《War And Peace》　Book11 　CHAPTER XI
　　　　by Leo Tolstoy

IN THE MIDDLE of this new story Pierre was summoned to the governor.

He went into Count Rastoptchin's study. Rastoptchin, frowning, passed his
hand across his forehead and eyes as Pierre entered. A short man was saying
something, but as soon as Pierre walked in he stopped, and went out.

"Ah! greetings to you, valiant warrior," said Rastoptchin as soon as the
other man had left the room. "We have been hearing about your prouesses!
But that's not the point. Mon cher, entre nous, are you a mason?" said
Count Rastoptchin in a severe tone, that suggested that it was a crime to be so,
but that he intended to pardon it. Pierre did not speak. "Mon cher, je suis
bien informé; but I know that there are masons and masons, and I hope you
don't belong to those among them who, by way of regenerating the human race, are
trying to ruin Russia."

"Yes, I am a mason," answered Pierre.

"Well then, look here, my dear boy. You are not unaware, I dare say, of the
fact that Speransky and Magnitsky have been sent-to their proper place-and the
same has been done with Klutcharyov and the others who, under the guise of
building up the temple of Solomon, have been trying to destroy the temple of
their fatherland. You may take it for granted there are good reasons for it, and
that I could not have banished the director of the post-office here if he had
not been a dangerous person. Now, it has reached my ears that you sent him your
carriage to get out of the town, and that you have even taken charge of his
papers. I like you, and wish you no harm, and as you are half my age, I advise
you, as a father might, to break off all connection with people of that sort,
and to get away from here yourself as quickly as you can."

"But what was Klutcharyov's crime?" asked Pierre

"That's my business; and it's not yours to question me," cried
Rastoptchin.

"If he is accused of having circulated Napoleon's proclamation, the charge
has not been proved," said Pierre, not looking at Rastoptchin. "And
Vereshtchagin..."

"Nous y voilà," Rastoptchin suddenly broke in, scowling and shouting
louder than ever. "Vereshtchagin is a traitor and a deceiver, who will receive
the punishment he deserves," he said, with the vindictiveness with which people
speak at the recollection of an affront. "But I did not send for you to
criticise my actions, but in order to give you advice or a command, if you will
have it so. I beg you to break off all connection with Klutcharyov and his set,
and to leave the town. And I'll knock the nonsense out of them, wherever I may
find it." And, probably becoming conscious that he was taking a heated tone with
Bezuhov, who was as yet guilty of no offence, he added, taking Pierre's hand
cordially: "We are on the eve of a public disaster, and I haven't time to say
civil things to every one who has business with me. My head is at times in a
perfect whirl. Well, what are you going to do, you personally?"

"Oh, nothing," answered Pierre, with his eyes still downcast, and no change
in the expression of his dreamy face

The count frowned.

"Un conseil d'ami, mon cher. Decamp, and as soon as may be, that's my
advice. A bon entendeur, salut! Good-bye, my dear boy. Oh, by the way,"
he called after him at the door, "is it true the countess has fallen into the
clutches of the holy fathers of the Society of Jesus?"

Pierre made no answer. He walked out from Rastoptchin's room, scowling and
wrathful as he had never been seen before.

By the time he reached home it was getting dark. Eight persons of different
kinds were waiting on him that evening. A secretary of a committee, the colonel
of his battalion of militia, his steward, his bailiff, and other persons with
petitions. All of them had business matters with Pierre, which he had to settle.
He had no understanding of their questions, nor interest in them, and answered
them with the sole object of getting rid of these people. At last he was left
alone, and he broke open and read his wife's letter.

"They-the soldiers on the battery, Prince Andrey killed ... the old
man.... Simplicity is submission to God's will. One has to suffer...the significance
of the whole...one must harness all together...my wife is going to be married.... One
must forget and understand ..." And, without undressing, he threw himself on his
bed and at once fell asleep.

When he waked up next morning his steward came in to announce that a police
official was below, sent expressly by Count Rastoptchin to find out whether
Count Bezuhov had gone, or was going away.

A dozen different people were waiting in the drawing-room to see Pierre on
business. Pierre dressed in haste, and instead of going down to see them, he ran
down the back staircase and out by the back entry to the gates.

From that moment till the occupation of Moscow was over, no one of Bezuhov's
household saw him again, nor could discover his whereabouts, in spite of every
effort to track him down.