Texts
Book 8 References
When he returned to Moscow Pierre was handed a letter from Márya Dmítrievna asking him to come and see her on a matter of great importance relating to Andrew Bolkónski and his betrothed.
What can have happened? And what can they want with me? thought he as he dressed to go to Márya Dmítrievna’s.
Márya Dmítrievna informed him that Natásha had refused Prince Andrew without her parents’ knowledge and that the cause of this was Anatole Kurágin into whose society Pierre’s wife had thrown her and with whom Natásha had tried to elope during her father’s absence, in order to be married secretly.
Pierre raised his shoulders and listened open-mouthed to what was told him, scarcely able to believe his own ears. That Prince Andrew’s deeply loved affianced wife—the same Natásha Rostóva who used to be so charming—should give up Bolkónski for that fool Anatole who was already secretly married (as Pierre knew), and should be so in love with him as to agree to run away with him, was something Pierre could not conceive and could not imagine.
They are all alike! he said to himself, reflecting that he was not the only man unfortunate enough to be tied to a bad woman. But still he pitied Prince Andrew to the point of tears and sympathized with his wounded pride, and the more he pitied his friend the more did he think with contempt and even with disgust of that Natásha who had just passed him in the ballroom with such a look of cold dignity.
Natásha looked from one to the other as a hunted and wounded animal looks at the approaching dogs and sportsmen.
She was afraid that the count or Bolkónski, who might arrive at any moment, if they knew of this affair (which she hoped to hide from them) might challenge Anatole to a duel, and she therefore asked Pierre to tell his brother-in-law in her name to leave Moscow and not dare to let her set eyes on him again. Pierre—only now realizing the danger to the old count, Nicholas, and Prince Andrew—promised to do as she wished.
A Call To Pierre
Featured Characters: PIERRE, SERVANT, MARYA D
A servant hands a letter to Pierre.
[SERVANT]
A letter from Marya Dmitryevna asking you to come and
visit her
On a matter of great importance
Relating to Andrey
Bolkonsky and his betrothed
[PIERRE]
What?
What can they want with me?
He arrives at Marya D.’s.
[MARYA D]
Pierre, old friend I’m sorry it’s late
I’m
sorry I haven’t seen you about
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
[PIERRE]
I have been studying
[MARYA D]
Pierre old friend, we need your help
Pierre old friend: the family name!
We need your help
We need your
help
There’s ruin at the door
[PIERRE]
Marya?
[MARYA D]
Natasha has let down the family
[PIERRE]
What?
[MARYA D]
Natasha has broken with Andrey
[PIERRE]
What?
[MARYA D]
Natasha has tried to elope
[PIERRE]
What?
[MARYA D]
Natasha and Anatole Kuragin!
[PIERRE]
What?!
[MARYA D]
We need your help
We need your help
There’s ruin at the door
[PIERRE]
Natasha, that charming girl?
I can’t believe my
ears
So I am not the only man
Chained to a bad
woman
And Anatole, that stupid child
They’ll lock him up for years
For Anatole is a married man!
[MARYA D]
Married? He’s married?
[PIERRE]
Yes
[MARYA D]
Oh wait ’til I tell her
[PIERRE]
Poor Andrey
[MARYA D]
And when Andrey comes home
He will challenge Anatole
to a duel
And get himself killed
And all will be ruined
[MARYA D]
You must go see your brother-in-law
And tell him
that he must leave Moscow
And not dare to let me set my eyes on him
again
[PIERRE]
At once