战争与和平(上)-第20部分

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at　she　had　anticipated　all　that。
“Be　a　man；　mon　ami；　I　am　looking　after　your　interests；”　she　said　in　response　to　his　look　of　inquiry；　and　she　walked　more　quickly　along　the　corridor。
Pierre　had　no　notion　what　was　going　on；　and　no　inkling　of　what　was　meant　by　watching　over　his　interests。　But　he　felt　that　all　this　had　had　to　be　so。　From　the　corridor　they　went　into　the　half…lighted　hall　adjoining　the　count’s　reception…room。　This　was　one　of　the　cold；　sumptuously　furnished　rooms　which　Pierre　knew；　leading　from　the　visitors’　staircase。　But　even　in　this　apartment　there　was　an　empty　bath　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　and　water　had　been　spilt　on　the　carpet。　They　were　met　here　by　a　servant　and　a　church　attendant　with　a　censer；　who　walked　on　tiptoe　and　took　no　notice　of　them。　They　went　into　the　reception…room　opening　into　the　winter　garden；　a　room　Pierre　knew　well；　with　its　two　Italian　windows；　its　big　bust　and　full…length　portrait　of　Catherine。　The　same　persons　were　all　sitting　almost　in　the　same　positions　exchanging　whispers　in　the　reception…room。　All　ceased　speaking　and　looked　round　at　Anna　Mihalovna；　as　she　came　in　with　her　pale；　tear…stained　face；　and　at　the　big；　stout　figure　of　Pierre；　as　with　downcast　head　he　followed　her　submissively。
The　countenance　of　Anna　Mihalovna　showed　a　consciousness　that　the　crucial　moment　had　arrived。　With　the　air　of　a　Petersburg　lady　of　experience；　she　walked　into　the　room　even　more　boldly　than　in　the　morning；　keeping　Pierre　at　her　side。　She　felt　that　as　she　was　bringing　the　person　the　dying　man　wanted　to　see；　she　might　feel　secure　as　to　her　reception。　With　a　rapid　glance；　scanning　all　the　persons　in　the　room；　and　observing　the　count’s　spiritual　adviser；　she　did　not　precisely　bow　down；　but　seemed　somehow　suddenly　to　shrink　in　stature；　and　with　a　tripping　amble　swam　up　to　the　priest　and　reverentially　received　a　blessing　first　from　one　and　then　from　another　ecclesiastic。
“Thank　God　that　we　are　in　time；”　she　said　to　the　priest；　“all　of　us；　his　kinsfolk；　have　been　in　such　alarm。　This　young　man　is　the　count’s　son；”　she　added　more　softly；　“It　is　a　terrible　moment。”
Having　uttered　these　words　she　approached　the　doctor。
“Dear　doctor；”　she　said　to　him；　“this　young　man　is　the　count’s　son。　Is　there　any　hope？”
The　doctor　did　not　speak　but　rapidly　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　turned　up　his　eyes。　With　precisely　the　same　gesture　Anna　Mihalovna　moved　her　shoulders　and　eyes；　almost　closing　her　eyelids；　sighed　and　went　away　from　the　doctor　to　Pierre。　She　addressed　Pierre　with　peculiar　deference　and　tender　melancholy。
“Have　faith　in　His　mercy；”　she　said　to　him；　and　indicating　a　sofa　for　him　to　sit　down　and　wait　for　her；　she　went　herself　with　inaudible　steps　towards　the　door；　at　which　every　one　was　looking；　and　after　almost　noiselessly　opening　it；　she　vanished　behind　it。
Pierre；　having　decided　to　obey　his　monitress　in　everything；　moved　towards　the　sofa　she　had　pointed　out　to　him。　As　soon　as　Anna　Mihalovna　had　disappeared；　he　noticed　that　the　eyes　of　all　the　persons　in　the　room　were　fixed　upon　him　with　something　more　than　curiosity　and　sympathy　in　their　gaze。　He　noticed　that　they　were　all　whispering　together；　looking　towards　him　with　something　like　awe　and　even　obsequious　deference。　They　showed　him　a　respect　such　as　had　never　been　shown　him　before。　A　lady；　a　stranger　to　him；　the　one　who　had　been　talking　to　the　priest；　got　up　and　offered　him　her　place。　An　adjutant　picked　up　the　glove　Pierre　had　dropped　and　handed　it　to　him。　The　doctors　respectfully　paused　in　their　talk　when　he　passed　by　them　and　moved　aside　to　make　way　for　him。　Pierre　wanted　at　first　to　sit　somewhere　else；　so　as　not　to　trouble　the　lady；　he　would　have　liked　to　pick　up　the　glove　himself　and　to　walk　round　the　doctors；　who　were　really　not　at　all　in　the　way。　But　he　felt　all　at　once　that　to　do　so　would　be　improper；　he　felt　that　he　was　that　night　a　person　who　had　to　go　through　a　terrible　ceremony　which　every　one　expected　of　him；　and　that　for　that　reason　he　was　bound　to　accept　service　from　every　one。　He　took　the　glove　from　the　adjutant　in　silence；　sat　down　in　the　lady’s　place；　laying　his　big　hands　on　his　knees；　sitting　in　the　na？vely　symmetrical　pose　of　an　Egyptian　statue；　and　decided　mentally　that　it　must　all　inevitably　be　like　this；　and　that　to　avoid　losing　his　head　and　doing　something　stupid；　he　must　for　that　evening　not　act　on　his　own　ideas；　but　abandon　himself　wholly　to　the　will　of　those　who　were　guiding　him。
Two　minutes　had　not　elapsed　before　Prince　Vassily　came　majestically　into　the　room；　wearing　his　coat　with　three　stars　on　it；　and　carrying　his　head　high。　He　looked　as　though　he　had　grown　thinner　since　the　morning。　His　eyes　seemed　larger　than　usual　as　he　glanced　round　the　room；　and　caught　sight　of　Pierre。　He　went　up　to　him；　took　his　hand　（a　thing　he　had　never　done　before）；　and　drew　it　downwards；　as　though　he　wanted　to　try　its　strength。
“Courage；　courage；　mon　ami。　He　has　asked　to　see　you；　that　is　well　…”　and　he　would　have　gone　on；　but　Pierre　thought　it　fitting　to　ask：　“How　is　…？”　He　hesitated；　not　knowing　whether　it　was　proper　for　him　to　call　the　dying　man　“the　count”；　he　felt　ashamed　to　call　him　“father。”
“He　has　had　another　stroke　half…an…hour　ago。　Courage；　mon　ami。”
Pierre　was　in　a　condition　of　such　mental　confusion　that　the　word　stroke　aroused　in　his　mind　the　idea　of　a　blow　from　some　heavy　body。　He　looked　in　perplexity　at　Prince　Vassily；　and　only　later　grasped　that　an　attack　of　illness　was　called　a　stroke。　Prince　Vassily　said　a　few　words　to　Lorrain　as　he　passed　and　went　to　the　door　on　tiptoe。　He　could　not　walk　easily　on　tiptoe；　and　jerked　his　whole　person　up　and　down　in　an　ungainly　fashion。　He　was　followed　by　the　eldest　princess；　then　by　the　clergy　and　church　attendants；　some　servants　too　went　in　at　the　door。　Through　that　door　a　stir　could　be　heard；　and　at　last　Anna　Mihalovna；　with　a　face　still　pale　but　resolute　in　the　performance　of　duty；　ran　out　and　touching　Pierre　on　the　arm；　said：
“The　goodness　of　heaven　is　inexhaustible；　it　is　the　ceremony　of　extreme　unction　which　they　are　beginning。　Come。”
Pierre　went　in；　stepping　on　to　the　soft　carpet；　and　noticed　that　the　adjutant　and　the　unknown　lady　and　some　servants　too；　all　followed　him　in；　as　though　there　were　no　need　now　to　ask　permission　to　enter　that　room。


Chapter　20
PIERRE　KNEW　WELL　that　great　room；　divided　by　columns　and　an　arch；　and　carpeted　with　Persian　rugs。　The　part　of　the　room　behind　the　columns；　where　on　one　side　there　stood　a　high　mahogany　bedstead　with　silken　hangings；　and　on　the　other　a　huge　case　of　holy　pictures；　was　brightly　and　decoratively　lighted　up；　as　churches　are　lighted　for　evening　service。　Under　the　gleaming　ornamentation　of　the　case　stood　a　long　invalid　chair；　and　in　the　chair；　on　snow…white；　uncrumpled；　freshly　changed　pillows；　covered　to　the　waist　with　a　bright　green　quilt；　Pierre　recognised　the　majestic　figure　of　his　father；　Count　Bezuhov；　with　the　grey　shock　of　hair　like　a　lion’s　mane　over　his　broad　forehead；　and　the　characteristically　aristocratic；　deep　lines　on　his　handsome；　reddish…yellow　face。　He　was　lying　directly　under　the　holy　pictures：　both　his　great　stout　arms　were　lying　on　the　quilt。　In　his　right　hand；　which　lay　with　the　palm　downwards；　a　wax　candle　had　been　thrust　between　the　thumb　and　forefinger；　and　an　old　servant　bending　down　over　the　chair　held　it　in　it。　About　the　chair　stood　the　clergy　in　their　shining　ceremonial　vestments；　with　their　long　hair　pulled　out　over　them。　They　held　lighted　candles　in　their　hands；　and　were　performing　the　service　with　deliberate　solemnity。　A　little　behind　them　stood　the　two　younger　princesses　holding　handkerchiefs　to　their　eyes；　and　in　front　of　them　the　eldest；　Katish；　stood　with　a　vindictive　and　determined　air；　never　for　an　instant　taking　her　eyes　off　the　holy　image；　as　though　she　were　declaring　to　all　that　she　would　not　answer　for　herself；　if　she　were　to　look　around。　Anna　Mihalovna　with　a　countenance　of　meek　sorrow　and　forgiveness　stood　at　the　door　with　the　unknown　lady。　Prince　Vassily　was　standing　close　to　the　invalid　chair　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。　He　had　drawn　a　carved；　velvet　chair　up　to　him；　and　was　leaning　on　the　back　of　it　with　his　left　hand；　in　which　he　held　a　candle；　while　with　his　right　he　crossed　himself；　turning　his　eyes　upwards　every　time　as　he　put　his　finger　to　his　forehead。　His　face　expressed　quiet　piety　and　submission　to　the　will　of　God。　“If　you　don’t　understand　such　feelings；　so　much　the　worse　for　you；”　his　face　seemed　to　say。
Behind　him　stood　the　adjutant；　the　doctors；　and　the　men…servants；　the　men　and　the　women　had　separated　as　though　they　were　in　church。　All　were　silently　crossing　themselves；　nothing　was　audible　but　the　reading　of　the　service；　the　subdued；　deep　bass　singing；　and　in　the　intervals　of　silence　sighs　could　be　heard　and　the　shuffling　of　feet。　With　a　significant　air；　which　showed　she　knew　what　she　was　about；　Anna　Mihalovna　walked　right　across　the　room　to　Pierre　and　gave　him　a　candle。　He　lighted　it；　and　absorbed　in　watching　the　people　around　him；　he　absent…mindedly　crossed　himself　with　the　hand　in　which　he　held　the　candle。　The　youngest　princess；　Sophie；　the　rosy；　laughing　one　with　the　mole；　was　looking　at　him。　She　smiled；　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief；　and　for　a　long　while　did　not　uncover　it。　But　looking　at　Pierre　again；　again　she　laughed。　She　was　apparently　unable　to　look　at　him　without　laughing；　but　could　not　resist　looking　at　him；　and　to　be　out　of　temptation；　she　softly　moved　behind　a　column。　In　the　middle　of　the　service　the　voices　of　the　priests　suddenly　ceased；　and　they　whispered　something　to　one　another。　The　old　servant；　who　was　holding　the　count’s　hand；　got　up　and　turned　to　the　ladies。　Anna　Mihalovna　stepped　forward　and；　stooping　over　the　sick　man；　she　beckoned　behind　her　back　to　Lorrain。　The　French　doctor　had　been　leaning　against　the　column　without　a　candle；　in　the　respectful　attitude　of　the　foreigner；　who　would　show　that　in　spite　of　the　difference　of　religion　he　comprehends　all　the　solemnity　of　the　ceremony　and　even　approves　of　it。　With　the　noiseless　steps　of　a　man　in　full　vigour　of　his　age；　he　went　up　to　the　sick　man。　His　delicate；　white　fingers　lifted　his　disengaged　hand　from　the　quilt；　and　turning　away；　the　doctor　began　feeling　the　pulse　in　a