"MypoorhusbandisenduringpainsandhungerinJewishtaverns，butthenewswhichIhaveinspiresmeyetmore。
"YouheardprobablyoftheheroicexploitofRaevski，embracinghistwosonsandsaying：’Iwillperishwiththembutwewillnotbeshaken！’Andtrulythoughtheenemywastwicestrongerthanwe，wewereunshakable。Wepassthetimeaswecan，butinwarasinwar！TheprincessesAlineandSophiesitwholedayswithme，andwe，unhappywidowsoflivemen，makebeautifulconversationsoverourcharpie，onlyyou，myfriend，aremissing……"andsoon。
ThechiefreasonPrincessMarydidnotrealizethefullsignificanceofthiswarwasthattheoldprinceneverspokeofit，didnotrecognizeit，andlaughedatDessalleswhenhementioneditatdinner。
Theprince’stonewassocalmandconfidentthatPrincessMaryunhesitatinglybelievedhim。
AllthatJulytheoldprincewasexceedinglyactiveandevenanimated。Heplannedanothergardenandbegananewbuildingforthedomesticserfs。TheonlythingthatmadePrincessMaryanxiousabouthimwasthathesleptverylittleand，insteadofsleepinginhisstudyasusual，changedhissleepingplaceeveryday。Onedayhewouldorderhiscampbedtobesetupintheglassgallery，anotherdayheremainedonthecouchorontheloungechairinthedrawingroomanddozedtherewithoutundressing，while—insteadofMademoiselleBourienne—aserfboyreadtohim。Thenagainhewouldspendanightinthediningroom。
OnAugust1，asecondletterwasreceivedfromPrinceAndrew。Inhisfirstletterwhichcamesoonafterhehadlefthome，PrinceAndrewhaddutifullyaskedhisfather’sforgivenessforwhathehadallowedhimselftosayandbeggedtoberestoredtohisfavor。Tothislettertheoldprincehadrepliedaffectionately，andfromthattimehadkepttheFrenchwomanatatPrinceAndrew’ssecondletter，writtennearVitebskaftertheFrenchhadoccupiedthattown，gaveabriefaccountofthewholecampaign，enclosedforthemaplanhehaddrawnandforecastsastothefurtherprogressofthewar。InthisletterPrinceAndrewpointedouttohisfatherthedangerofstayingatBaldHills，sonearthetheaterofwarandonthearmy’sdirectlineofmarch，andadvisedhimtomovetoMoscow。
Atdinnerthatday，onDessalles’mentioningthattheFrenchweresaidtohavealreadyenteredVitebsk，theoldprincerememberedhisson’sletter。
"TherewasaletterfromPrinceAndrewtoday，"hesaidtoPrincessMary—"Haven’tyoureadit？"
"No，Father，"sherepliedinafrightenedvoice。
Shecouldnothavereadtheletterasshedidnotevenknowithadarrived。
"Hewritesaboutthiswar，"saidtheprince，withtheironicsmilethathadbecomehabitualtohiminspeakingofthepresentwar。
"Thatmustbeveryinteresting，"saidDessalles。"PrinceAndrewisinapositiontoknow……"
"Oh，veryinteresting！"saidMademoiselleBourienne。
"Goandgetitforme，"saidtheoldprincetoMademoiselleBourienne。"Youknow—underthepaperweightonthelittletable。"
MademoiselleBouriennejumpedupeagerly。
"No，don’t！"heexclaimedwithafrown。"Yougo，MichaelIvanovich。"
MichaelIvanovichroseandwenttothestudy。Butassoonashehadlefttheroomtheoldprince，lookinguneasilyround，threwdownhisnapkinandwenthimself。
"Theycan’tdoanything……alwaysmakesomemuddle，"hemuttered。
WhilehewasawayPrincessMary，Dessalles，MademoiselleBourienne，andevenlittleNicholasexchangedlooksinsilence。Theoldprincereturnedwithquicksteps，accompaniedbyMichaelIvanovich，bringingtheletterandaplan。Theseheputdownbesidehim—notlettinganyonereadthematdinner。
OnmovingtothedrawingroomhehandedthelettertoPrincessMaryand，spreadingoutbeforehimtheplanofthenewbuildingandfixinghiseyesuponit，toldhertoreadtheletteraloud。WhenshehaddonesoPrincessMarylookedinquiringlyatherfather。Hewasexaminingtheplan，evidentlyengrossedinhisownideas。
"Whatdoyouthinkofit，Prince？"Dessallesventuredtoask。
"I？I？……"saidtheprinceasifunpleasantlyawakened，andnottakinghiseyesfromtheplanofthebuilding。
"Verypossiblythetheaterofwarwillmovesoneartousthat……"
"Hahaha！Thetheaterofwar！"saidtheprince。"IhavesaidandstillsaythatthetheaterofwarisPolandandtheenemywillnevergetbeyondtheNiemen。"
Dessalleslookedinamazementattheprince，whowastalkingoftheNiemenwhentheenemywasalreadyattheDnieper，butPrincessMary，forgettingthegeographicalpositionoftheNiemen，thoughtthatwhatherfatherwassayingwascorrect。
"Whenthesnowmeltsthey’llsinkinthePolishswamps。Onlytheycouldfailtoseeit，"theprincecontinued，evidentlythinkingofthecampaignof1807whichseemedtohimsorecent。"BennigsenshouldhaveadvancedintoPrussiasooner，thenthingswouldhavetakenadifferentturn……"
"But，Prince，"Dessallesbegantimidly，"thelettermentionsVitebsk……"
"Ah，theletter？Yes……"repliedtheprincepeevishly。"Yes……
yes……"Hisfacesuddenlytookonamoroseexpression。Hepaused。
"Yes，hewritesthattheFrenchwerebeatenat……at……whatriverisit？"
Dessallesdroppedhiseyes。
"Theprincesaysnothingaboutthat，"heremarkedgently。
"Doesn’the？ButIdidn’tinventitmyself。"
Noonespokeforalongtime。
"Yes……yes……Well，MichaelIvanovich，"hesuddenlywenton，raisinghisheadandpointingtotheplanofthebuilding，"tellmehowyoumeantoalterit……"
MichaelIvanovichwentuptotheplan，andtheprinceafterspeakingtohimaboutthebuildinglookedangrilyatPrincessMaryandDessallesandwenttohisownroom。
PrincessMarysawDessalles’embarrassedandastonishedlookfixedonherfather，noticedhissilence，andwasstruckbythefactthatherfatherhadforgottenhisson’sletteronthedrawing—roomtable；
butshewasnotonlyafraidtospeakofitandaskDessallesthereasonofhisconfusionandsilence，butwasafraideventothinkaboutit。
IntheeveningMichaelIvanovich，sentbytheprince，cametoPrincessMaryforPrinceAndrew’sletterwhichhadbeenforgotteninthedrawingroom。Shegaveittohimand，unpleasantasitwastohertodoso，venturedtoaskhimwhatherfatherwasdoing。
"Alwaysbusy，"repliedMichaelIvanovichwitharespectfullyironicsmilewhichcausedPrincessMarytoturnpale。"He’sworryingverymuchaboutthenewbuilding。Hehasbeenreadingalittle，butnow"—MichaelIvanovichwenton，loweringhisvoice—"nowhe’sathisdesk，busywithhiswill，Iexpect。"Oneoftheprince’sfavoriteoccupationsoflatehadbeenthepreparationofsomepapershemeanttoleaveathisdeathandwhichhecalledhis"will。"
"AndAlpatychisbeingsenttoSmolensk？"askedPrincessMary。
"Oh，yes，hehasbeenwaitingtostartforsometime。"
BK10CH3
CHAPTERIII
WhenMichaelIvanovichreturnedtothestudywiththeletter，theoldprince，withspectaclesonandashadeoverhiseyes，wassittingathisopenbureauwithscreenedcandles，holdingapaperinhisoutstretchedhand，andinasomewhatdramaticattitudewasreadinghismanuscript—his"Remarks"ashetermedit—whichwastobetransmittedtotheEmperorafterhisdeath。
WhenMichaelIvanovichwentinthereweretearsintheprince’seyesevokedbythememoryofthetimewhenthepaperhewasnowreadinghadbeenwritten。HetooktheletterfromMichaelIvanovich’shand，putitinhispocket，foldeduphispapers，andcalledinAlpatychwhohadlongbeenwaiting。
TheprincehadalistofthingstobeboughtinSmolenskand，walkingupanddowntheroompastAlpatychwhostoodbythedoor，hegavehisinstructions。
"First，notepaper—doyouhear？Eightquires，likethissample，gilt—edged……itmustbeexactlylikethesample。Varnish，sealingwax，asinMichaelIvanovich’slist。"
Hepacedupanddownforawhileandglancedathisnotes。
"Thenhandtothegovernorinpersonaletteraboutthedeed。"
Next，boltsforthedoorsofthenewbuildingwerewantedandhadtobeofaspecialshapetheprincehadhimselfdesigned，andaleathercasehadtobeorderedtokeepthe"will"in。
TheinstructionstoAlpatychtookovertwohoursandstilltheprincedidnotlethimgo。Hesatdown，sankintothought，closedhiseyes，anddozedoff。Alpatychmadeaslightmovement。
"Well，go，go！IfanythingmoreiswantedI’llsendafteryou。"
Alpatychwentout。Theprinceagainwenttohisbureau，glancedintoit，fingeredhispapers，closedthebureauagain，andsatdownatthetabletowritetothegovernor。
Itwasalreadylatewhenheroseaftersealingtheletter。Hewishedtosleep，butheknewhewouldnotbeabletoandthatmostdepressingthoughtscametohiminbed。SohecalledTikhonandwentthroughtheroomswithhimtoshowhimwheretosetupthebedforthatnight。
Hewentaboutlookingateverycorner。Everyplaceseemedunsatisfactory，butworstofallwashiscustomarycouchinthestudy。
Thatcouchwasdreadfultohim，probablybecauseoftheoppressivethoughtshehadhadwhenlyingthere。Itwasunsatisfactoryeverywhere，butthecornerbehindthepianointhesittingroomwasbetterthanotherplaces：hehadneversleptthereyet。
WiththehelpofafootmanTikhonbroughtinthebedsteadandbeganputtingitup。
"That’snotright！That’snotright！"criedtheprince，andhimselfpusheditafewinchesfromthecornerandthencloserinagain。
"Well，atlastI’vefinished，nowI’llrest，"thoughttheprince，andletTikhonundresshim。
Frowningwithvexationattheeffortnecessarytodivesthimselfofhiscoatandtrousers，theprinceundressed，satdownheavilyonthebed，andappearedtobemeditatingashelookedcontemptuouslyathiswitheredyellowlegs。Hewasnotmeditating，butonlydeferringthemomentofmakingtheefforttoliftthoselegsupandturnoveronthebed。"Ugh，howharditis！Oh，thatthistoilmightendandyouwouldreleaseme！"thoughthe。Pressinghislipstogetherhemadethateffortforthetwenty—thousandthtimeandlaydown。Buthardlyhadhedonesobeforehefeltthebedrockingbackwardsandforwardsbeneathhimasifitwerebreathingheavilyandjolting。Thishappenedtohimalmosteverynight。Heopenedhiseyesastheywereclosing。
"Nopeace，damnthem！"hemuttered，angryheknewnotwithwhom。"Ahyes，therewassomethingelseimportant，veryimportant，thatIwaskeepingtillIshouldbeinbed。Thebolts？No，Itoldhimaboutthem。
No，itwassomething，somethinginthedrawingroom。PrincessMarytalkedsomenonsense。Dessalles，thatfool，saidsomething。
Somethinginmypocket—can’tremember……"
"Tikhon，whatdidwetalkaboutatdinner？"
"AboutPrinceMichael……"
"Bequiet，quiet！"Theprinceslappedhishandonthetable。"Yes，I
know，PrinceAndrew’sletter！PrincessMaryreadit。DessallessaidsomethingaboutVitebsk。NowI’llreadit。"
Hehadthelettertakenfromhispocketandthetable—onwhichstoodaglassoflemonadeandaspiralwaxcandle—movedclosetothebed，andputtingonhisspectacleshebeganreading。Onlynowinthestillnessofthenight，readingitbythefaintlightunderthegreenshade，didhegraspitsmeaningforamoment。
"TheFrenchatVitebsk，infourdays’marchtheymaybeatSmolensk；
perhapsarealreadythere！Tikhon！"Tikhonjumpedup。"No，no，Idon’twantanything！"heshouted。
Heputtheletterunderthecandlestickandclosedhiseyes。AndthererosebeforehimtheDanubeatbrightnoonday：reeds，theRussiancamp，andhimselfayounggeneralwithoutawrinkleonhisruddyface，vigorousandalert，enteringPotemkin’sgailycoloredtent，andaburningsenseofjealousyof"thefavorite"agitatedhimnowasstronglyasithaddonethen。HerecalledallthewordsspokenatthatfirstmeetingwithPotemkin。Andhesawbeforehimaplump，rathersallow—faced，short，stoutwoman，theEmpressMother，withhersmileandherwordsatherfirstgraciousreceptionofhim，andthenthatsamefaceonthecatafalque，andtheencounterhehadwithZubovoverhercoffinabouthisrighttokissherhand。
"Oh，quicker，quicker！Togetbacktothattimeandhavedonewithallthepresent！Quicker，quicker—andthattheyshouldleavemeinpeace！"
BK10CH4
CHAPTERIV
BaldHills，PrinceNicholasBolkonski’sestate，layfortymileseastfromSmolenskandtwomilesfromthemainroadtoMoscow。
ThesameeveningthattheprincegavehisinstructionstoAlpatych，Dessalles，havingaskedtoseePrincessMary，toldherthat，astheprincewasnotverywellandwastakingnostepstosecurehissafety，thoughfromPrinceAndrew’sletteritwasevidentthattoremainatBaldHillsmightbedangerous，herespectfullyadvisedhertosendaletterbyAlpatychtotheProvincialGovernoratSmolensk，askinghimtoletherknowthestateofaffairsandtheextentofthedangertowhichBaldHillswasexposed。DessalleswrotethislettertotheGovernorforPrincessMary，shesignedit，anditwasgiventoAlpatychwithinstructionstohandittotheGovernorandtocomebackasquicklyaspossibleiftherewasdanger。
HavingreceivedallhisordersAlpatych，wearingawhitebeaverhat—
apresentfromtheprince—andcarryingastickastheprincedid，wentoutaccompaniedbyhisfamily。Threewell—fedroansstoodreadyharnessedtoasmallconveyancewithaleatherhood。
Thelargerbellwasmuffledandthelittlebellsontheharnessstuffedwithpaper。TheprinceallowednooneatBaldHillstodrivewithringingbells；butonalongjourneyAlpatychlikedtohavethem。
Hissatellites—theseniorclerk，acountinghouseclerk，ascullerymaid，acook，twooldwomen，alittlepageboy，thecoachman，andvariousdomesticserfs—wereseeinghimoff。
Hisdaughterplacedchintz—covereddowncushionsforhimtositonandbehindhisback。Hisoldsister—in—lawpoppedinasmallbundle，andoneofthecoachmenhelpedhimintothevehicle。
"There！There！Women’sfuss！Women，women！"saidAlpatych，puffingandspeakingrapidlyjustastheprincedid，andheclimbedintothetrap。
Aftergivingtheclerkordersabouttheworktobedone，Alpatych，nottryingtoimitatetheprincenow，liftedthehatfromhisbaldheadandcrossedhimselfthreetimes。
"Ifthereisanything……comeback，YakovAlpatych！ForChrist’ssakethinkofus！"criedhiswife，referringtotherumorsofwarandtheenemy。
"Women，women！Women’sfuss！"mutteredAlpatychtohimselfandstartedonhisjourney，lookingroundatthefieldsofyellowryeandthestill—green，thicklygrowingoats，andatotherquiteblackfieldsjustbeingplowedasecondtime。
Ashewentalonghelookedwithpleasureattheyear’ssplendidcropofcorn，scrutinizedthestripsofryefieldwhichhereandtherewerealreadybeingreaped，madehiscalculationsastothesowingandtheharvest，andaskedhimselfwhetherhehadnotforgottenanyoftheprince’sorders。
Havingbaitedthehorsestwiceontheway，hearrivedatthetowntowardeveningonthefourthofAugust。
Alpatychkeptmeetingandovertakingbaggagetrainsandtroopsontheroad。AsheapproachedSmolenskheheardthesoundsofdistantfiring，butthesedidnotimpresshim。Whatstruckhimmostwasthesightofasplendidfieldofoatsinwhichacamphadbeenpitchedandwhichwasbeingmowndownbythesoldiers，evidentlyforfodder。
ThisfactimpressedAlpatych，butinthinkingabouthisownbusinesshesoonforgotit。
Alltheinterestsofhislifeformorethanthirtyyearshadbeenboundedbythewilloftheprince，andheneverwentbeyondthatlimit。Everythingnotconnectedwiththeexecutionoftheprince’sordersdidnotinterestanddidnotevenexistforAlpatych。
OnreachingSmolenskontheeveningofthefourthofAugustheputupintheGachinasuburbacrosstheDnieper，attheinnkeptbyFerapontov，wherehehadbeeninthehabitofputtingupforthelastthirtyyears。SomethirtyyearsagoFerapontov，byAlpatych’sadvice，hadboughtawoodfromtheprince，hadbeguntotrade，andnowhadahouse，aninn，andacorndealer’sshopinthatprovince。Hewasastout，dark，red—facedpeasantintheforties，withthicklips，abroadknobofanose，similarknobsoverhisblackfrowningbrows，andaroundbelly。
Wearingawaistcoatoverhiscottonshirt，Ferapontovwasstandingbeforehisshopwhichopenedontothestreet。OnseeingAlpatychhewentuptohim。
"You’rewelcome，YakovAlpatych。Folksareleavingthetown，butyouhavecometoit，"saidhe。
"Whyaretheyleavingthetown？"askedAlpatych。
"That’swhatIsay。Folksarefoolish！AlwaysafraidoftheFrench。"
"Women’sfuss，women’sfuss！"saidAlpatych。
"JustwhatIthink，YakovAlpatych。WhatIsayis：ordershavebeengivennottoletthemin，sothatmustberight。Andthepeasantsareaskingthreerublesforcarting—itisn’tChristian！"
YakovAlpatychheardwithoutheeding。Heaskedforasamovarandforhayforhishorses，andwhenhehadhadhisteahewenttobed。
Allnightlongtroopsweremovingpasttheinn。NextmorningAlpatychdonnedajacketheworeonlyintownandwentoutonbusiness。Itwasasunnymorningandbyeighto’clockitwasalreadyhot。"Agooddayforharvesting，"thoughtAlpatych。
Frombeyondthetownfiringhadbeenheardsinceearlymorning。Ateighto’clocktheboomingofcannonwasaddedtothesoundofmusketry。Manypeoplewerehurryingthroughthestreetsandthereweremanysoldiers，butcabswerestilldrivingabout，tradesmenstoodattheirshops，andservicewasbeingheldinthechurchesasusual。
Alpatychwenttotheshops，togovernmentoffices，tothepostoffice，andtotheGovernor’s。Intheofficesandshopsandatthepostofficeeveryonewastalkingaboutthearmyandabouttheenemywhowasalreadyattackingthetown，everybodywasaskingwhatshouldbedone，andallweretryingtocalmoneanother。
InfrontoftheGovernor’shouseAlpatychfoundalargenumberofpeople，Cossacks，andatravelingcarriageoftheGovernor’s。Attheporchhemettwoofthelandedgentry，oneofwhomheknew。Thisman，anex—captainofpolice，wassayingangrily：
"It’snojoke，youknow！It’sallverywellifyou’resingle。’Onemanthoughundoneisbutone，’astheproverbsays，butwiththirteeninyourfamilyandalltheproperty……They’vebroughtustoutterruin！Whatsortofgovernorsaretheytodothat？Theyoughttobehanged—thebrigands！……"
"Ohcome，that’senough！"saidtheother。
"WhatdoIcare？Lethimhear！We’renotdogs，"saidtheex—captainofpolice，andlookingroundhenoticedAlpatych。
"Oh，YakovAlpatych！Whathaveyoucomefor？"
"ToseetheGovernorbyhisexcellency’sorder，"answeredAlpatych，liftinghisheadandproudlythrustinghishandintothebosomofhiscoatashealwaysdidwhenhementionedtheprince……Hehasorderedmetoinquireintothepositionofaffairs，"headded。
"Yes，goandfindout！"shoutedtheangrygentleman。"They’vebroughtthingstosuchapassthattherearenocartsoranything！……Thereitisagain，doyouhear？"saidhe，pointinginthedirectionwhencecamethesoundsoffiring。
"They’vebroughtusalltoruin……thebrigands！"herepeated，anddescendedtheporchsteps。
Alpatychswayedhisheadandwentupstairs。Inthewaitingroomweretradesmen，women，andofficials，lookingsilentlyatoneanother。
ThedooroftheGovernor’sroomopenedandtheyallroseandmovedforward。Anofficialranout，saidsomewordstoamerchant，calledastoutofficialwithacrosshangingonhisnecktofollowhim，andvanishedagain，evidentlywishingtoavoidtheinquiringlooksandquestionsaddressedtohim。Alpatychmovedforwardandnexttimetheofficialcameoutaddressedhim，onehandplacedinthebreastofhisbuttonedcoat，andhandedhimtwoletters。
"TohisHonorBaronAsch，fromGeneral—in—ChiefPrinceBolkonski，"
heannouncedwithsuchsolemnityandsignificancethattheofficialturnedtohimandtooktheletters。
AfewminuteslatertheGovernorreceivedAlpatychandhurriedlysaidtohim：
"InformtheprinceandprincessthatIknewnothing：Iactedonthehighestinstructions—here……"andhehandedapapertoAlpatych。"Still，astheprinceisunwellmyadviceisthattheyshouldgotoMoscow。Iamjuststartingmyself。Informthem……"
ButtheGovernordidnotfinish：adustyperspiringofficerranintotheroomandbegantosaysomethinginFrench。TheGovernor’sfaceexpressedterror。
"Go，"hesaid，noddinghisheadtoAlpatych，andbeganquestioningtheofficer。
Eager，frightened，helplessglanceswereturnedonAlpatychwhenhecameoutoftheGovernor’sroom。Involuntarilylisteningnowtothefiring，whichhaddrawnnearerandwasincreasinginstrength，Alpatychhurriedtohisinn。ThepaperhandedtohimbytheGovernorsaidthis：
"IassureyouthatthetownofSmolenskisnotintheslightestdangerasyetanditisunlikelythatitwillbethreatenedwithany。IfromtheonesideandPrinceBagrationfromtheotheraremarchingtouniteourforcesbeforeSmolensk，whichjunctionwillbeeffectedonthe22ndinstant，andbotharmieswiththeirunitedforceswilldefendourcompatriotsoftheprovinceentrustedtoyourcaretilloureffortsshallhavebeatenbacktheenemiesofourFatherland，ortillthelastwarriorinourvaliantrankshasperished。FromthisyouwillseethatyouhaveaperfectrighttoreassuretheinhabitantsofSmolensk，forthosedefendedbytwosuchbravearmiesmayfeelassuredofvictory。"InstructionsfromBarclaydeTollytoBaronAsch，thecivilgovernorofSmolensk，1812。
Peoplewereanxiouslyroamingaboutthestreets。
Cartspiledhighwithhouseholdutensils，chairs，andcupboardskeptemergingfromthegatesoftheyardsandmovingalongthestreets。
LoadedcartsstoodatthehousenexttoFerapontov’sandwomenwerewailingandlamentingastheysaidgood—by。Asmallwatchdogranroundbarkinginfrontoftheharnessedhorses。
Alpatychenteredtheinnyardataquickerpacethanusualandwentstraighttotheshedwherehishorsesandtrapwere。Thecoachmanwasasleep。Hewokehimup，toldhimtoharness，andwentintothepassage。Fromthehost’sroomcamethesoundsofachildcrying，thedespairingsobsofawoman，andthehoarseangryshoutingofFerapontov。Thecookbeganrunninghitherandthitherinthepassagelikeafrightenedhen，justasAlpatychentered。
"He’sdonehertodeath。Killedthemistress！……Beather……draggedheraboutso！……"
"Whatfor？"askedAlpatych。
"Shekeptbeggingtogoaway。She’sawoman！’Takemeaway，’saysshe，’don’tletmeperishwithmylittlechildren！Folks，’shesays，’areallgone，sowhy，’shesays，’don’twego？’Andhebeganbeatingandpullingheraboutso！"
AtthesewordsAlpatychnoddedasifinapproval，andnotwishingtohearmorewenttothedooroftheroomoppositetheinnkeeper’s，wherehehadlefthispurchases。
"Youbrute，youmurderer！"screamedathin，palewomanwho，withababyinherarmsandherkerchieftornfromherhead，burstthroughthedooratthatmomentanddownthestepsintothe...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
第27章