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sometimes stopping short； gesticulating； and lisping： 〃the position in
Petersburg is this： the Emperor does not look into anything。 He has
abandoned himself altogether to this mysticism〃 （Pierre could not
tolerate mysticism in anyone now）。 〃He seeks only for peace； and
only these people sans foi ni loi* can give it him… people who
recklessly hack at and strangle everything… Magnitski； Arakcheev；
and tutti quanti。。。。 You will agree that if you did not look after
your estates yourself but only wanted a quiet life； the harsher your
steward was the more readily your object might be attained；〃 he said
to Nicholas。
*Without faith or law。
〃Well； what does that lead up to？〃 said Nicholas。
〃Well； everything is going to ruin！ Robbery in the law courts； in
the army nothing but flogging； drilling； and Military Settlements； the
people are tortured； enlightenment is suppressed。 All that is young
and honest is crushed！ Everyone sees that this cannot go on。
Everything is strained to such a degree that it will certainly break；〃
said Pierre （as those who examine the actions of any government have
always said since governments began）。 〃I told them just one thing in
Petersburg。〃
〃Told whom？〃
〃Well； you know whom；〃 said Pierre； with a meaning glance from under
his brows。 〃Prince Theodore and all those。 To encourage culture and
philanthropy is all very well of course。 The aim is excellent but in
the present circumstances something else is needed。〃
At that moment Nicholas noticed the presence of his nephew。 His face
darkened and he went up to the boy。
〃Why are you here？〃
〃Why？ Let him be；〃 said Pierre； taking Nicholas by the arm and
continuing。 〃That is not enough； I told them。 Something else is
needed。 When you stand expecting the overstrained string to snap at
any moment； when everyone is expecting the inevitable catastrophe；
as many as possible must join hands as closely as they can to
withstand the general calamity。 Everything that is young and strong is
being enticed away and depraved。 One is lured by women； another by
honors； a third by ambition or money； and they go over to that camp。
No independent men； such as you or I； are left。 What I say is widen
the scope of our society； let the mot d'ordre be not virtue alone
but independence and action as well！〃
Nicholas； who had left his nephew； irritably pushed up an
armchair； sat down in it； and listened to Pierre； coughing
discontentedly and frowning more and more。
〃But action with what aim？〃 he cried。 〃And what position will you
adopt toward the government？〃
〃Why； the position of assistants。 The society need not be secret
if the government allows it。 Not merely is it not hostile to
government； but it is a society of true conservatives… a society of
gentlemen in the full meaning of that word。 It is only to prevent some
Pugachev or other from killing my children and yours； and Arakcheev
from sending me off to some Military Settlement。 We join hands only
for the public welfare and the general safety。〃
〃Yes； but it's a secret society and therefore a hostile and
harmful one which can only cause harm。〃
〃Why？ Did the Tugendbund which saved Europe〃 （they did not then
venture to suggest that Russia had saved Europe） 〃do any harm？ The
Tugendbund is an alliance of virtue： it is love； mutual help。。。 it
is what Christ preached on the Cross。〃
Natasha； who had come in during the conversation； looked joyfully at
her husband。 It was not what he was saying that pleased her… that
did not even interest her； for it seemed to her that was all extremely
simple and that she had known it a long time （it seemed so to her
because she knew that it sprang from Pierre's whole soul）； but it
was his animated and enthusiastic appearance that made her glad。
The boy with the thin neck stretching out from the turn…down collar…
whom everyone had forgotten… gazed at Pierre with even greater and
more rapturous joy。 Every word of Pierre's burned into his heart；
and with a nervous movement of his fingers he unconsciously broke
the sealing wax and quill pens his hands came upon on his uncle's
table。
〃It is not at all what you suppose； but that is what the German
Tugendbund was； and what I am proposing。〃
〃No； my fwiend！ The Tugendbund is all vewy well for the sausage
eaters； but I don't understand it and can't even pwonounce it；〃
interposed Denisov in a loud and resolute voice。 〃I agwee that
evewything here is wotten and howwible； but the Tugendbund I don't
understand。 If we're not satisfied； let us have a bunt of our own。
That's all wight。 Je suis vot'e homme！〃*
*〃I'm your man。〃
Pierre smiled； Natasha began to laugh； but Nicholas knitted his
brows still more and began proving to Pierre that there was no
prospect of any great change and that all the danger he spoke of
existed only in his imagination。 Pierre maintained the contrary； and
as his mental faculties were greater and more resourceful； Nicholas
felt himself cornered。 This made him still angrier； for he was fully
convinced； not by reasoning but by something within him stronger
than reason； of the justice of his opinion。
〃I will tell you this；〃 he said； rising and trying with nervously
twitching fingers to prop up his pipe in a corner； but finally
abandoning the attempt。 〃I can't prove it to you。 You say that
everything here is rotten and that an overthrow is coming： I don't see
it。 But you also say that our oath of allegiance is a conditional
matter； and to that I reply： 'You are my best friend； as you know； but
if you formed a secret society and began working against the
government… be it what it may… I know it is my duty to obey the
government。 And if Arakcheev ordered me to lead a squadron against you
and cut you down； I should not hesitate an instant； but should do it。'
And you may argue about that as you like！〃
An awkward silence followed these words。 Natasha was the first to
speak； defending her husband and attacking her brother。 Her defense
was weak and inapt but she attained her object。 The conversation was
resumed； and no longer in the unpleasantly hostile tone of Nicholas'
last remark。
When they all got up to go in to supper； little Nicholas Bolkonski
went up to Pierre； pale and with shining； radiant eyes。
〃Uncle Pierre； you。。。 no。。。 If Papa were alive。。。 would he agree
with you？〃 he asked。
And Pierre suddenly realized what a special； independent； complex；
and powerful process of thought and feeling must have been going on in
this boy during that conversation； and remembering all he had said
he regretted that the lad should have heard him。 He had； however； to
give him an answer。
〃Yes； I think so；〃 he said reluctantly； and left the study。
The lad looked down and seemed now for the first time to notice what
he had done to the things on the table。 He flushed and went up to
Nicholas。
〃Uncle； forgive me； I did that。。。 unintentionally；〃 he said；
pointing to the broken s