Part 3

Chapter 1

           

           PrinceVasíliwasnotamanwhodeliberatelythoughtouthisplans.Stilllessdidhethinkofinjuringanyoneforhisownadvantage.Hewasmerelyamanoftheworldwhohadgotonandtowhomgettingonhadbecomeahabit.Schemesanddevicesforwhichheneverrightlyaccountedtohimself,butwhichformedthewholeinterestofhislife,wereconstantlyshapingthemselvesinhismind,arisingfromthecircumstancesandpersonshemet.Oftheseplanshehadnotmerelyoneortwoinhisheadbutdozens,someonlybeginningtoformthemselves,someapproachingachievement,andsomeincourseofdisintegration.Hedidnot,forinstance,saytohimself:“Thismannowhasinfluence,Imustgainhisconfidenceandfriendshipandthroughhimobtainaspecialgrant.”Nordidhesaytohimself:“Pierreisarichman,ImustenticehimtomarrymydaughterandlendmethefortythousandrublesIneed.”Butwhenhecameacrossamanofpositionhisinstinctimmediatelytoldhimthatthismancouldbeuseful,andwithoutanypremeditationPrinceVasílitookthefirstopportunitytogainhisconfidence,flatterhim,becomeintimatewithhim,andfinallymakehisrequest.

           HehadPierreathandinMoscowandprocuredforhimanappointmentasGentlemanoftheBedchamber,whichatthattimeconferredthestatusofCouncilorofState,andinsistedontheyoungmanaccompanyinghimtoPetersburgandstayingathishouse.Withapparentabsent-mindedness,yetwithunhesitatingassurancethathewasdoingtherightthing,PrinceVasílidideverythingtogetPierretomarryhisdaughter.

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