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Chapter 11 - Hippolyte Kuragin and les nôtres
Next day he woke late. Recalling his recent impressions, the first thought that came into his mind was that today he had to be presented to the Emperor Francis; he remembered the Minister of War, the polite Austrian adjutant, Bilibin, and last night’s conversation. Having dressed for his attendance at court in full parade uniform, which he had not worn for a long time, he went into Bilibin’s study fresh, animated1, and handsome, with his hand bandaged. In the study were four gentlemen of the diplomatic corps3. With Prince Hippolyte Kuragin, who was a secretary to the embassy, Bolkonsky was already acquainted. Bilibin introduced him to the others.
The gentlemen assembled at Bilibin’s were young, wealthy, gay society men, who here, as in Vienna, formed a special set which Bilibin, their leader, called les notres.* This set, consisting almost exclusively of diplomats4, evidently had its own interests which had nothing to do with war or politics but related to high society, to certain women, and to the official side of the service. These gentlemen received Prince Andrey as one of themselves, an honor they did not extend to many. From politeness and to start conversation, they asked him a few questions about the army and the battle, and then the talk went off into merry jests and gossip.
* Ours.
“But the best of it was,” said one, telling of the misfortune of a fellow diplomat2, “that the Chancellor5 told him flatly that his appointment to London was a promotion6 and that he was so to regard it. Can you fancy the figure he cut? . . . ”
“But the worst of it, gentlemen — I am giving Kuragin away to you — is that that man suffers, and this Don Juan, wicked fellow, is taking advantage of it!”
Prince Hippolyte was lolling in a lounge chair with his legs over its arm. He began to laugh.
“Tell me about that!” he said.
“Oh, you Don Juan! You serpent!” cried several voices.
“You, Bolkonsky, don’t know,” said Bilibin turning to Prince Andrey, “that all the atrocities7 of the French army (I nearly said of the Russian army) are nothing compared to what this man has been doing among the women!”
“La femme est la compagne de l’homme,”* announced Prince Hippolyte, and began looking through a lorgnette at his elevated legs.
* “Woman is man’s companion.”
Bilibin and the rest of “ours” burst out laughing in Hippolyte’s face, and Prince Andrey saw that Hippolyte, of whom — he had to admit — he had almost been jealous on his wife’s account, was the butt8 of this set.
“Oh, I must give you a treat,” Bilibin whispered to Bolkonsky. “Kuragin is exquisite9 when he discusses politics — you should see his gravity!”
He sat down beside Hippolyte and wrinkling his forehead began talking to him about politics. Prince Andrey and the others gathered round these two.
“The Berlin cabinet cannot express a feeling of alliance,” began Hippolyte gazing round with importance at the others, “without expressing . . . as in its last note . . . you understand . . . Besides, unless His Majesty10 the Emperor derogates from the principle of our alliance . . .
“Wait, I have not finished . . . ” he said to Prince Andrey, seizing him by the arm, “I believe that intervention11 will be stronger than nonintervention. And . . . ” he paused. “Finally one cannot impute12 the nonreceipt of our dispatch of November 18. That is how it will end.” And he released Bolkonsky’s arm to indicate that he had now quite finished.
“Demosthenes, I know thee by the pebble13 thou secretest in thy golden mouth!” said Bilibin, and the mop of hair on his head moved with satisfaction.
Everybody laughed, and Hippolyte louder than anyone. He was evidently distressed14, and breathed painfully, but could not restrain the wild laughter that convulsed his usually impassive features.
“Well now, gentlemen,” said Bilibin, “Bolkonsky is my guest in this house and in Brunn itself. I want to entertain him as far as I can, with all the pleasures of life here. If we were in Vienna it would be easy, but here, in this wretched Moravian hole, it is more difficult, and I beg you all to help me. Brunn’s attractions must be shown him. You can undertake the theater, I society, and you, Hippolyte, of course the women.”
“We must let him see Amelie, she’s exquisite!” said one of “ours,” kissing his finger tips.
“I shall scarcely be able to avail myself of your hospitality, gentlemen, it is already time for me to go,” replied Prince Andrey looking at his watch.
“Where to?”
“To the Emperor.”
“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Well, au revoir, Bolkonsky! Au revoir, Prince! Come back early to dinner,” cried several voices. “We’ll take you in hand.”
“When speaking to the Emperor, try as far as you can to praise the way that provisions are supplied and the routes indicated,” said Bilibin, accompanying him to the hall.
“I should like to speak well of them, but as far as I the facts, I can’t,” replied Bolkonsky, smiling.
“Well, talk as much as you can, anyway. He has a passion for giving audiences, but he does not like talking himself and can’t do it, as you will see.”
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1
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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2
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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3
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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4
diplomats
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| n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人 | |
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5
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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6
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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7
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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8
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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9
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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10
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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11
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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12
impute
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| v.归咎于 | |
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13
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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14
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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15
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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