按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
incess。
The change that had taken place in Pierre was noticed in their own way by his servants too—Terenty and Vaska。 They considered that he had grown much more good…natured。 Often after undressing his master； and wishing him good night； Terenty would linger with his boots and his clothes in his hand； in the hope that his master would begin a conversation with him。 And as a rule Pierre kept Terenty； seeing he was longing for a chat。
“Come； tell me； then … how did you manage to get anything to eat？” he would ask。 And Terenty would begin his tales of the destruction of Moscow and of the late count； and would stand a long while with the clothes； talking away or listening to Pierre； and it was with a pleasant sense of his master’s close intimacy with him and affection for him that he finally withdrew。
The doctor； who was attending Pierre； and came to see him every day； though he thought it his duty as a doctor to pose as a man every minute of whose time is of value for suffering humanity； used to sit on with him for hours together； repeating his favourite anecdotes and observations on the peculiarities of patients in general； and of ladies in particular。
“Yes； it’s a pleasure to talk to a man like that； it’s not what we are used to in the provinces；” he would say。
In Orel there happened to be several French prisoners； and the doctor brought one of them； a young Italian officer； to see Pierre。
This officer became a frequent visitor； and the princess used to laugh at the tender feelings the Italian expressed for Pierre。
It was obvious that the Italian was never happy but when he could see Pierre； and talk to him； and tell him all about his own past； his home life； and his love； and pour out his indignation against the French； and especially against Napoleon。
“If all Russians are the least bit like you；” he used to say to Pierre； “it is sacrilege to make war on a people like yours。 You who have suffered so much at the hands of the French； have not even a grudge against them。”
And Pierre had won the Italian’s passionate devotion simply by drawing out what was best in his soul and admiring it。
During the latter part of Pierre’s stay in Orel； he received a visit from an old acquaintance； Count Villarsky； the freemason； who had introduced him to the lodge in 1807。 Villarsky had married a Russian heiress； who had great estates in the Orel province； and he was filling a temporary post in the commissariat department in the town。
Though Villarsky had never been very intimately acquainted with Bezuhov； on hearing that he was in Orel； he called upon him with those demonstrations of friendliness and intimacy that men commonly display on meeting one another in the desert。 Villarsky was dull in Orel； and was delighted to meet a man of his own circle； who had； as he supposed； the same interests as he had。
But to his surprise； Villarsky noticed soon that Pierre had quite dropped behind the times； and had； as he defined it himself to Pierre； sunk into apathy and egoism。
“You are stagnating；” he said to him。
But in spite of that； Villarsky felt much more at home with Pierre now than he had done in the past； and came every day to see him。 As Pierre watched Villarsky； and listened to him now； it seemed strange and incredible to him to think that he had very lately been the same sort of person himself。
Villarsky was a married man with a family； whose time was taken up in managing his wife’s property； in performing his official duties； and in looking after his family。 He regarded all these duties as a drawback in his life； and looked on them all with contempt； because they were all directed to securing his own personal welfare and that of his family。 Military； administrative； political； and masonic questions were continually engrossing his attention。 And without criticising this view or attempting to change it； Pierre watched this phenomenon—so strange； yet so familiar to him—with the smile of gentle； delighted irony that was now habitual with him。
In Pierre’s relations with Villarsky； with his cousin； with the doctor； and with all the people he met now； there was a new feature that gained him the good…will of all。 This was the recognition of the freedom of every man to think； to feel； and to look at things in his own way； the recognition of the impossibility of altering a man’s conviction by words。 This legitimate individuality of every man’s views； which had in old days troubled and irritated Pierre； now formed the basis of the sympathetic interest he felt in people。 The inconsistency； sometimes the complete antagonism of men’s views with their own lives or with one another； delighted Pierre； and drew from him a gentle and mocking smile。
In practical affairs Pierre suddenly felt now that he had the centre of gravity that he had lacked in former days。 In the past every money question； especially requests for money； to which as a very wealthy man he was particularly liable； had reduced him to a state of helpless agitation and perplexity。 “Ought I to give or not to give？” he used to ask himself。 “I have money and he needs it。 But some one else needs it more。 Who needs it more？ And perhaps both are impostors？” And of all these suppositions he had in old days found no satisfactory solution； and gave to all as long as he had anything to give。 In old days he had been in the same perplexity over every question relating to his property when one person told him he ought to act in one way and another advised something else。
Now to his own surprise he found that he had no more doubt or hesitation on all such questions。 Now there was a judge within him settling what he must do and what he must not； by some laws of which he was himself unaware。
He was just as unconcerned about money matters as before； but now he unhesitatingly knew what he ought to do and what he ought not to do。 The first application of that new power within him was in the case of a prisoner； a French colonel； who called on him； talked very freely of his own great exploits； and finally delivered himself of a request that was more like a demand； that he should give him four thousand francs to send to his wife and children。 Pierre refused to do so without the slightest difficulty or effort； and wondered himself afterwards that it had been so easy and simple to do what had in old days seemed so hopelessly difficult。 At the same time as he refused the French colonel； he made up his mind that he must certainly resort to some stratagem when he left Orel to induce the Italian officer to accept assistance； of which he stood in evident need。 A fresh proof to Pierre of his greater certainty in regard to practical matters was the settlement of the question of his wife’s debts； and of the rebuilding of his Moscow house and villas in the suburbs。
His head steward came to him in Orel； and with him Pierre went into a general review of his financial position。 The fire of Moscow had cost Pierre； by the steward’s account； about two millions。
The chief steward to console him for these losses presented a calculation he had made； that Pierre’s income； far from being diminished； would be positively increased if he were to refuse to pay the debts left by the countess—whic