战争与和平(上)-第19部分

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“Why；　my　poor　Katish；　it　is　as　clear　as　daylight。　He　will　then　be　the　only　legal　heir　of　all；　and　you　won’t　receive　as　much　as　this；　see。　You　ought　to　know；　my　dear；　whether　the　will　and　the　petition　were　written；　and　whether　they　have　been　destroyed；　and　if　they　have　somehow　been　overlooked；　then　you　ought　to　know　where　they　are　and　to　find　them；　because　…”
“That　would　be　rather　too　much！”　the　princess　interrupted　him；　smiling　sardonically；　with　no　change　in　the　expression　of　her　eyes。　“I　am　a　woman；　and　you　think　we　are　all　silly；　but　I　do　know　so　much；　that　an　illegitimate　son　can’t　inherit　…　Un　batard；”　she　added；　supposing　that　by　this　translation　of　the　word　she　was　conclusively　proving　to　the　prince　the　groundlessness　of　his　contention。
“How　can　you　not　understand；　Katish；　really！　You　are　so　intelligent；　how　is　it　you　don’t　understand　that　if　the　count　has　written　a　letter　to　the　Emperor；　begging　him　to　recognise　his　son　as　legitimate；　then　Pierre　will　not　be　Pierre　but　Count　Bezuhov；　and　then　he　will　inherit　everything　under　the　will？　And　if　the　will　and　the　letter　have　not　been　destroyed；　then　except　the　consolation　of　having　been　dutiful　and　of　all　that　results　from　having　done　your　duty；　nothing　is　left　for　you。　That’s　the　fact。”
“I　know　that　the　will　was　made；　but　I　know；　too；　that　it　is　invalid；　and　you　seem　to　take　me　for　a　perfect　fool；　mon　cousin；”　said　the　princess；　with　the　air　with　which　women　speak　when　they　imagine　they　are　saying　something　witty　and　biting。
“My　dear　princess；　Katerina　Semyonovna！”　Prince　Vassily　began　impatiently；　“I　have　come　to　you　not　to　provoke　you；　but　to　talk　to　you　as　a　kinswoman；　a　good；　kind…hearted；　true　kinswoman；　of　your　own　interests。　I　tell　you　for　the　tenth　time　that　if　the　letter　to　the　Emperor　and　the　will　in　Pierre’s　favour　are　among　the　count’s　papers；　you；　my　dear　girl；　and　your　sisters　are　not　heiresses。　If　you　don’t　believe　me；　believe　people　who　know；　I　have　just　been　talking　to　Dmitry　Onufritch”　（this　was　the　family　solicitor）；　“he　said　the　same。”
There　was　obviously　some　sudden　change　in　the　princess’s　ideas；　her　thin　lips　turned　white　（her　eyes　did　not　change）；　and　when　she　began　to　speak；　her　voice　passed　through　transitions；　which　she　clearly　did　not　herself　anticipate。
“That　would　be　a　pretty　thing；”　she　said。　“I　wanted　nothing；　and　I　want　nothing。”　She　flung　her　dog　off　her　lap　and　smoothed　out　the　folds　of　her　skirt。
“That’s　the　gratitude；　that’s　the　recognition　people　get　who　have　sacrificed　everything　for　him；”　she　said。　“Very　nice！　Excellent！　I　don’t　want　anything；　prince。”
“Yes；　but　you　are　not　alone；　you　have　sisters；”　answered　Prince　Vassily。　But　the　princess　did　not　heed　him。
“Yes；　I　knew　it　long　ago；　but　I’d　forgotten　that　I　could　expect　nothing　in　this　house　but　baseness；　deceit；　envy；　scheming；　nothing　but　ingratitude；　the　blackest　ingratitude　…”
“Do　you　or　do　you　not　know　where　that　will　is？”　asked　Prince　Vassily；　the　twitching　of　his　cheeks　more　marked　than　ever。
“Yes；　I　have　been　foolish；　I　still　kept　faith　in　people；　and　cared　for　them　and　sacrificed　myself。　But　no　one　succeeds　except　those　who　are　base　and　vile。　I　know　whose　plotting　this　is。”
The　princess　would　have　risen；　but　the　prince　held　her　by　the　arm。　The　princess　had　the　air　of　a　person　who　has　suddenly　lost　faith　in　the　whole　human　race。　She　looked　viciously　at　her　companion。
“There　is　still　time；　my　dear。　Remember；　Katish；　that　all　this　was　done　heedlessly；　in　a　moment　of　anger；　of　illness；　and　then　forgotten。　Our　duty；　my　dear　girl；　is　to　correct　his　mistake；　to　soften　his　last　moments　by　not　letting　him　commit　this　injustice；　not　letting　him　die　with　the　thought　that　he　has　made　miserable　those　…”
“Those　who　have　sacrificed　everything　for　him；”　the　princess　caught　him　up；　and　she　made　an　impulsive　effort　again　to　stand　up；　but　the　prince　would　not　let　her；　“a　sacrifice　he　has　never　known　how　to　appreciate。　No；　mon　cousin；”　she　added；　with　a　sigh；　“I　will　remember　that　one　can　expect　no　reward　in　this　world；　that　in　this　world　there　is　no　honour；　no　justice。　Cunning　and　wickedness　is　what　one　wants　in　this　world。”
“Come；　voyons；　calm　yourself；　I　know　your　noble　heart。”
“No；　I　have　a　wicked　heart。”
“I　know　your　heart；”　repeated　the　prince。　“I　value　your　affection；　and　I　could　wish　you　had　the　same　opinion　of　me。　Calm　yourself　and　let　us　talk　sensibly　while　there　is　time—perhaps　twenty…four　hours；　perhaps　one。　Tell　me　all　you　know　about　the　will；　and　what’s　of　most　consequence；　where　it　is；　you　must　know。　We　will　take　it　now　at　once　and　show　it　to　the　count。　He　has　no　doubt　forgotten　about　it　and　would　wish　to　destroy　it。　You　understand　that　my　desire　is　to　carry　out　his　wishes　religiously。　That　is　what　I　came　here　for。　I　am　only　here　to　be　of　use　to　him　and　to　you。”
“Now　I　see　it　all。　I　know　whose　plotting　this　is。　I　know；”　the　princess　was　saying。
“That’s　not　the　point；　my　dear。”
“It’s　all　your　precious　Anna　Mihalovna；　your　protégée　whom　I　wouldn’t　take　as　a　housemaid；　the　nasty　creature。”
“Do　not　let　us　waste　time。”
“Oh；　don’t　talk　to　me！　Last　winter　she　forced　her　way　in　here　and　told　such　a　pack　of　vile；　mean　tales　to　the　count　about　all　of　us；　especially　Sophie—I　can’t　repeat　them—that　it　made　the　count　ill；　and　he　wouldn’t　see　us　for　a　fortnight。　It　was　at　that　time；　I　know；　he　wrote　that　hateful；　infamous　document；　but　I　thought　it　was　of　no　consequence。”
“There　we　are。　Why　didn’t　you　tell　us　about　it　before？”
“It’s　in　the　inlaid　portfolio　that　he　keeps　under　his　pillow。　Now　I　know；”　said　the　princess；　making　no　reply。　“Yes；　if　I　have　a　sin　to　my　account；　a　great　sin；　it’s　my　hatred　of　that　infamous　woman；”　almost　shrieked　the　princess；　utterly　transformed。　“And　why　does　she　force　herself　in　here？　But　I’ll　have　it　out　with　her。　The　time　will　come！”


Chapter　19
AT　THE　TIME　that　these　conversations　were　taking　place　in　the　reception…room　and　the　princess’s　room；　a　carriage　with　Pierre　（who　had　been　sent　for）　and　Anna　Mihalovna　（who　had　thought　fit　to　come　with　him）　in　it　was　driving　into　the　court　of　Count　Bezuhov’s　mansion。　When　the　sound　of　the　carriage　wheels　was　muffled　by　the　straw　in　the　street；　Anna　Mihalovna　turned　with　words　of　consolation　to　her　companion；　discovered　that　he　was　asleep　in　his　corner　of　the　carriage；　and　waked　him　up。　Rousing　himself；　Pierre　followed　Anna　Mihalovna　out　of　the　carriage；　and　only　then　began　to　think　of　the　interview　with　his　dying　father　that　awaited　him。　He　noticed　that　they　had　driven　not　up　to　the　visitors’　approach；　but　to　the　back　entrance。　As　he　got　down　from　the　carriage　step；　two　men　in　the　dress　of　tradesmen　hastily　scurried　away　from　the　entrance　into　the　shadow　of　the　wall。　Pierre；　as　he　stood　waiting；　noticed　several　other　similar　persons　standing　in　the　shadow　of　the　house　on　both　sides。　But　neither　Anna　Mihalovna　nor　the　footman　and　coachman；　who　must　have　seen　these　people；　took　any　notice　of　them。　So　it　must　be　all　right；　Pierre　decided；　and　he　followed　Anna　Mihalovna。　With　hurrying　footsteps　Anna　Mihalovna　walked　up　the　dimly　lighted；　narrow　stone　staircase；　urging　on　Pierre；　who　lagged　behind。　Though　Pierre　had　no　notion　why　he　had　to　go　to　the　count　at　all；　and　still　less　why　he　had　to　go　by　the　back　stairs；　yet；　impressed　by　Anna　Mihalovna’s　assurance　and　haste；　he　made　up　his　mind　that　it　was　undoubtedly　necessary　for　him　to　do　so。　Half…way　up　the　stairs　they　were　almost　knocked　over　by　some　men　with　pails；　who　ran　down　towards　them；　tramping　loudly　with　their　big　boots。　These　men　huddled　up　against　the　wall　to　let　Pierre　and　Anna　Mihalovna　pass；　and　showed　not　the　slightest　surprise　at　seeing　them。
“Is　this　the　princess’s　side　of　the　house？”　Anna　Mihalovna　asked　of　one　of　them　…
“Yes；　it　is；”　answered　the　footman　in　a　bold；　loud　voice；　as　though　anything　were　permissible　at　such　a　time；　“the　door　on　the　left；　ma’am。”
“Perhaps　the　count　has　not　asked　for　me；”　said　Pierre；　as　he　reached　the　landing。　“I　had　better　go　to　my　own　room。”　Anna　Mihalovna　stopped　for　Pierre　to　catch　her　up。
“Ah；　mon　ami；”　she　said；　touching　his　hand　with　just　the　same　gesture　as　she　had　used　in　the　morning　with　her　son。　“Believe　me；　I　am　suffering　as　much　as　you；　but　be　a　man。”
“Really；　had　I　not　better　go？”　Pierre　asked　affectionately；　looking　at　her　over　his　spectacles。
“Ah；　mon　ami；　forget　the　wrong　that　may　have　been　done　you；　think　that　it　is　your　father　…　and　perhaps　in　his　death　agony；”　she　sighed。　“I　have　loved　you　like　a　son　from　the　first。　Trust　in　me；　Pierre。　I　shall　not　forget　your　interests。”
Pierre　did　not　understand　a　word。　Again　he　felt　more　strongly　than　before　that　all　this　had　to　be　so；　and　he　obediently　followed　Anna　Mihalovna；　who　was　already　opening　the　door。　The　door　led　into　the　vestibule　of　the　back　stairs。　In　the　corner　sat　the　princess’s　old　man…servant　knitting　stockings。　Pierre　had　never　been　in　this　part　of　the　house；　and　had　not　even　suspected　the　existence　of　these　apartments。　A　maid…servant　carrying　a　tray　with　a　decanter　overtook　them；　and　Anna　Mihalovna　（calling　her　“my　dear”　and　“my　good　girl”）　asked　her　after　the　princesses’　health；　and　drew　Pierre　further　along　the　stone　corridor。　The　first　door　to　the　left　led　out　of　the　corridor　into　the　princesses’　living　rooms。　The　maid　with　the　decanter　was　in　a　hurry　（everything　seemed　to　be　done　in　a　hurry　at　that　moment　in　the　house）；　and　she　did　not　close　the　door　after　her。　Pierre　and　Anna　Mihalovna；　as　they　passed　by；　glanced　unconsciously　into　the　room　where　the　eldest　princess　and　Prince　Vassily　were　sitting　close　together　talking。　On　catching　sight　of　their　passing　figures；　Prince　Vassily　made　an　impatient　movement　and　drew　back；　the　princess　jumped　up；　and　with　a　despairing　gesture　she　closed　the　door；　slamming　it　with　all　her　might。　This　action　was　so　unlike　the　princess’s　habitual　composure；　the　dismay　depicted　on　the　countenance　of　Prince　Vassily　was　so　out　of　keeping　with　his　dignity；　that　Pierre　stopped　short　and　looked　inquiringly　over　his　spectacles　at　his　guide。　Anna　Mihalovna　manifested　no　surprise；　she　simply　smiled　a　little　and　sighed；　as　though　to　show　that　she　had　anticipated　all　that。
“Be　a