第40章

第40章atthetimethattheseconversationsweretakingplaceinthereception-roomandtheprincess’sroom,acarriagewithpierre（whohadbeensentfor）andannamihalovna（whohadthoughtfittocomewithhim）initwasdrivingintothecourtofcountbezuhov’smansion.whenthesoundofthecarriagewheelswasmuffledbythestrawinthestreet,annamihalovnaturnedwithwordsofconsolationtohercompanion,discoveredthathewasasleepinhiscornerofthecarriage,andwakedhimup.rousinghimself,pierrefollowedannamihalovnaoutofthecarriage,andonlythenbegantothinkoftheinterviewwithhisdyingfatherthatawaitedhim.henoticedthattheyhaddrivennotuptothevisitors’approach,buttothebackentrance.ashegotdownfromthecarriagestep,twomeninthedressoftradesmenhastilyscurriedawayfromtheentranceintotheshadowofthewall.pierre,ashestoodwaiting,noticedseveralothersimilarpersonsstandingintheshadowofthehouseonbothsides.butneitherannamihalovnanorthefootmanandcoachman,whomusthaveseenthesepeople,tookanynoticeofthem.soitmustbeallright,pierredecided,andhefollowedannamihalovna.withhurryingfootstepsannamihalovnawalkedupthedimlylighted,narrowstonestaircase,urgingonpierre,whoedbehind.thoughpierrehadnonotionwhyhehadtogotothecountatall,andstilllesswhyhehadtogobythebackstairs,yet,impressedbyannamihalovna’sassuranceandhaste,hemadeuphismindthatitwasundoubtedlynecessaryforhimtodoso.half-wayupthestairstheywerealmostknockedoverbysomemenwithpails,whorandowntowardsthem,trampingloudlywiththeirbigboots.thesemenhuddledupagainstthewalltoletpierreandannamihalovnapass,andshowednottheslightestsurpriseatseeingthem.

“isthistheprincess’ssideofthehouse？”annamihalovnaaskedofoneofthem…

“yes,itis,”answeredthefootmaninabold,loudvoice,asthoughanythingwerepermissibleatsuchatime;“thedoorontheleft,ma’am.”

“perhapsthecounthasnotaskedforme,”saidpierre,ashereachedthelanding.“ihadbettergotomyownroom.”annamihalovnastoppedforpierretocatchherup.

“ah,monami,”shesaid,touchinghishandwithjustthesamegestureasshehadusedinthemorningwithherson.“believeme,iamsufferingasmuchasyou;butbeaman.”

“really,hadinotbettergo？”pierreaskedaffectionately,lookingatheroverhisspectacles.

“ah,monami,forgetthewrongthatmayhavebeendoneyou,thinkthatitisyourfather…andperhapsinhisdeathagony,”shesighed.“ihavelovedyoulikeasonfromthefirst.trustinme,pierre.ishallnotforgetyourinterests.”

pierredidnotunderstandaword.againhefeltmorestronglythanbeforethatallthishadtobeso,andheobedientlyfollowedannamihalovna,whowasalreadyopeningthedoor.thedoorledintothevestibuleofthebackstairs.inthecornersattheprincess’soldman-servantknittingstockings.pierrehadneverbeeninthispartofthehouse,andhadnotevensuspectedtheexistenceoftheseapartments.amaid-servantcarryingatraywithadecanterovertookthem,andannamihalovna（callingher“mydear”and“mygoodgirl”）askedheraftertheprincesses’health,anddrewpierrefurtheralongthestonecorridor.thefirstdoortotheleftledoutofthecorridorintotheprincesses’livingrooms.themaidwiththedecanterwasinahurry（everythingseemedtobedoneinahurryatthatmomentinthehouse）,andshedidnotclosethedoorafterher.pierreandannamihalovna,astheypassedby,glancedunconsciouslyintotheroomwheretheeldestprincessandprincevassilyweresittingclosetogethertalking.oncatchingsightoftheirpassingfigures,princevassilymadeanimpatientmovementanddrewback,theprincessjumpedup,andwithadespairinggesturesheclosedthedoor,slammingitwithallhermight.thisactionwassounliketheprincess’shabitualcomposure,thedismaydepictedonthecountenanceofprincevassilywassooutofkeepingwithhisdignity,thatpierrestoppedshortandlookedinquiringlyoverhisspectaclesathisguide.annamihalovnamanifestednosurprise;shesimplysmiledalittleandsighed,asthoughtoshowthatshehadanticipatedallthat.

“beaman,monami,iamlookingafteryourinterests,”shesaidinresponsetohislookofinquiry,andshewalkedmorequicklyalongthecorridor.