Chapter 9

           

           Atthattime,asalwayshappens,thehighestsocietythatmetatcourtandatthegrandballswasdividedintoseveralcircles,eachwithitsownparticulartone.ThelargestofthesewastheFrenchcircleoftheNapoleonicalliance,thecircleofCountRumyántsevandCaulaincourt.InthisgroupHélène,assoonasshehadsettledinPetersburgwithherhusband,tookaveryprominentplace.ShewasvisitedbythemembersoftheFrenchembassyandbymanybelongingtothatcircleandnotedfortheirintellectandpolishedmanners.

           HélènehadbeenatErfurtduringthefamousmeetingoftheEmperorsandhadbroughtfromtheretheseconnectionswiththeNapoleonicnotabilities.AtErfurthersuccesshadbeenbrilliant.Napoleonhimselfhadnoticedherinthetheaterandsaidofher:“C’estunsuperbeanimal.”*HersuccessasabeautifulandelegantwomandidnotsurprisePierre,forshehadbecomeevenhandsomerthanbefore.Whatdidsurprisehimwasthatduringtheselasttwoyearshiswifehadsucceededingainingthereputation“d’unefemmecharmante,aussispirituellequebelle.”*(2)ThedistinguishedPrincedeLignewrotehereight-pageletters.BilíbinsaveduphisepigramstoproducetheminCountessBezúkhova’spresence.TobereceivedintheCountessBezúkhova’ssalonwasregardedasadiplomaofintellect.YoungmenreadbooksbeforeattendingHélène’sevenings,tohavesomethingtosayinhersalon,andsecretariesoftheembassy,andevenambassadors,confideddiplomaticsecretstoher,sothatinawayHélènewasapower.

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