第192章

第192章itwaslongsincerostovhadderivedsuchenjoymentfrommusicasonthatday.butassoonasnatashahadfinishedherbarcarolle,therealityforceditselfuponhismindagain.sayingnothing,hewentout,andwentdownstairstohisownroom.aquarterofanhourlater,theoldprincecamein,good-humouredandsatisfiedfromhisclub.nikolayheardhimcomein,andwentintohim.

“well,hadagoodtime？”saidilyaandreivitch,smilingproudlyandjoyfullytohisson.nikolaytriedtosay“yes,”butcouldnot;hewasonthepointofsobbing.thecountwaslightinghispipe,anddidnotnoticehisson’scondition.

“ugh,it’sinevitable！”thoughtnikolay,forthefirstandlasttime.andallatonce,asthoughhewereaskingforthecarriagetodriveintotown,hesaidtohisfatherinthemostcasualtone,thatmadehimfeelviletohimself：

“papa,ihavecometoyouonamatterofbusinessiwasalmostforgetting.iwantsomemoney.”

“youdon’tsayso？”saidhisfather,whohappenedtobeinparticularlygoodspirits.“itoldyouthatweshouldn’tbehavingany.doyouwantalargesum？”

“verylarge,”saidnikolay,flushingandsmilingastupid,carelesssmile,forwhichlongafterhecouldnotforgivehimself.“ihavelostalittleatcards,thatis,agooddeal,really,agreatdeal,forty-threethousand.”

“what！towhom？…you’rejoking！”criedthecount,flushing,asoldpeopleflush,anapoplecticredoverhisneckandthebackofhishead.

“ihavepromisedtopayitto-morrow,”saidnikolay.

“oh！”…saidthecount,flinginguphisarms;andhedroppedhelplesslyonthesofa.

“itcan’tbehelped！ithappenstoeveryone,”saidhissoninafreeandeasytone,whileinhishearthewasfeelinghimselfalowscoundrel,whosewholelifecouldnotatoneforhiscrime.hewouldhavelikedtokisshisfather’shands,tobeghisforgivenessonhisknees,whilecarelessly,rudelyeven,hewastellinghimthatithappenedtoeveryone.

countilyaandreivitchdroppedhiseyeswhenheheardthosewordsfromhisson,andbeganmovinghurriedly,asthoughlookingforsomething.

“yes,yes,”hebroughtout,“itwillbedifficult,ifear,difficulttoraise…happenstoeveryone！yes,ithappenstoeveryone…”andthecountcastafleetingglanceathisson’sfaceandwalkedoutoftheroom.…nikolayhadbeenpreparedtofaceresistance,buthehadnotexpectedthis.

“papa！pa…pa！”hecriedafterhim,sobbing;“forgiveme！”andclutchingathisfather’shand,hepressedittohislipsandburstintotears.

whilethefatherandsonwerehavingthisinterview,another,hardlylessimportant,wastakingplacebetweenthemotheranddaughter.natasha,ingreatexcitement,hadrunintohermother.

“mamma！…mamma！…hehasmademe…”

“madeyouwhat？”

“he’smade,madeanoffer.mamma！mamma！”shekeptcrying.

thecountesscouldnotbelieveherears.denisovhadmadeanoffer…towhom？…tothischitofagirlnatasha,whohadonlyjustgivenupplayingwithdolls,andwasstillhavinglessons.

“natasha,enoughofthissilliness！”shesaid,hopingitwasajoke.

“sillinessindeed！iamtellingyouthefact,”saidnatashaangrily.“ihavecometoaskyouwhattodo,andyoutalktomeof‘silliness’…”

thecountessedhershoulders.

“ifitistruethatmonsieurdenisovhasmadeyouanoffer,thentellhimheisafool,that’sall.”

“no,he’snotafool,”saidnatasha,resentfullyandseriously.