第499章

第499章“écoutez，bilibin”（ellenalwayscalledfriendsofthecategorytowhichbilibinbelongedbytheirsurnames），andshetouchedhiscoat-sleevewithherwhite，beringedfingers.“tellme，asyouwouldasister，whatoughtitodo？whichofthetwo？”

bilibinwrinkleduptheskinoverhiseyebrows，andponderedwithasmileonhislips.

“youdonottakemeunawares，youknow，”hesaid.“asatruefriend，ihavethought，andthoughtagainofyouraffair.yousee，ifyoumarrytheprince”—（theyoungersuitor）hecrookedhisfinger—“youloseforeverthechanceofmarryingtheother，andthenyoudispleasethecourt.（thereisasortofrelationship，youknow.）butifyoumarrytheoldcount，youmakethehappinessofhislastdays.andthenaswidowofthegreat…theprincewillnotbemakingamésallianceinmarryingyou…”andbilibinletthewrinklesrunoutofhisface.

“that’sarealfriend！”saidellenbeaming，andoncemoretouchingbilibin’ssleeve.“butthefactisilovethemboth，andidon’twanttomakethemunhappy.iwouldgivemylifeforthehappinessofboth，”shedeclared.

bilibinedhisshoulderstodenotethatforsuchatroubleevenhecouldestnoremedy.

“unema？tresse-femme！thatiswhat’scalledputtingthequestionsquarely.shewouldliketobemarriedtoallthreeatonce，”thoughtbilibin.

“butdotellmewhatisyourhusband’sviewofthequestion？”hesaid，thesecurityofhisreputationsavinghimfromallfearofdiscreditinghimselfbysona？veaquestion.“doesheconsent？”

“oh，heissofondofme！”saidellen，who，forsomeunknownreason，fanciedthatpierretooadoredher.“ilferatoutpourmoi.”

bilibinpuckereduphisfaceinpreparationofthecomingmot.

“mêmeledivorce？”hesaid.

ellenlaughed.

amongthepersonswhoventuredtoquestionthelegalityoftheproposedmarriagewasellen’smother，princesskuragin.shehadconstantlysufferedpangsofenvyofherdaughter，andnowwhenthegroundforsuchenvywastheonenearesttoherownheart，shecouldnotreconcileherselftotheideaofit.

sheconsultedarussianpriesttoascertainhowfardivorceandremarriagewaspossibleforawomaninherhusband’slifetime.thepriestassuredherthatthiswasimpossible；andtoherdelightreferredhertothetextinthegospelinwhich（asitseemedtothepriest）remarriageduringthelifetimeofthehusbandwasdirectlyforbidden.

armedwiththesearguments，whichseemedtoherirrefutable，princesskuragindroveroundtoherdaughter’searlyonemorninginordertofindheralone.

ellenheardhermother’sproteststotheend，andsmiledwithblandsarcasm.

“youseeitisplainlysaid：‘hewhomarryethherthatisdivorced…’”

“omamma，don’ttalknonsense.youdon’tunderstand.inmypositionihaveduties…”ellenbegan，passingoutofrussianintofrench，forintheformerlanguageshealwaysfeltalackofclearnessabouthercase.

“but，mydear…”

“omamma，howisityoudon’tunderstandthattheholyfather，whohastherightofgrantingdispensations…”

atthatmomenttheladycompanion，wholivedinellen’shouse，cameintoannouncethathishighnesswasinthedrawing-room，andwishedtoseeher.

“no，tellhimidon’twanttoseehim，thatiamfuriouswithhimfornotkeepinghisword.”

“countess，thereismercyforeverysin，”saidayoungmanwithfairhairandalongfaceandlongnose.

theoldprincessroserespectfullyandcurtsiedathisentrance.theyoungmantooknonoticeofher.princesskuraginnoddedtoherdaughter，andswamtothedoor.

“yes，sheisright，”thoughttheoldprincess，allofwhoseconvictionshadbeendissipatedbytheappearanceofhishighnessonthescene.“sheisright；buthowwasitinouryouth—gonenowforever—weknewnothingofthis？anditissosimple，”thoughtprincesskuragin，asshesettledherselfinhercarriage.

atthebeginningofaugustellen’saffairsweresettled，andshewrotetoherhusband（who，asshesupposed，wasdeeplyattachedtoher）aletter，inwhichshemadeknowntohimherintentionofmarryingn.n.sheinformedhimalsoofherconversiontotheonetruefaith，andedhimtogothroughallthenecessaryformalitiesforobtainingadivorce，ofwhichthebeareroftheletterwouldgivehimfurtherdetails.“onwhichipraygodtohaveyouinhisholyandpowerfulkeeping.yourfriend，ellen.”

thisletterwasbroughttopierre’shouseatthetimewhenhewasonthefieldofborodino.