he previous day he had been told at the lodge that the rumour of the duel had reached the Emperor’s ears； and that it would be more judicious for him to withdraw from Petersburg。 Pierre proposed going to his estates in the south； and there occupying himself with the care of his peasants。 He was joyfully dreaming of this new life when Prince Vassily suddenly walked into his room。
“My dear fellow； what have you been about in Moscow？ What have you been quarrelling over with Ellen； my dear boy？ You have been making a mistake；” said Prince Vassily； as he came into the room。 “I have heard all about it； I can tell you for a fact that Ellen is as innocent in her conduct towards you as Christ was to the Jews。”
Pierre would have answered； but he interrupted him。
“And why didn’t you come simply and frankly to me as to a friend？ I know all about it； I understand it all；” said he。 “You have behaved as was proper for a man who valued his honour； too hastily； perhaps； but we won’t go into that。 One thing you must think of； the position you are placing her and me in； in the eyes of society and even of the court；” he added； dropping his voice。 “She is in Moscow； while you are here。 Think of it； my dear boy。” He drew him down by the arm。 “It’s simply a misunderstanding； I expect you feel it so yourself。 Write a letter with me now at once； and she’ll come here； and everything will be explained； or else； I tell you plainly； my dear boy； you may very easily have to suffer for it。”
Prince Vassily looked significantly at Pierre。
“I have learned from excellent sources that the Dowager Empress is taking a keen interest in the whole affair。 You know she is very graciously disposed to Ellen。”
Several times Pierre had prepared himself to speak； but on one hand Prince Vassily would not let him； and on the other hand Pierre himself was loath to begin to speak in the tone of resolute refusal and denial； in which he was firmly resolved to answer his father…in…law。 Moreover the words of the masonic precept： “Be thou friendly and courteous；” recurred to his mind。 He blinked and blushed； got up and sank back again； trying to force himself to do what was for him the hardest thing in life—to say an unpleasant thing to a man’s face； to say what was not expected by that man； whoever he might be。 He was so much in the habit of submitting to that tone of careless authority in which Prince Vassily spoke； that even now he felt incapable of resisting it。 But he felt； too； that on what he said now all his future fate would depend； that it would decide whether he continued along the old way of his past life； or advanced along the new path that had been so attractively pointed out to him by the masons； and that he firmly believed would lead him to regeneration in a new life。
“Come； my dear boy；” said Prince Vassily playfully； “simply say ‘yes；’ and I’ll write on my own account to her； and we’ll kill the fatted calf。” But before Prince Vassily had finished uttering his playful words； Pierre not looking at him； but with a fury in his face that made him like his father； whispered； “Prince； I did not invite you here： go； please； go！” He leaped up and opened the door to him。 “Go！” he repeated； amazed at himself and enjoying the expression of confusion and terror in the countenance of Prince Vassily。
“What’s the matter with you？ are you ill？”
“Go！” the quivering voice repeated once more。 And Prince Vassily had to go； without receiving a word of explanation。
A week later Pierre went away to his estates； after taking leave of his new friends； the freemasons； and leaving large sums in their hands for alms。 His new brethren gave him letters for Kiev and Odessa； to masons living there； and promised to write to him and guide him in his new activity。
Chapter 6
PIERRE’S DUEL with Dolohov was smoothed over； and in spite of the Tsar’s severity in regard to duels at that time； neither the principals nor the seconds suffered for it。 But the scandal of the duel； confirmed by Pierre’s rupture with his wife； made a great noise in society。 Pierre had been looked upon with patronising condescension when he was an illegitimate son； he had been made much of and extolled for his virtues while he was the wealthiest match in the Russian empire； but after his marriage； when young ladies and their mothers had nothing to hope from him； he had fallen greatly in the opinion of society； especially as he had neither the wit nor the wish to ingratiate himself in public favour。 Now the blame of the whole affair was thrown on him； it was said that he was insanely jealous； and subject to the same fits of blood…thirsty fury as his father had been。 And when； after Pierre’s departure； Ellen returned to Petersburg； she was received by all her acquaintances not only cordially； but with a shade of deference that was a tribute to her distress。 When the conversation touched upon her husband； Ellen assumed an expression of dignity； which her characteristic tact prompted her to adopt； though she had no conception of its significance。 That expression suggested that she had resolved to bear her affliction without complaint； and that her husband was a cross God had laid upon her。 Prince Vassily expressed his opinion more openly。 He shrugged his shoulders when the conversation turned upon Pierre； and pointing to his forehead； said：
“Crackbrained； I always said so。”
“I used to say so even before；” Anna Pavlovna would say of Pierre； “at the time I said at once and before every one” （she insisted on her priority） “that he was an insane young man； corrupted by the dissolute ideas of the age。 I used to say so at the time when every one was in such ecstasies over him； and he had only just come home from abroad； and do you remember at one of my soirées he thought fit to pose as a sort of Marat？ And how has it ended？ Even then I was against this marriage； and foretold all that has come to pass。”
Anna Pavlovna used still to give soirées on her free days as before； soirées such as only she had the gift of arranging； soirées at which were gathered “the cream of really good society； the flower of the intellectual essence of Petersburg society；” as Anna Pavlovna herself used to say。 Besides this fine sifting of the society； Anna Pavlovna’s soirées were further distinguished by some new interesting person； secured by the hostess on every occasion for the entertainment of the company。 Moreover； the point on the political thermometer； at which the temperature of loyal court society stood in Petersburg； was nowhere so clearly and unmistakably marked as at these soirées。
Towards the end of the year 1806； when all the melancholy details of Napoleon’s destruction of the Prussian army at Jena and Auerstadt； and the surrender of the greater number of the Prussian forts； had arrived； when our troops were already entering Prussia； and our second war with Napoleon was beginning； Anna Pavlovna was giving one of her soirées。 “The cream of really good society” consisted of the fascinating and unhappy Ellen； abandoned by her husband； of Mortemart； of the fascinating Prince Ippolit； who had just come home from Vienna； of two diplomats； of the old aunt； of a young man； always referred to in that society by the designation； “a man of a great deal of merit …”； of a newly appointed maid of honour and her mother； and several other less noteworthy persons。
The novelty Anna Pavlovna was offering her guests for their entertainment that evening was Boris Drubetskoy； who had just arrived as a special messenger from the Prussian army； and was in the suite of a personage of very high rank。
What the political thermometer indicated at that soirée was something as follows： All the European rulers and generals may do their utmost to flatter Bonaparte with the object of causing me and us generally these annoyances and mortifications； but our opinion in regard to Bonaparte can undergo no change。 We do not cease giving undisguised expression to our way of thinking on the subject； and can only say to the Prussian king and others： “So much the worse for you。” “Tu l’as voulu； George Dandin；” that’s all we can say。 This was what the political thermometer indicated at Anna Pavlovna’s soir�