第52章

第52章attheexacthour,theprince,powderedandshaven,walkedintothedining-room,wheretherewerewaitingforhimhisdaughter-in-law,princessmarya,mademoisellebourienne,andtheprince’sarchitect,who,byastrangewhimoftheoldgentleman’s,dinedathistable,thoughbeinganinsignificantpersonofnosocialstanding,hewouldnotnaturallyhaveexpectedtobetreatedwithsuchhonour.theprince,whowasinpracticeafirmsticklerfordistinctionsoftank,andrarelyadmittedtohistableevenimportantprovincialfunctionaries,hadsuddenlypitchedonthearchitectmihailivanovitch,blowinghisnoseinacheckpocket-handkerchiefinthecorner,toillustratethetheorythatallmenareequal,andhadmorethanonceimpresseduponhisdaughterthatmihailivanovitchwaseverywhitasgoodashimselfandher.attabletheprinceaddressedhisconversationtothetaciturnarchitectmoreoftenthantoanyone.

inthedining-room,which,likealltheotherroomsinthehouse,wasimmenselylofty,theprince’sentrancewasawaitedbyallthemembersofhishouseholdandthefootmen,standingbehindeachchair.thebutlerwithatable-napkinonhisarmscannedthesettingofthetable,makingsignstothefootmen,andcontinuallyheglanceduneasilyfromtheclockonthewalltothedoor,bywhichtheprincewastoenter.princeandreystoodatanimmensegoldenframeonthewallthatwasnewtohim.itcontainedthegenealogicaltreeofthebolkonskys,andhangingoppositeitwasaframe,equallyimmense,withabadlypaintedrepresentation（evidentlytheworkofsomehouseholdartist）ofareigningprinceinacrown,intendedforthedescendantofrurikandfounderofthefamilyofthebolkonskyprinces.princeandreylookedatthisgenealogicaltreeshakinghishead,andhelaughed.

“thereyouhavehimallover！”hesaidtoprincessmaryaasshecameuptohim.

princessmaryalookedatherbrotherinsurprise.shedidnotknowwhathewassmilingat.everythingherfatherdidinspiredinherreverencethatdidnotadmitofcriticism.

“everyonehashisweakspot,”princeandreywenton;“withhisvastintellecttocondescendtosuchtriviality！”

princessmaryacouldnotunderstandtheboldnessofherbrother’scriticismandwasmakingreadytoprotest,whenthesteptheywerealllisteningforwasheardcomingfromthestudy.theprincewalkedinwithaquick,livelystep,ashealwayswalked,asthoughintentionallycontrastingtheelasticityofhismovementswiththerigidityoftheroutineofthehouse.atthatinstantthebigclockstrucktwo,andanotherclockinthedrawing-roomechoeditinthinnertones.theprincestoodstill;hiskeen,sterneyesgleamingunderhisbushy,overhangingbrowsscannedallthecompanyandrestedonthelittleprincess.thelittleprincessexperiencedatthatmomentthesensationthatcourtiersknowontheentranceofthetsar,thatfeelingofaweandvenerationthatthisoldmaninspiredineveryoneabouthim.hestrokedthelittleprincessonthehead,andthenwithanawkwardmovementpattedheronherneck.

“i’mglad,gladtoseeyou,”hesaid,andlookingintentlyintohereyeshewalkedawayandsatdowninhisplace.“sitdown,sitdown,mihailivanovitch,sitdown.”

hepointedhisdaughter-in-lawtoaseatbesidehim.thefootmanmovedachairbackforher.

“ho,ho！”saidtheoldman,lookingatherroundedfigure.“you’venotlosttime;that’sbad！”helaughedadry,cold,unpleasantlaugh,laughingashealwaysdidwithhislips,butnotwithhiseyes.“youmusthaveexercise,asmuchexerciseaspossible,asmuchaspossible,”hesaid.

thelittleprincessdidnothearordidnotcaretohearhiswords.shesatdumbandseemeddisconcerted.theprinceaskedafterherfather,andshebegantotalkandtosmile.heaskedheraboutcommonacquaintances;theprincessbecamemoreandmoreanimated,andbegantalkingaway,givingtheprincegreetingsfromvariouspeopleandretailingthegossipofthetown.

“poorcountessapraxinhaslostherhusband;shehasquitecriedhereyesout,poordear,”shesaid,growingmoreandmorelively.

asshebecamelivelier,theprincelookedmoreandmoresternlyather,andallatonce,asthoughhehadstudiedhersufficientlyandhadformedaclearideaofher,heturnedawayandaddressedmihailivanovitch：

“well,mihailivanovitch,ourfriendbonaparteistohaveabadtimeofit.princeandrey”（thiswashowhealwaysspokeofhisson）“hasbeentellingmewhatforcesarebeingmassedagainsthim！whileyouandihavealwayslookeduponhimasaveryinsignificantperson.”