War and Peace

Chapter 43

Bin-Air had no time to go home, so he hired a carriage and drove to the governor.

Rushdoppch returned to the city this morning from the Sokolnitz villa outside the city.The drawing room and reception room in the earl's residence were full of officials, some of whom were summoned and some of whom came to ask for instructions.

A servant was coming out of the earl's room when Bin-Air entered the anteroom.The Messenger waved to those who cared about him, and walked quickly across the hall towards the outside.

In the reception room, Bin-Air looked at all kinds of people around him with tired eyes, and most of these people's faces showed uneasiness and dissatisfaction.Here, Bin-Air saw Veresic's father who came to intercede for his son.Veresich was imprisoned for the proclamation (Napoleon's proclamation) that offended the count two months earlier, and postmaster Klyucharyov was punished for it.

[eleven]

While Bin-Air was discussing Veresic with the people, the governor summoned the man.

His tone was harsh, accusing Bin-Air of lending Klyucharyov his carriage and taking him out of town, and finally keeping the papers for him.In the end, he reminded Bin-Air not to associate with such people and to leave here as soon as possible.

Talking about Veresic, Rushdoppich said angrily: "He is a traitor, a mole, he should be convicted!"

It was evening when he came home from the governor.That night, eight people with different identities came to receive them.They all have to discuss with him some things that require him to make a decision.Bin-Air had no idea about it, and had no interest in it, and he answered all the questions they asked, only out of his motive of getting rid of these people earlier.Later, when everyone was gone, Bin-Air read his wife's letter alone.

Early the next morning, the steward came to tell Bin-Air that Earl Rushdoverche had sent someone to inquire, and they wanted to know whether Earl Binzohof had left.

In the living room, ten people of different identities were waiting for Bin Air, and they had to discuss many things with Bin Air.Before these people found him, he quickly put on his clothes and slipped out through the back door.

From that day onwards, until Moscow was restored, Binzokhov disappeared, and his family searched everywhere, but he was never seen again, and no one heard anything of value about him.

[twelve]
The Rostaff family remained in Moscow until the French captured it.

The countess has been in a state of panic.Her relatives belonged to the Obolensky Cossack regiment and had marched with it to Betzerković.And the other son has already flown away from under her wings, maybe today or tomorrow, maybe one or two, will be killed.She couldn't fall asleep, and when she closed her eyes, she would dream that her son was beaten to death.After constant conversation and counseling, she and the count finally found a way to put an end to this state of anxiety by transferring Biga from the Obolensky regiment to the Binzokhov regiment near Moscow.

At the end of August, the Lostavs received a second letter from Malal, from Voronezh Province, where he had been sent to buy horses.But his letter did not comfort the countess.When she knew that one of her sons was safe, she became even more worried about Tibiga.

On August 28, Biga arrived home.The mother's deep concern and love when she saw her son did not make the 16-year-old officer happy.Of course, his mother didn't let him know what he was thinking, but Biga understood his mother's intentions very well. He was afraid of being with his mother. He was afraid that it would soften his heart and become effeminate.He was indifferent to her, kept away from her, was only with Natès, with whom he had a special brotherhood.

As the count has always been sloppy, on August 28, he was not ready to leave.The carts that came from outside Ryazan and Moscow to help carry the luggage did not arrive until the [-]th.

From August 28th to August [-]th, the whole of Moscow was in a state of confusion.Every day, thousands of wounded soldiers from the battle of Polagero would be sent through the Dorogomilov gate, while carts full of Moscow residents and goods would go outside through other gates.

During the first three days of Moscow's occupation, the Lostavs were busy with everything.The owner, Count Ilya Andreich, went back and forth in the car to inquire about the rumors, and gave some superficial and incomplete instructions at home about the preparations for the trip.The countess hated everyone, and she was jealous that Biga kept running away from her to find Natsy, leaving only Martha to take care of the practical affairs in silence.However, she has been unusually hesitant and quiet lately; the Countess was so delighted by Malal's letter mentioning the Princess Mollier, that she told her in Martha's presence about the encounter between Malal and the Princess Mollier. It was a match made in heaven.Martha understood that the Countess was telling the truth, that the only way to revitalize the Lowstaff family was to marry a rich lady, and that the Duchess was a suitable match.But it made her miserable, and perhaps because of it she was able to afford to direct the arranging and packing, and keep busy all day long.

[Thirteen]
Saturday, August 31.Everything in the Lowstaff house has been turned upside down.

The house servants and the peasants driving their carts called, and their rough voices and busy figures could be heard in the yard and in the house.Martha is packing glass and china in the hall.Nates sat alone on the dirty floor of her room, surrounded by a mess of clothes and shawls.

All the servants and servants of the house stood at the gate to watch the passers-by and the injured. Natess wore a white kerchief on her head, clenched the corners of the kerchief with both hands, and walked towards the street.Nates took a few steps in front of the housekeeper and a young officer who were talking.When she learned that the wounded officer had nowhere to go in Moscow, she asked the major to arrange for the wounded officer and other wounded soldiers to come to her yard as soon as possible.It was obvious that Natès was very pleased with this out-of-the-ordinary reception of newcomers.

During the meal, Biga, who came back from the outside, told what he had seen and heard.He said that people were all ordering guns in the Kremlin today, and that the exact order was known to the people, although Rushdoppich's list said that the order would be issued in two or three days.Therefore, the residents will definitely rush to Sanshan with weapons tomorrow, and fight there.

When Biga was talking, he didn't notice the countess's look of fear and timidity.The countess, who had never shown any fear, now resorted to the cruelty of a woman's unconsciousness because of her mother's love.She told everyone that if she stayed here tonight, she would be scared to death.In fact, she didn't have to pretend anymore, she was really scared now.

[fourteen]
After dinner, the Lostaff family began to prepare things again, and got busy nervously.The old count suddenly inquired about the affairs of the house, and made matters worse by walking about the house, giving meaningless instructions to the coming and going servants.Biga is also busy in the courtyard.Martha was at a loss when she heard the old earl's inconsistent instructions.People were running, shouting, shouting.

People have been busy all day, but still can't get everything shipped.It was very late, and the countess had already gone to bed, and the count, after ordering his departure to be postponed until the next morning, went to bed too.

Martha and Nates had not undressed; they were sleeping in the living room.That same night another wounded man was taken to Cook Street, and Mavra Kuzminishna, who was standing outside, took him to the Lostavs' house.

The wounded man was Prince Andrei Bolkonski.

[fifteen]
The end of Moscow has come.It's a sunny day, it's a Sunday.As usual on any Sunday, churches were beating prayers, and no one expected what was coming to Moscow.The old and solemn routine of the Lowstaff family was disrupted, but not very noticeably.Of all the house slaves, only three had gone away in the night; thirty carts had been called from the country, full of enviable wealth, for which someone was already willing to pay a high price.When the Lustaff's luggage was ready to leave, an officer came up and asked for a ride in the Earl's luggage cart.The count vaguely announced the order to vacate the carriages for the soldiers. He looked around. In the yard, by the door, and outside the house, there were wounded soldiers and logistics soldiers everywhere.They stared at the count and moved towards the porch.The count once again explained his order: don't refuse the rescue soldiers who ask to take a ride.

At nine o'clock, when the countess woke up, she found that the family's car was empty, all valuables had been removed, and the car was full of wounded soldiers.The countess learned that this was caused by the count's straightforward order, and quickly sent someone to call her husband to her.She looked unwilling and cried to her husband:

"Count, you can no longer add to the family property, and now you once again want to lose all the property of the children. You said that the property of this family is worth a hundred thousand rubles. My dear, I cannot agree with you. Disagree! You are too casual. The wounded soldiers are the affairs of the state. The other neighbors moved everything away three days ago. Everyone knows how to do it. We are the only fools. If you don’t think about me, don’t think about it. Think about the children."

The count just waved his hands after hearing this, and walked outside without saying anything.Just then Nates came into the room and announced that Berg had arrived.

[sixteen]
Berg was now the son-in-law of the Lowstaffs, and already a colonel with two medals.Now, he is in a good and good position--deputy chief of staff of the [-]st Division of the Second Army.

On September [-], he followed the troops to Moscow.In Moscow, he didn't have anything to do, but everyone asked for leave to go out, and he felt it necessary to take time off to take care of the housework.When he passed Yusupov's house, he saw the small wardrobe and dressing table that were being sold, so as soon as he entered the house, he asked the count to rent a car for him to pull these furniture.The old earl was very unhappy after hearing this.

Biga was now on the steps distributing weapons to the servants who were leaving Moscow.The loaded car is being untied and ready to go.

"Do you know what happened?" Biga asked Natess.Nates knew that Biga was referring to the quarrel between her parents.She didn't answer Biga's question.

Biga continued: "Because Papa is going to give up all the cars to the wounded soldiers, Vashirech told me, I think..."

Nates didn't finish listening, her face turned pale with anger.She rushed into the room like a storm, and walked quickly to her mother.

"Damn it! It's disgraceful!" she cried to her mother. "That's not what you meant."

Both Berg and the mother looked at her inexplicably.The count stood by the window and listened attentively.Nates continued to yell at her mother: "Mom, that's absolutely impossible. Just look at the situation in the yard. They will be abandoned and left alone!"

The countess glanced at Natsè, saw her face shy and agitated because of her behavior, and she began to understand why her husband did not look back at her now, and she was at a loss.

"Hey, you can do whatever you like! Could it be that I'm in your way!" she asked, which showed that she had given in.

"Oh my God, the egg is teaching the hen a lesson..." The earl hugged his wife with tears of excitement in his eyes.The countess looked embarrassed, leaning happily in the count's arms.

Nates conveyed the old earl's new instructions to the servants, but the servants didn't quite believe it until the earl reiterated his order in the name of himself and his wife—give the car to the wounded and move the things back to the house , they believed it.The servants went about their new work happily.

The whole family was happy and excited, and Natès felt a lightness and lightness which she had not experienced for a long time.

[seventeen]
At two o'clock the Lowstaff branch was ready.Four laden wagons with horses harnessed were at the gate, and the wagons with the wounded were ready to leave the yard.The caravan carrying the Duke d'Andrew caught Martha's attention as it passed the steps.From the maid, Martha knew that the caravan carried the life-threatening Duke Bolkonski.She hastily informed the countess who was waiting to leave.

The Countess embraced Martha and wept. "It is Providence!" She thought that the invisible hand, the all-powerful hand, was manifesting in all things.The servants who were about to go on the road were saying goodbye to the people left behind in the yard and on the steps. They held the short knife and long sword issued to them by Biga in their hands, and belts and belts were tightly tied around their waists.

The convoy departs.Nates is sitting beside the countess now, looking at the abandoned city walls slowly walking behind her outside the car window, she feels a rare excitement and joy.From time to time, she stuck her head out of the window to look at the convoys of wounded soldiers.The unopened caravan of the Duc d'Andrew was almost in the lead.She didn't know who that car belonged to, but every time she went to see the long convoy, she couldn't help but look for this car, and she knew that this car was at the front.

When passing the Sukharev Water Tower, Natess was looking at the people on the road with curiosity and interest.Suddenly, she exclaimed with joy:

"My God! Mom, Martha, look quickly, it's him!" At this moment, she found Bin-Air disguised as a coachman among the passers-by.

Bin-Air responded to Natess' curious and enthusiastic question in a trance, while continuing to walk forward.Nates interrupted his faltering answer.

"What is the matter with you, count? How have you become so unlike yourself..."

"Oh, don't ask me, I don't know what's wrong with me myself. Tomorrow... well, don't talk about it. Good-bye," he added, "What a terrible time!" Soon, He passed the carriage and walked toward the sidewalk.

[eighteen]
Bin Air spent two days in the empty house of his late mentor Bazdeyev since he left home.

It happened as follows: upon his return to Moscow, Bin-Air met Count Rushdupich immediately.

When he woke up the next day, he hadn't figured out where he was or what to do for a long time.A servant reported to him that a Frenchman was waiting for him in the drawing-room with a letter from Hanli Voshileyevna.A feeling of confusion and despair immediately filled his heart.

As soon as the butler left, Bin-Air took his hat from the table and left the study through the back door.This morning, Binair felt that among all the things that needed to be done, cleaning out Joseph Alexievich's books and materials was the most important thing.He took a cab and went to Bishop's Pond, where Bazdeyev's widow lived.

He walked into this dark study room. Before his teacher was alive, he always walked into this room tremblingly.But no one has visited here since the death of Joseph Alexievich.It was dusty and dark here now.

He sat here for two hours, and in front of him was the real copy of the "Scottish Canons" annotated by his teacher.This was a very important relic of the Kiwanis.

Gerasim, the servant, looked several times into the study, wanting to bring Bin-Air something to eat, while Bin-Air wanted him to bring him some peasant clothes and a pistol.

He spent a day alone in his teacher's study, walking up and down restlessly, talking to himself.At night, he slept on the bed that he had made for himself.Just as Bin-Air was wearing the gown that Gerasim helped him get, and was on his way to buy a pistol at the Sukhalif Water Tower, he met Lostav's relatives.

[nineteen]
On the night of September [-], Kotusov issued an instruction: the Russian army retreated to the Ryazan road via Moscow.

At about ten o'clock the next morning, only the rear guard remained in the vast Dorogomilov suburb.Part of the army has gone to the other side of Moscow, and another part has long since left Moscow.

(End of this chapter)