第25章

第25章“moncherboris,”saidannamihalovnaasthecountessrostov’scarriagedrovealongthestreetstrewnwithstrawandintothewidecourtyardofcountkirillvladimirovitchbezuhov’shouse.“moncherboris,”saidthemother,puttingherhandoutfromunderheroldmantle,andlayingitonherson’shandwithatimid,caressingmovement,“benice,beattentive.countkirillvladimirovitchisafterallyourgodfather,andyourfuturedependsonhim.rememberthat,moncher,becharming,asyouknowsowellhowtobe.…”

“ifiknewanythingwouldcomeofitbuthumiliation,”hersonansweredcoldly.“butihavepromised,andiwilldoitforyoursake.”

althoughthecarriagewasstandingattheentrance,thehall-porter,scanningthemotherandson（theyhadnotsentintheirnames,buthadwalkedstraightinthroughtheglassdoorsbetweentworowsofstatuesinniches）,andlookingsignificantlyattheoldmantle,inquiredwhomtheywanted,theprincessesorthecount;andhearingthattheywantedtoseethecount,saidthathisexcellencywasworseto-day,andhisexcellencycouldseenoone.

“wemayaswellgoaway,”thesonsaidinfrench.

“monami！”saidthemotherinavoiceofentreaty,againtouchingherson’shand,asthoughthecontactmightsootheorrousehim.borissaidnomore,butwithouttakingoffhisovercoat,lookedinquiringlyathismother.

“mygoodman,”annamihalovnasaidingratiatingly,addressingthehall-porter,“iknowthatcountkirillvladimirovitchisveryill…thatiswhyiamhere…iamarelation…ishallnotdisturbhim,mygoodman…ineedonlyseeprincevassilysergyevitch;he’sstayinghere,iknow.announceus,please.”

thehall-portersullenlypulledthebell-ropethatrangupstairsandturnedaway.

“princessdrubetskoytoseeprincevassilysergyevitch,”hecalledtoafootmaninstockings,slippersandafrockcoat,whorandownfromabove,andlookeddownfromtheturninthestaircase.

themotherstraightenedoutthefoldsofherdyedsilkgown,lookedatherselfinthefull-lengthvenetianlooking-glassonthewall,andboldlywalkeduponthestaircarpetinhershabby,shapelessshoes.

“mydear,youpromisedme,”sheturnedagaintoherson,rousinghimbyatouchonhisarm.theson,withhiseyesonthedoor,walkedsubmissivelyafterher.

theywentintoalargeroom,fromwhichadoorledtotheapartmentsthathadbeenassignedtoprincevassily.

atthemomentwhenthemotherandsonreachedthemiddleoftheroomandwereabouttoasktheirwayofanoldfootman,whohaddartedoutattheirentrance,thebronzehandleofoneofthedoorsturned,andprincevassily,dressedinahousejacketofvelvet,withonestar,cameout,accompanyingahandsome,black-hairedman.thismanwasthecelebratedpetersburgdoctor,lorrain.

“itispositive,then？”saidtheprince.

“prince,errareesthumanum,”answeredthedoctor,lisping,andpronouncingthelatinwordswithafrenchaccent.

“verywell,verywell…”

perceivingannamihalovnaandherson,princevassilydismissedthedoctorwithabow,andinsilence,withanairofinquiry,advancedtomeetthem.thesonnoticedhowanexpressionofintensegriefcameatonceintohismother’seyes,andhesmiledslightly.

“yes,inwhatdistressingcircumstancesweweredestinedtomeetagain,prince.…tellmehowisourdearpatient？”shesaid,apparentlynotobservingthefrigid,offensiveglancethatwasfixedonher.princevassilystaredather,thenatboriswithalookofinquirythatamountedtoperplexity.borisbowedpolitely.princevassily,withoutacknowledginghisbow,turnedawaytoannamihalovna,andtoherquestionherepliedbyamovementoftheheadandlips,indicativeoftheworstfearsforthepatient.

“isitpossible？”criedannamihalovna.“ah,thisisterrible！itisdreadfultothink…thisismyson,”sheadded,indicatingboris.“hewantedtothankyouinperson.”

borisoncemoremadeapolitebow.

“believeme,prince,amother’sheartwillneverforgetwhatyouhavedoneforus.”