ChapterI
InPetersburgatthattimeacomplicatedstrugglewasbeingcarriedonwithgreaterheatthaneverinthehighestcircles, betweenthepartiesofRumyantsev, theFrench, MaryaFedorovna, theTsarevich, andothers, , luxuriouslifeofPetersburg, concernedonlyaboutphantomsandreflectionsofreallife, wentoninitsoldwayandmadeithard, exceptbyagreateffort, , thesameFrenchtheater, , concernedforthewelfareofthecharitableandeducationalinstitutionsunderherpatronage, hadgivendirectionsthattheyshouldallberemovedtoKazan, , however, whenaskedwhatinstructionsshewouldbepleasedtogive—withhercharacteristicRussianpatriotismhadrepliedthatshecouldgivenodirectionsaboutstateinstitutionsforthatwastheaffairofthesovereign, butasfarasshepersonallywasconcernedshewouldbethelasttoquitPetersburg.
AtAnnaPavlovna'sonthetwenty-sixthofAugust, theverydayofthebattleofBorodino, therewasasoiree, , , famedforhiselocution, wastoreadit.(HeusedtoreadattheEmpress'.) Theartofhisreadingwassupposedtolieinrollingoutthewords, quiteindependentlyoftheirmeaning, inaloudandsingsongvoicealternatingbetweenadespairingwailandatendermurmur, , aswasalwaysthecaseatAnnaPavlovna'ssoirees, , butAnnaPavlovna, notyetseeingallthosewhomshewantedinherdrawingroom, didnotletthereadingbeginbutwoundupthespringsofageneralconversation.
, hadmissedseveralgatheringsofwhichshewasusuallyornament, andwassaidtobereceivingnoone, andinsteadofthecelebratedPetersburgdoctorswhousuallyattendedherhadentrustedherselftosomeItaliandoctorwhowastreatingherinsomenewandunusualway.
