Bab Bab 156 · 第156章

Anatole Kurágin was staying in Moscow because his father had sent him

away from Petersburg, where he had been spending twenty thousand rubles

a year in cash, besides running up debts for as much more, which his

creditors demanded from his father.

His father announced to him that he would now pay half his debts for the

last time, but only on condition that he went to Moscow as adjutant to

the commander in chief—a post his father had procured for him—and

would at last try to make a good match there. He indicated to him

Princess Mary and Julie Karágina.

Anatole consented and went to Moscow, where he put up at Pierre’s

house. Pierre received him unwillingly at first, but got used to him

after a while, sometimes even accompanied him on his carousals, and gave

him money under the guise of loans.

As Shinshín had remarked, from the time of his arrival Anatole had

turned the heads of the Moscow ladies, especially by the fact that

he slighted them and plainly preferred the gypsy girls and French

actresses—with the chief of whom, Mademoiselle George, he was said to

be on intimate relations. He had never missed a carousal at Danílov’s

or other Moscow revelers’, drank whole nights through, outvying

everyone else, and was at all the balls and parties of the best society.

There was talk of his intrigues with some of the ladies, and he flirted

with a few of them at the balls. But he did not run after the unmarried

girls, especially the rich heiresses who were most of them plain.

There was a special reason for this, as he had got married two years

before—a fact known only to his most intimate friends. At that time

while with his regiment in Poland, a Polish landowner of small means had

forced him to marry his daughter. Anatole had very soon abandoned his

wife and, for a payment which he agreed to send to his father-in-law,

had arranged to be free to pass himself off as a bachelor.

Anatole was always content with his position, with himself, and with

others. He was instinctively and thoroughly convinced that it was

impossible for him to live otherwise than as he did and that he had

never in his life done anything base. He was incapable of considering

how his actions might affect others or what the consequences of this or

that action of his might be. He was convinced that, as a duck is so made

that it must live in water, so God had made him such that he must spend

thirty thousand rubles a year and always occupy a prominent position in

society. He believed this so firmly that others, looking at him, were

persuaded of it too and did not refuse him either a leading place

in society or money, which he borrowed from anyone and everyone and

evidently would not repay.

He was not a gambler, at any rate he did not care about winning. He was

not vain. He did not mind what people thought of him. Still less could

he be accused of ambition. More than once he had vexed his father by

spoiling his own career, and he laughed at distinctions of all kinds. He

was not mean, and did not refuse anyone who asked of him. All he cared

about was gaiety and women, and as according to his ideas there

was nothing dishonorable in these tastes, and he was incapable of

considering what the gratification of his tastes entailed for others,

he honestly considered himself irreproachable, sincerely despised rogues

and bad people, and with a tranquil conscience carried his head high.

Rakes, those male Magdalenes, have a secret feeling of innocence

similar to that which female Magdalenes have, based on the same hope of

forgiveness. “All will be forgiven her, for she loved much; and all

will be forgiven him, for he enjoyed much.”

Dólokhov, who had reappeared that year in Moscow after his exile and

his Persian adventures, and was leading a life of luxury, gambling, and

dissipation, associated with his old Petersburg comrade Kurágin and

made use of him for his own ends.

Anatole was sincerely fond of Dólokhov for his cleverness and

audacity. Dólokhov, who needed Anatole Kurágin’s name, position, and

connections as a bait to draw rich young men into his gambling set, made

use of him and amused himself at his expense without letting the other

feel it. Apart from the advantage he derived from Anatole, the very

process of dominating another’s will was in itself a pleasure, a

habit, and a necessity to Dólokhov.

Natásha had made a strong impression on Kurágin. At supper after

the opera he described to Dólokhov with the air of a connoisseur the

attractions of her arms, shoulders, feet, and hair and expressed his

intention of making love to her. Anatole had no notion and was incapable

of considering what might come of such love-making, as he never had any

notion of the outcome of any of his actions.

“She’s first-rate, my dear fellow, but not for us,” replied

Dólokhov.

“I will tell my sister to ask her to dinner,” said Anatole.

“Eh?”

“You’d better wait till she’s married....”

“You know, I adore little girls, they lose their heads at once,”

pursued Anatole.

“You have been caught once already by a ‘little girl,’” said

Dólokhov who knew of Kurágin’s marriage. “Take care!”

“Well, that can’t happen twice! Eh?” said Anatole, with a

good-humored laugh.