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y the collar of his uniform； and proceeded to shake him from side to side； till Anatole’s face showed a sufficient degree of terror。
“When I say I want a word with you …” Pierre repeated。
“Well； what？ this is stupid。 Eh？” said Anatole； feeling a button of his collar that had been torn off with the cloth。
“You’re a scoundrel and a blackguard； and I don’t know what prevents me from permitting myself the pleasure of braining you with this； see；” said Pierre； expressing himself so artificially； because he was speaking French。 He took up a heavy paper…weight； and lifted it in a menacing way； but at once hurriedly put it down in its place。
“Did you promise to marry her？”
“I； I； … I … didn’t think … I never promised； though； because …”
Pierre interrupted him。
“Have you any of her letters？ Have you any letters？” Pierre repeated； advancing upon Anatole。 Anatole glanced at him； and at once thrust his hand in his pocket； and took out a pocket…book。
Pierre took the letter he gave him； and pushing away a table that stood in the way； he plumped down on the sofa。
“I won’t be violent； don’t be afraid；” said Pierre； in response to a gesture of alarm from Anatole。 “Letters—one；” said Pierre； as though repeating a lesson to himself。 “Two”—after a moment’s silence he went on； getting up again and beginning to walk about—“to…morrow you are to leave Moscow。”
“But how can I …？”
“Three”—Pierre went on； not heeding him—“you are never to say a word of what has passed between you and the young countess。 That I know I can’t prevent your doing； but if you have a spark of conscience …” Pierre walked several times up and down the room。 Anatole sat at the table； scowling and biting his lips。
“You surely must understand that； apart from your own pleasure； there’s the happiness； the peace of other people； that you are ruining a whole life； simply because you want to amuse yourself。 Amuse yourself with women like my wife—with them you’re within your rights； they know what it is you want of them。 They are armed against you by the same experience of vice； but to promise a girl to marry her … to deceive； to steal … Surely you must see that it’s as base as attacking an old man or a child！…”
Pierre paused and glanced at Anatole； more with inquiry now than with wrath。
“I don’t know about that。 Eh？” said Anatole； growing bolder as Pierre gained control over his rage。 “I don’t know about that； and I don’t want to；” he said； looking away from Pierre； and speaking with a slight quiver of his lower jaw； “but you have said words to me； base and all that sort of thing； which as a man of honour I can’t allow any one to do。”
Pierre looked at him in amazement； not able to understand what it was he wanted。
“Though it has been only tête…à…tête；” Anatole went on； “still I can’t …”
“What； do you want satisfaction？” said Pierre sarcastically。
“At any rate you might take back your words。 Eh？ If you want me to do as you wish。 Eh！”
“I’ll take them back； I’ll take them back；” said Pierre； “and beg you to forgive me。” Pierre could not help glancing at the loose button。 “And here’s money too； if you want some for your journey。”
Anatole smiled。
The expression of that base and cringing smile； that he knew so well in his wife； infuriated Pierre。 “Oh； you vile； heartless tribe！” he cried； and walked out of the room。
Next day Anatole left for Petersburg。
Chapter 21
PIERRE drove to Marya Dmitryevna’s to report to her the execution of her commands； as to Kuragin’s banishment from Moscow。 The whole house was in excitement and alarm。 Natasha was very ill； and as Marya Dmitryevna told him in secret； she had on the night after she had been told Anatole was married； taken arsenic； which she had procured by stealth。 After swallowing a little； she had been so frightened that she waked Sonya； and told her what she had done。 Antidotes had been given in time； and now she was out of danger； but she was still so weak； that they could not dream of moving her to the country； and the countess had been sent for。 Pierre saw the count in great trouble； and Sonya in tears； but he could not see Natasha。
That day Pierre dined at the club； and heard on every side gossip about the attempted abduction of the young Countess Rostov； and persistently denied the story； assuring every one that the only foundation for it was that his brother…in…law had made the young lady an offer and had been refused。 It seemed to Pierre that it was part of his duty to conceal the whole affair； and to save the young countess’s reputation。
He was looking forward with terror to Prince Andrey’s return； and drove round every day to ask for news of him from the old prince。
Prince Nikolay Andreitch heard all the rumours current in the town through Mademoiselle Bourienne； and he had read the note to Princess Marya； in which Natasha had broken off her engagement。 He seemed in better spirits than usual； and looked forward with impatience to seeing his son。
A few days after Anatole’s departure； Pierre received a note from Prince Andrey to inform him that he had arrived； and to beg him to go and see him。
The first minute of Prince Andrey’s arrival in Moscow； he was handed by his father Natasha’s note to Princess Marya； in which she broke off her engagement （the note had been stolen from Princess Marya； and given to the old prince by Mademoiselle Bourienne）。 He heard from his father’s lips the story of Natasha’s elopement； with additions。
Prince Andrey had arrived in the evening； Pierre came to see him the following morning。 Pierre had expected to find Prince Andrey almost in the same state as Natasha； and he was therefore surprised when as he entered the drawing…room he heard the sound of Prince Andrey’s voice in the study； loudly and eagerly discussing some Petersburg intrigue。 The old prince and some other voice interrupted him from time to time。 Princess Marya came out to meet Pierre。 She sighed； turning her eyes towards the door of the room； where Prince Andrey was； plainly intending to express her sympathy with his sorrow； but Pierre saw by Princess Marya’s face that she was glad both at what had happened and at the way her brother had taken the news of his fiancée’s treachery。
“He said he had expected it；” she said。 “I know his pride will not allow him to express his feelings； but anyway； he has borne it better； far better； than I had expected。 It seems it was to be so …”
“But is it all really at an end？” said Pierre。
Princess Marya looked at him with surprise。 She could not understand how one could ask such a question。 Pierre went into the study。 Prince Andrey was very much changed； and visibly much more robust； but there was a new horizontal line between his brows。 He was in civilian dress； and standing facing his father and Prince Meshtchersky； he was hotly arguing； making vigorous gesticulations。
The subject was Speransky； of whose sudden dismissal and supposed treason news had just reached Moscow。
“Now he” （Speransky） “will be criticised and condemned by all who were enthusiastic about him a month ago；” Prince Andrey was saying； “and were incapable of understanding his aims。 It’s very easy to