第38章

第38章theprincess，withherspare，uprightfigure，sodisproportionatelylonginthebody，lookedstraightattheprincewithnosignofemotioninherprominentgreyeyes.sheshookherhead，andsighinglookedtowardstheholypictures.hergesturemighthavebeeninterpretedasanexpressionofgriefanddevotion，orasanexpressionofwearinessandthehopeofaspeedyrelease.princevassilytookitasanexpressionofweariness.

“anddoyousupposeit’sanyeasierforme？”hesaid.“iamaswornoutasaposthorse.imusthavealittletalkwithyou，katish，andaveryseriousone.”

princevassilypaused.andhischeeksbegantwitchingnervously，firstononeside，thenontheother，givinghisfaceanunpleasantexpressionsuchaswasneverseenonhiscountenancewhenhewasindrawing-rooms.hiseyes，too，weredifferentfromusual：atonemomenttheystaredwithasortofinsolentjocoseness，atthenexttheylookedroundfurtively.

theprincess，pullingherdogonherlapwithherthin，dryhands，gazedintentlyattheeyesofprincevassily，butitwasevidentthatshewouldnotbreakthesilence，ifshehadtositsilenttillmorning.

“yousee，mydearprincessandcousin，katerinasemyonovna，”pursuedprincevassily，obviouslywithsomeinnerconflictbracinghimselftogoonwithwhathewantedtosay，“atsuchmomentsasthepresent，onehastothinkofeverything.onemustthinkofthefuture，ofyou…icareforallofyouasifyouweremyownchildren；youknowthat.”

theprincesslookedathimwiththesamedullimmovablegaze.

“finally，wehavetothinkofmyfamilytoo，”continuedprincevassily，angrilypushingawayalittletableandnotlookingather：“youknow，katish，thatyouthreemamontovsistersandmywife，—wearetheonlydirectheirsofthecount.iknow，iknowhowpainfulitisforyoutospeakandthinkofsuchthings.andit’sashardforme；but，mydear，iamamanoverfifty，imustbereadyforanything.doyouknowthatihavesentforpierre，andthatthecount，pointingstraightathisportrait，hasaskedforhim？”

princevassilylookedinquiringlyattheprincess，buthecouldnotmakeoutwhethershewasconsideringwhathehadsaid，orwassimplystaringathim.

“ipraytogodforonethingonlycontinually，moncousin，”shereplied，“thathemayhavemercyuponhim，andallowhisnoblesoultoleavethis…”

“yes，quiteso，”princevassilycontinuedimpatiently，rubbinghisbaldheadandagainwrathfullymovingthetabletowardshimthathehadjustmovedaway，“butinfact…infactthepointis，asyouareyourselfaware，thatlastwinterthecountmadeawillbywhich，passingoverhisdirectheirsandus，hebequeathedallhispropertytopierre.”

“hemayhavemadeeversomanywills！”theprincesssaidplacidly；“buthecan’tleaveittopierre.pierreisillegitimate.”

“machère，”saidprincevassilysuddenly，pushingthetableagainsthim，growingmoreearnestandbeginningtospeakmorerapidly：“butwhatifaletterhasbeenwrittentotheemperor，andthecounthaspetitionedhimtolegitimisepierre？youunderstand，thatthecount’sserviceswouldmakehispetitioncarryweight…”

theprincesssmiled，aspeoplesmilewhobelievethattheyknowmuchmoreaboutthesubjectthanthosewithwhomtheyaretalking.

“icansaymore，”princevassilywenton，claspingherhand；“thatletterhasbeenwritten，thoughithasnotbeensentoff，andtheemperorhasheardaboutit.thequestiononlyiswhetherithasbeendestroyedornot.ifnot，assoonasallisover，”princevassilysighed，givinghertherebytounderstandwhathemeantpreciselybythewords“allisover，”“andtheyopenthecount’spapers，thewillwiththeletterwillbegiventotheemperor，andhispetitionwillcertainlybegranted.pierre，asthelegitimateson，willreceiveeverything.”

“whataboutourshare？”theprincessinquired，smilingironicallyasthoughanythingbutthatmighthappen.

“why，mypoorkatish，itisasclearasdaylight.hewillthenbetheonlylegalheirofall，andyouwon’treceiveasmuchasthis，see.yououghttoknow，mydear，whetherthewillandthepetitionwerewritten，andwhethertheyhavebeendestroyed，andiftheyhavesomehowbeenoverlooked，thenyououghttoknowwheretheyareandtofindthem，because…”

“thatwouldberathertoomuch！”theprincessinterruptedhim，smilingsardonically，withnochangeintheexpressionofhereyes.“iamawoman，andyouthinkweareallsilly；butidoknowsomuch，thatanillegitimatesoncan’tinherit…unbatard，”sheadded，supposingthatbythistranslationofthewordshewasconclusivelyprovingtotheprincethegroundlessnessofhiscontention.