Kabanata Kabanata 264 · 第264章

In Petersburg at that time a complicated struggle was being carried on

with greater heat than ever in the highest circles, between the parties

of Rumyántsev, the French, Márya Fëdorovna, the Tsarévich, and others,

drowned as usual by the buzzing of the court drones. But the calm,

luxurious life of Petersburg, concerned only about phantoms and

reflections of real life, went on in its old way and made it hard,

except by a great effort, to realize the danger and the difficult

position of the Russian people. There were the same receptions and

balls, the same French theater, the same court interests and service

interests and intrigues as usual. Only in the very highest circles were

attempts made to keep in mind the difficulties of the actual position.

Stories were whispered of how differently the two Empresses behaved

in these difficult circumstances. The Empress Márya, concerned for

the welfare of the charitable and educational institutions under her

patronage, had given directions that they should all be removed to

Kazán, and the things belonging to these institutions had already been

packed up. The Empress Elisabeth, however, when asked what instructions

she would be pleased to give—with her characteristic Russian patriotism

had replied that she could give no directions about state institutions

for that was the affair of the sovereign, but as far as she personally

was concerned she would be the last to quit Petersburg.

At Anna Pávlovna’s on the twenty-sixth of August, the very day of the

battle of Borodinó, there was a soiree, the chief feature of which was

to be the reading of a letter from His Lordship the Bishop when sending

the Emperor an icon of the Venerable Sergius. It was regarded as a model

of ecclesiastical, patriotic eloquence. Prince Vasíli himself, famed for

his elocution, was to read it. (He used to read at the Empress’.) The

art of his reading was supposed to lie in rolling out the words, quite

independently of their meaning, in a loud and singsong voice alternating

between a despairing wail and a tender murmur, so that the wail fell

quite at random on one word and the murmur on another. This reading,

as was always the case at Anna Pávlovna’s soirees, had a political

significance. That evening she expected several important personages who

had to be made ashamed of their visits to the French theater and aroused

to a patriotic temper. A good many people had already arrived, but Anna

Pávlovna, not yet seeing all those whom she wanted in her drawing room,

did not let the reading begin but wound up the springs of a general

conversation.

The news of the day in Petersburg was the illness of Countess Bezúkhova.

She had fallen ill unexpectedly a few days previously, had missed

several gatherings of which she was usually the ornament, and was said

to be receiving no one, and instead of the celebrated Petersburg doctors

who usually attended her had entrusted herself to some Italian doctor

who was treating her in some new and unusual way.

They all knew very well that the enchanting countess’ illness arose from

an inconvenience resulting from marrying two husbands at the same time,

and that the Italian’s cure consisted in removing such inconvenience;

but in Anna Pávlovna’s presence no one dared to think of this or even

appear to know it.

“They say the poor countess is very ill. The doctor says it is angina

pectoris.”

“Angina? Oh, that’s a terrible illness!”

“They say that the rivals are reconciled, thanks to the angina...” and

the word angina was repeated with great satisfaction.

“The count is pathetic, they say. He cried like a child when the doctor

told him the case was dangerous.”

“Oh, it would be a terrible loss, she is an enchanting woman.”

“You are speaking of the poor countess?” said Anna Pávlovna, coming

up just then. “I sent to ask for news, and hear that she is a little

better. Oh, she is certainly the most charming woman in the world,” she

went on, with a smile at her own enthusiasm. “We belong to different

camps, but that does not prevent my esteeming her as she deserves. She

is very unfortunate!” added Anna Pávlovna.

Supposing that by these words Anna Pávlovna was somewhat lifting the

veil from the secret of the countess’ malady, an unwary young man

ventured to express surprise that well-known doctors had not been called

in and that the countess was being attended by a charlatan who might

employ dangerous remedies.

“Your information may be better than mine,” Anna Pávlovna suddenly and

venomously retorted on the inexperienced young man, “but I know on good

authority that this doctor is a very learned and able man. He is private

physician to the Queen of Spain.”

And having thus demolished the young man, Anna Pávlovna turned to

another group where Bilíbin was talking about the Austrians: having

wrinkled up his face he was evidently preparing to smooth it out again

and utter one of his mots.

“I think it is delightful,” he said, referring to a diplomatic note that

had been sent to Vienna with some Austrian banners captured from the

French by Wittgenstein, “the hero of Petropol” as he was then called in

Petersburg.

“What? What’s that?” asked Anna Pávlovna, securing silence for the mot,

which she had heard before.

And Bilíbin repeated the actual words of the diplomatic dispatch, which

he had himself composed.

“The Emperor returns these Austrian banners,” said Bilíbin, “friendly

banners gone astray and found on a wrong path,” and his brow became

smooth again.

“Charming, charming!” observed Prince Vasíli.

“The path to Warsaw, perhaps,” Prince Hippolyte remarked loudly and

unexpectedly. Everybody looked at him, understanding what he meant.

Prince Hippolyte himself glanced around with amused surprise. He knew no

more than the others what his words meant. During his diplomatic career

he had more than once noticed that such utterances were received as very

witty, and at every opportunity he uttered in that way the first words

that entered his head. “It may turn out very well,” he thought, “but

if not, they’ll know how to arrange matters.” And really, during the

awkward silence that ensued, that insufficiently patriotic person

entered whom Anna Pávlovna had been waiting for and wished to convert,

and she, smiling and shaking a finger at Hippolyte, invited Prince

Vasíli to the table and bringing him two candles and the manuscript

begged him to begin. Everyone became silent.

“Most Gracious Sovereign and Emperor!” Prince Vasíli sternly declaimed,

looking round at his audience as if to inquire whether anyone had

anything to say to the contrary. But no one said anything. “Moscow, our

ancient capital, the New Jerusalem, receives her Christ”—he placed a

sudden emphasis on the word her—“as a mother receives her zealous sons

into her arms, and through the gathering mists, foreseeing the brilliant

glory of thy rule, sings in exultation, ‘Hosanna, blessed is he that

cometh!’”

Prince Vasíli pronounced these last words in a tearful voice.

Bilíbin attentively examined his nails, and many of those present

appeared intimidated, as if asking in what they were to blame. Anna

Pávlovna whispered the next words in advance, like an old woman

muttering the prayer at Communion: “Let the bold and insolent

Goliath...” she whispered.

Prince Vasíli continued.

“Let the bold and insolent Goliath from the borders of France encompass

the realms of Russia with death-bearing terrors; humble Faith, the sling

of the Russian David, shall suddenly smite his head in his bloodthirsty

pride. This icon of the Venerable Sergius, the servant of God and

zealous champion of old of our country’s weal, is offered to Your

Imperial Majesty. I grieve that my waning strength prevents rejoicing

in the sight of your most gracious presence. I raise fervent prayers to

Heaven that the Almighty may exalt the race of the just, and mercifully

fulfill the desires of Your Majesty.”

“What force! What a style!” was uttered in approval both of reader and

of author.

Animated by that address Anna Pávlovna’s guests talked for a long time

of the state of the fatherland and offered various conjectures as to the

result of the battle to be fought in a few days.

“You will see,” said Anna Pávlovna, “that tomorrow, on the Emperor’s

birthday, we shall receive news. I have a favorable presentiment!”