第512章

第512章thelastdayofmoscowhadcome.itwasabright,clearautumnday.itwassunday.thebellswereringingforserviceinallthechurches,justasonallothersundays.nooneseemedyetabletograspwhatwasawaitingmoscow.

therewereonlytwoindicationsintheconditionofsocietythatbetrayedthepositionofmoscow;thoseweretherabble,thatis,thepoorerclass,andthepricesofdifferentobjects.factoryhands,house-serfs,andpeasantscameoutearlythatmorningontothreehillsinimmensecrowds,whichwereswelledbyclerks,divinitystudents,andgentlemen.afterstayingthereawhilewaitingforrastoptchin,whodidnotcome,andgainingtheconvictionthatmoscowwouldbesurrendered,thismobdispersedaboutthetavernsanddrinkshopsofmoscow.prices,too,onthatdayindicatedthepositionofaffairs.thepricesofweapons,ofcartsandhorses,andthevalueofgoldrosehigherandhigher,whilethevalueofpaper-moneyandthepricesofthingsusefulintownwerecontinuallyfalling,sothatbythemiddleofthedaytherewereinstancesofcab-driverscarryingoffathalf-priceexpensivegoods,likecloth;andwhilefivehundredroubleswaspaidforapeasant’shorse,furniture,mirrors,andbronzesweregivenawayfornothing.

intheold-fashionedanddecoroushouseoftherostovsthecollapseofalltheusualconditionsoflifewasveryslightlyperceptible.inthenightthreeoutoftheimmenseretinueofservants,didindeeddisappear;butnothingwasstolen,andtherostovswereonlyawareofthechangeintherelativevalueofthingsfromfindingthatthethirtycartsfromthecountrywereofenormousvalue,forwhichtheywereenviedbymany,andofferedenormoussums.besidesthesewould-bepurchasers,allthepreviouseveningandearlyinthemorningofthe1stofseptemberorderliesandservantswerebeingcontinuallysentintotherostovs’courtyardfromwoundedofficers,andwoundedmenwereconstantlyingthemselvestherefromtherostovs’andneighbouringhouses,tobeseechtheservantstotryandgetthemaliftoutofmoscow.thebutler,towhomtheserequestswerereferred,resolutelyrefused,thoughhefeltforthewoundedmen,anddeclaredthathewouldneverevendaretohintatsuchathingtothecount.pitiableasthepositionofthesewoundedmenwas,itwasobviousthatifonegaveuponecarttothem,onemightaswellgiveall—andwouldevenhavetoputthecarriagestooattheirservice.thirtyonscouldnotsaveallthewounded,andinthegeneralcatastropheonemustthinkofoneselfandone’sfamilyfirst.sothebutlerreasonedonhismaster’sbehalf.

onwakingupthatmorningcountilyaandreitchslippedquietlyoutofhisbedroom,soasnottowakehiswife,whohadbeenawaketillmorning,andinhislilacsilkdressing-gownhecameoutontothesteps.theloadedonswerestandinginthecourtyard.thecarriagesweredrawnupatthesteps.thebutlerwasstandingintheentrancetalkingwithanoldorderlyandapaleyoungofficerwithhisarminasling.thebutler,seeinghismaster,madeasignificantandperemptorysigntothembothtoretire.

“well,iseverythingready,vassilitch？”saidthecount,rubbinghisbaldhead;andlookingbenignlyattheofficerandtheorderly,henoddedtothem.（thecountwasalwaysattractedbynewfaces.）

“readytoputthehorsesinimmediately,yourexcellency.”

“well,that’scapital;thecountesswillsoonbeawake,and,pleasegod,wesetoff！whatcanidoforyou,sir？”hesaid,addressingtheofficer.“youarestayinginmyhouse？”

theofficercamecloser.hispalefacesuddenlyflushedcrimson.