Texts
Book 8 References
The plan for Natalie Rostóva’s abduction had been arranged and the preparations made by Dólokhov a few days before, and on the day that Sónya, after listening at Natásha’s door, resolved to safeguard her, it was to have been put into execution. Natásha had promised to come out to Kurágin at the back porch at ten that evening. Kurágin was to put her into a troyka he would have ready and to drive her forty miles to the village of Kámenka, where an unfrocked priest was in readiness to perform a marriage ceremony over them. At Kámenka a relay of horses was to wait which would take them to the Warsaw highroad, and from there they would hasten abroad with post horses.
Anatole had a passport, an order for post horses, ten thousand rubles he had taken from his sister and another ten thousand borrowed with Dólokhov’s help.
Two witnesses for the mock marriage—Khvóstikov, a retired petty official whom Dólokhov made use of in his gambling transactions, and Makárin, a retired hussar, a kindly, weak fellow who had an unbounded affection for Kurágin—were sitting at tea in Dólokhov’s front room.
In his large study, the walls of which were hung to the ceiling with Persian rugs, bearskins, and weapons, sat Dólokhov in a traveling cloak and high boots, at an open desk on which lay an abacus and some bundles of paper money. Anatole, with uniform unbuttoned, walked to and fro from the room where the witnesses were sitting, through the study to the room behind, where his French valet and others were packing the last of his things. Dólokhov was counting the money and noting something down.
Do you know? You’d really better drop it all. There’s still time! Fool, retorted Anatole. Don’t talk nonsense! If you only knew... it’s the devil knows what! No, really, give it up! said Dólokhov. I am speaking seriously. It’s no joke, this plot you’ve hatched. What, teasing again? Go to the devil! Eh? said Anatole, making a grimace. Really it’s no time for your stupid jokes, and he left the room.
You wait a bit, he called after him. I’m not joking, I’m talking sense. Come here, come here! Anatole returned and looked at Dólokhov, trying to give him his attention and evidently submitting to him involuntarily. Now listen to me. I’m telling you this for the last time. Why should I joke about it? Did I hinder you? Who arranged everything for you? Who found the priest and got the passport? Who raised the money? I did it all. Well, thank you for it. Do you think I am not grateful? And Anatole sighed and embraced Dólokhov. I helped you, but all the same I must tell you the truth; it is a dangerous business, and if you think about it—a stupid business. Well, you’ll carry her off—all right! Will they let it stop at that? It will come out that you’re already married. Why, they’ll have you in the criminal court....
Oh, nonsense, nonsense! Anatole ejaculated and again made a grimace. Didn’t I explain to you? What? And Anatole, with the partiality dull-witted people have for any conclusion they have reached by their own reasoning, repeated the argument he had already put to Dólokhov a hundred times. Didn’t I explain to you that I have come to this conclusion: if this marriage is invalid, he went on, crooking one finger, then I have nothing to answer for; but if it is valid, no matter! Abroad no one will know anything about it. Isn’t that so? And don’t talk to me, don’t, don’t.
Go to the devil! cried Anatole and, clutching his hair, left the room, but returned at once and dropped into an armchair in front of Dólokhov with his feet turned under him. It’s the very devil! What? Feel how it beats! He took Dólokhov’s hand and put it on his heart. What a foot, my dear fellow! What a glance! A goddess! he added in French.
Now then! Nearly ready? You’re dawdling! he shouted to the servants.
Anatole lay on the sofa in the study leaning on his elbow and smiling pensively, while his handsome lips muttered tenderly to himself.
Come! Balagá is here.
Yes, indeed, that’s a true sage, thought Pierre. He sees nothing beyond the pleasure of the moment, nothing troubles him and so he is always cheerful, satisfied, and serene. What wouldn’t I give to be like him! he thought enviously.
Preparations
Featured Characters: PIERRE, ANATOLE, DOLOKHOV
Pierre runs into Anatole on the street. Pierre is drunk, Anatole in a hurry.
[PIERRE]
Ah, Anatole! Where are you off to?
[ANATOLE]
Pierre, good man
Tonight I go away, on an
adventure
You’ll not be seeing me for some time
I’ve found a new
pleasure
And I’m taking her away
I’ll send you a letter from Poland
[PIERRE]
Ha! An elopement!
Fool, you are married already!
[ANATOLE]
Don’t talk to me of that!
I will not
deprive myself of this one!
Tonight! I take her tonight!
Lend me fifty rubles?
[PIERRE]
Ah, that's a true sage
Living in the moment
What I wouldn’t give to be like him!
[DOLOKHOV]
The plan for Natalie Rostova’s abduction
Had all
been arranged and the preparations made
On the day that Sonya decided to
save her
That was the day that the game was to be played
[DOLOKHOV]
Natasha was to be on her back porch at ten
Anatole
and his troika would scoop her up and then
They’d ride forty miles to the
village of Kamenka
Where an unfrocked priest was to make ’em get
wed
Then back into the troika off they’d go
Take the Poland
highroad to the wedding bed
[ANATOLE]
Passports, horses, ten thousand rubles I have taken from
my sister
And another ten thousand raised with Dolokhov’s help
[DOLOKHOV]
Just Anatole, the two wedding witnesses, and me
An abacus and paper money strewn on the desk
Persian
rugs and bearskins hanging grotesque
Anatole was walking with his uniform unbuttoned
Walking to and fro
To and fro
To and fro
[ANATOLE, DOLOKHOV]
[DOLOKHOV]
Now wait!
You better
Just
Give it up now
Why dontcha
While there’s still time!
You’d really better drop
it all
Give it up now!
While there’s still time!
Do you
know?
[ANATOLE]
What, teasing again?
Fool don’t talk nonsense!
Go to the devil! Eh?
Really this is no time for your stupid jokes
[DOLOKHOV]
I am not joking, I am talking sense
This is serious
business, a dangerous business
Come here, come here, come here
Anatole!
Why would I joke about it?
Me of all people
Who
found the priest, raised the money, got the passports, got the horses?
[ANATOLE]
And well I thank you for it
Do you think I am not
grateful?
[DOLOKHOV]
And now you’ll carry her away but will they let it stop
there?
You haven’t thought this through or do you just don’t care?
Now listen to me tell it to you one last time
They will take you to the
court and convict you for your crime
Already married and you’re playing
with a little girl
Don’t you know, don’t you think, don’t you know?
[ANATOLE]
Nonsense, nonsense!
I’m scowling and grimacing
Didn’t I explain it to you, didn’t I, what?
[DOLOKHOV]
And here Anatole
With the
stubborn attachment small-minded people have
For conclusions they’ve
worked out for themselves
Repeated his argument to me for the
hundredth time
[ANATOLE]
If this marriage isn’t valid
Then I’m off the
hook
But if it is valid, it really doesn’t matter!
No one abroad is
gonna know a thing about it
Isn’t that so now don’t you know?
Don’t
talk to me, don’t don’t what what
Ah go to hell now
I’m clutching my hair!
It’s the very devil!
Here, feel how it beats!
He presses Dolokhov’s hand to his heart. A light comes up on Natasha across the room.
[ANATOLE]
Ah ma chere, ma chere
Quel pied, quel regard!
What a foot she has, what a glance!
A goddess!
[ANATOLE]
And my handsome lips
Mutter
something tender to myself
It’s time!
It’s time!
Now then! Nearly ready? You’re dawdling!
The driver is here
The driver is here
Balaga is here!