Chapter 6

           

           TheduelbetweenPierreandDólokhovwashushedupand,inspiteoftheEmperor’sseverityregardingduelsatthattime,neithertheprincipalsnortheirsecondssufferedforit.Butthestoryoftheduel,confirmedbyPierre’srupturewithhiswife,wasthetalkofsociety.Pierrewhohadbeenregardedwithpatronizingcondescensionwhenhewasanillegitimateson,andpettedandextolledwhenhewasthebestmatchinRussia,hadsunkgreatlyintheesteemofsocietyafterhismarriage—whenthemarriageabledaughtersandtheirmothershadnothingtohopefromhim—especiallyashedidnotknowhow,anddidnotwish,tocourtsociety’sfavor.Nowhealonewasblamedforwhathadhappened,hewassaidtobeinsanelyjealousandsubjectlikehisfathertofitsofbloodthirstyrage.AndwhenafterPierre’sdepartureHélènereturnedtoPetersburg,shewasreceivedbyallheracquaintancesnotonlycordially,butevenwithashadeofdeferenceduetohermisfortune.WhenconversationturnedonherhusbandHélèneassumedadignifiedexpression,whichwithcharacteristictactshehadacquiredthoughshedidnotunderstanditssignificance.ThisexpressionsuggestedthatshehadresolvedtoendurehertroublesuncomplaininglyandthatherhusbandwasacrosslaiduponherbyGod.PrinceVasíliexpressedhisopinionmoreopenly.HeshruggedhisshoulderswhenPierrewasmentionedand,pointingtohisforehead,remarked:

           “Abittouched—Ialwayssaidso.

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