Pierreraisedhisshouldersandlistenedopenmouthedtowhatwastoldhim, 'sdeeplylovedaffiancedwife—thesameNatashaRostovawhousedtobesocharming—shouldgiveupBolkonskiforthatfoolAnatolewhowasalreadysecretlymarried (asPierreknew), andshouldbesoinlovewithhimastoagreetorunawaywithhim, wassomethingPierrecouldnotconceiveandcouldnotimagine.
HecouldnotreconcilethecharmingimpressionhehadofNatasha, whomhehadknownfromachild, withthisnewconceptionofherbaseness, folly, ."Theyareallalike!" hesaidtohimself, , 'ssoulwasoverflowingwithdespair, shame, andhumiliation, andthatitwasnotherfaultthatherfacehappenedtoassumeanexpressionofcalmdignityandseverity.
"Buthowgetmarried?" saidPierre, inanswertoMaryaDmitrievna."Hecouldnotmarry—heismarried!"
"Thingsgetworsefromhourtohour!" ejaculatedMaryaDmitrievna."Aniceyouth! Whatascoundrel! Andshe'sexpectinghim—! Thenatleastshewon'tgoonexpectinghim."
AfterhearingthedetailsofAnatole'smarriagefromPierre, andgivingventtoherangeragainstAnatoleinwordsofabuse, , whomightarriveatanymoment, iftheyknewofthisaffair (whichshehopedtohidefromthem) mightchallengeAnatoletoaduel, —onlynowrealizingthedangertotheoldcount, Nicholas, andPrinceAndrew—, shelethimgotothedrawingroom.
"Mind, ," shesaid."AndIwillgoandtellheritisnouseexpectinghim! Andstaytodinnerifyoucareto!" shecalledafterPierre.
Pierremettheoldcount, .
