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a card； but Dolohov refused it and fixed the stake himself。 Nikolay submitted to him； and at one moment he was praying to God； as he had prayed under fire on the bridge of Amschteten； at the next he tried his fortune on the chance that the card that he would first pick up among the heap of crumpled ones under the table would save him； then he reckoned up the rows of braidings on his coat； and tried staking the whole amount of his losses on a card of that number； then he looked round for help to the others playing； or stared into Dolohov’s face； which looked quite cold now； and tried to penetrate into what was passing within him。
“He knows； of course； what this loss means to me。 Surely he can’t want me to be ruined？ Why； he was my friend。 I loved him。… But； indeed； it’s not his fault； what’s he to do； if he has all the luck？ And it’s not my fault；” he kept saying to himself。 “I have done nothing wrong。 I haven’t murdered or hurt any one； or wished any one harm； have I？ What is this awful calamity for？ And when did it begin？ Such a little while ago I came to this table with the idea of winning a hundred roubles； and buying mamma that little casket for her name…day； and going home。 I was so happy； so free； so light…hearted。 And I didn’t even know then how happy I was。 When did all that end； and when did this new awful state of things begin？ What was the outward token of that change？ I still went on sitting in the same place at this table； and in the same way picking out cards and putting them forward； and watching those deft； broad…boned hands。 When did it come to pass； and what has come to pass？ I am strong and well； and still the same； and still in the same place。 No； it cannot be。 It will all be sure to end in nothing。”
He was all red and in a sweat though the room was not hot。 And his face was painful and piteous to see； particularly from its helpless efforts to seem calm。
The score reached the fateful number of forty…three thousand roubles。 Rostov already had the card ready which he meant to stake for double or quits on the three thousand； that had just been put down to his score； when Dolohov slapped the pack of cards down on the table； pushed it away； and taking the chalk began rapidly in his clear； strong hand； writing down the total of Rostov’s losses； breaking the chalk as he did so。
“Supper； supper…time。 And here are the gypsies。” And some swarthy men and women did in fact come in from the cold outside； saying something with their gypsy accent。 Nikolay grasped that it was all over； but he said in an indifferent voice：
“What； won’t you go on？ And I have such a nice little card all ready。” As though what chiefly interested him was the game itself。
“It’s all over； I’m done for；” he thought。 “Now a bullet through the head’s the only thing left for me；” and at the same time he was saying in a cheerful voice：
“Come； just one more card。”
“Very good；” answered Dolohov； finishing his addition。 “Very good。 Twenty…one roubles…done；” he said； pointing to the figure 21； over and above the round sum of forty…three thousand； and taking a pack； he made ready to deal； Rostov submissively turned down the corner； and instead of the 8000 he had meant to write； noted down 21。
“It’s all the same to me；” he said； “only it’s interesting to me to know whether you will win on that ten or let me have it。”
Dolohov began seriously dealing。 Oh； how Rostov hated at that moment those reddish hands； with their short fingers and the hairs visible under the shirt sleeves； those hands that held him in their clutches。…The ten was not beaten。 “Forty…three thousand to your score； count；” said Dolohov； and he got up from the table stretching。 “One does get tired sitting so long；” he said。
“Yes； I’m tired too；” said Rostov。
Dolohov cut him short； as though to warn him it was not for him to take a light tone。
“When am I to receive the money； count？”
Rostov flushing hotly drew Dolohov away into the other room。
“I can’t pay it all at once； you must take an I。O。U。；” said he
“Listen； Rostov；” said Dolohov； smiling brightly； and looking straight into Nikolay’s eyes； “you know the saying： ‘Lucky in love； unlucky at cards。’ Your cousin is in love with you。 I know it。”
“Oh！ this is awful to feel oneself in this man’s power like this；” thought Rostov。 He knew the shock the news of this loss would be to his father and mother； he knew what happiness it would be to be free of it all； and felt that Dolohov knew that he could set him free from this shame and grief； and wanted now to play cat and mouse with him。
“Your cousin…” Dolohov would have said； but Nikolay cut him short。
“My cousin has nothing to do with the matter； and there is no need to mention her！” he cried； with fury。
“Then； when am I to receive it？” asked Dolohov。
“To…morrow；” said Rostov； and went out of the room。
Chapter 15
TO SAY “TO…MORROW；” and maintain the right tone was not difficult； but to arrive home alone； to see his sisters and brother； his mother and father； to confess and beg for money to which he had no right after giving his word of honour； was terrible。
At home they had not yet gone to bed。 The younger members of the family after coming home from the theatre had had supper； and were now in a group about the clavichord。 As soon as Nikolay entered the hall； he felt himself enfolded in the poetic atmosphere of love which dominated their household that winter； and now； since Dolohov’s proposal and Iogel’s ball； seemed to have grown thicker about Sonya and Natasha； like the air before a storm。 Sonya and Natasha； wearing the light blue dresses they had put on for the theatre； stood at the clavichord； pretty and conscious of being so； happy and smiling。 Vera was playing draughts with Shinshin in the drawing…room。 The old countess； waiting for her son and her husband to come in； was playing patience with an old gentlewoman； who was one of their household。 Denisov； with shining eyes and ruffled hair； was sitting with one leg behind him at the clavichord。 He was striking chords with his short fingers； and rolling his eyes； as he sang in his small； husky； but true voice a poem of his own composition； “The Enchantress；” to which he was trying to fit music。
“Enchantress； say what hidden fire
Draws me to my forsaken lyre？
What rapture thrills my fingers slow；
What passion sets my heart aglow？”
he sang in his passionate voice； his black； agate eyes gleaming at the frightened and delighted Natasha。
“Splendid； capital！” Natasha cried。 “Another couplet；” she said； not noticing Nikolay。
“Everything’s just the same with them；” thought Nikolay； peeping into the drawing…room； where he saw Vera and his mother and the old lady playing patience with her。
“Ah； and here’s Nikolenka。” Natasha ran up to him。 “Is papa at home？” he asked。
“How glad I am that you have come；” said Natasha； not answering his question； “we are having such fun。 Vassily Dmitritch is staying a day longer for me； do you know？”
“No； papa has not come in yet；” answered Sonya。
“Kolya； you there？ Come to me； darling；” said the voice of the countess from the drawing…room。 Nikolay went up to his mother； kissed her hand； and