubordinates，andwentintoeverythingdowntotheminutestdetailshimself。PrincessMaryhadceasedtakinglessonsinmathematicsfromherfather，andwhentheoldprincewasathomewenttohisstudywiththewetnurseandlittlePrinceNicholasashisgrandfathercalledhim。ThebabyPrinceNicholaslivedwithhiswetnurseandnurseSavishnainthelateprincess’roomsandPrincessMaryspentmostofthedayinthenursery，takingamother’splacetoherlittlenephewasbestshecould。MademoiselleBourienne，too，seemedpassionatelyfondoftheboy，andPrincessMaryoftendeprivedherselftogiveherfriendthepleasureofdandlingthelittleangel—asshecalledhernephew—andplayingwithhim。
　　NearthealtarofthechurchatBaldHillstherewasachapeloverthetombofthelittleprincess，andinthischapelwasamarblemonumentbroughtfromItaly，representinganangelwithoutspreadwingsreadytoflyupwards。Theangel’supperlipwasslightlyraisedasthoughabouttosmile，andonceoncomingoutofthechapelPrinceAndrewandPrincessMaryadmittedtooneanotherthattheangel’sfaceremindedthemstrangelyofthelittleprincess。Butwhatwasstillstranger，thoughofthisPrinceAndrewsaidnothingtohissister，wasthatintheexpressionthesculptorhadhappenedtogivetheangel’sface，PrinceAndrewreadthesamemildreproachhehadreadonthefaceofhisdeadwife："Ah，whyhaveyoudonethistome？"
　　SoonafterPrinceAndrew’sreturntheoldprincemadeovertohimalargeestate，Bogucharovo，abouttwenty—fivemilesfromBaldHills。PartlybecauseofthedepressingmemoriesassociatedwithBaldHills，partlybecausePrinceAndrewdidnotalwaysfeelequaltobearingwithhisfather’speculiarities，andpartlybecauseheneededsolitude，PrinceAndrewmadeuseofBogucharovo，beganbuildingandspentmostofhistimethere。
　　AftertheAusterlitzcampaignPrinceAndrewhadfirmlyresolvednottocontinuehismilitaryservice，andwhenthewarrecommencedandeverybodyhadtoserve，hetookapostunderhisfatherintherecruitmentsoastoavoidactiveservice。Theoldprinceandhissonseemedtohavechangedrolessincethecampaignof1805。Theoldman，rousedbyactivity，expectedthebestresultsfromthenewcampaign，whilePrinceAndrewonthecontrary，takingnopartinthewarandsecretlyregrettingthis，sawonlythedarkside。
　　OnFebruary26，1807，theoldprincesetoffononeofhiscircuits。
　　PrinceAndrewremainedatBaldHillsasusualduringhisfather’sabsence。LittleNicholashadbeenunwellforfourdays。ThecoachmanwhohaddriventheoldprincetotownreturnedbringingpapersandlettersforPrinceAndrew。
　　NotfindingtheyoungprinceinhisstudythevaletwentwiththeletterstoPrincessMary’sapartments，butdidnotfindhimthere。
　　Hewastoldthattheprincehadgonetothenursery。
　　"Ifyouplease，yourexcellency，Petrushahasbroughtsomepapers，"saidoneofthenursemaidstoPrinceAndrewwhowassittingonachild’slittlechairwhile，frowningandwithtremblinghands，hepoureddropsfromamedicinebottleintoawineglasshalffullofwater。
　　"Whatisit？"hesaidcrossly，and，hishandshakingunintentionally，hepouredtoomanydropsintotheglass。Hethrewthemixtureontothefloorandaskedforsomemorewater。Themaidbroughtit。