FromthedayhiswifearrivedinMoscowPierrehadbeenintendingtogoawaysomewhere, 'swidow, whohadlongsincepromisedtohandovertohimsomepapersofherdeceasedhusband's.
'sshouldbeforhisfriend'.
"Whatcanhavehappened? Andwhatcantheywantwithme?" thoughtheashedressedtogotoMaryaDmitrievna's."IfonlyPrinceAndrewwouldhurryupandcomeandmarryher!" thoughtheonhiswaytothehouse.
OntheTverskoyBoulevardafamiliarvoicecalledtohim.
"Pierre! Beenbacklong?" , , , hiswhite-plumedhat, tiltedtooneside, disclosedhiscurledandpomadedhairbesprinkledwithpowderysnow.
"Yes, indeed, that'satruesage," thoughtPierre."Heseesnothingbeyondthepleasureofthemoment, nothingtroubleshimandsoheisalwayscheerful, satisfied, 'tIgivetobelikehim!" hethoughtenviously.
InMaryaDmitrievna'santeroomthefootmanwhohelpedhimoffwithhisfurcoatsaidthatthemistressaskedhimtocometoherbedroom.
WhenheopenedtheballroomdoorPierresawNatashasittingatthewindow, withathin, pale, , frowned, andlefttheroomwithanexpressionofcolddignity.
"Whathashappened?" askedPierre, enteringMaryaDmitrievna'sroom.
"Finedoings!" answeredDmitrievna."ForfiftyeightyearshaveIlivedinthisworldandneverknownanythingsodisgraceful!"
Andhavingputhimonhishonornottorepeatanythingshetoldhim, MaryaDmitrievnainformedhimthatNatashahadrefusedPrinceAndrewwithoutherparents' knowledgeandthatthecauseofthiswasAnatoleKuraginintowhosesocietyPierre'swifehadthrownherandwithwhomNatashahadtriedtoelopeduringherfather'sabsence, inordertobemarriedsecretly.
