战争与和平(上)-第37节

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ubles；　was　not　worth　half　that　sum。　“He’s　begun　to　go　a　little　lame　in　the　left　foreleg　…”　he　added。
“The　hoof　cracked！　That’s　no　matter。　I’ll　teach　you；　I’ll　show　you　the　sort　of　thing　to　put　on　it。”
“Yes；　please　do；”　said　Rostov。
“I’ll　show　you；　I’ll　show　you；　it’s　not　a　secret。　But　you’ll　be　grateful　to　me　for　that　horse。”
“Then　I’ll　have　the　horse　brought　round；”　said　Rostov；　anxious　to　be　rid　of　Telyanin。　He　went　out　to　order　the　horse　to　be　brought　round。
In　the　outer　room　Denisov　was　squatting　on　the　threshold　with　a　pipe；　facing　the　sergeant；　who　was　giving　him　some　report。　On　seeing　Rostov；　Denisov　screwed　up　his　eyes；　and　pointing　over　his　shoulder　with　his　thumb　to　the　room　where　Telyanin　was　sitting；　he　frowned　and　shook　his　head　with　an　air　of　loathing。
“Ugh！　I　don’t　like　the　fellow；”　he　said；　regardless　of　the　presence　of　the　sergeant。
Rostov　shrugged　his　shoulders　as　though　to　say；　“Nor　do　I；　but　what’s　one　to　do？”　And　having　given　his　order；　he　went　back　to　Telyanin。
The　latter　was　still　sitting　in　the　same　indolent　pose　in　which　Rostov　had　left　him；　rubbing　his　little　white　hands。
“What　nasty　faces　there　are　in　this　world！”　thought　Rostov　as　he　went　into　the　room。
“Well；　have　you　given　orders　for　the　horse　to　be　fetched　out？”　said　Telyanin；　getting　up　and　looking　carelessly　about　him。
“Yes。”
“Well；　you　come　along　yourself。　I　only　came　round　to　ask　Denisov　about　yesterday’s　order。　Have　you　got　it；　Denisov？”
“Not　yet。　But　where　are　you　off　to？”
“I’m　going　to　show　this　young　man　here　how　to　shoe　a　horse；”　said　Telyanin。
They　went　out　down　the　steps　and　into　the　stable。　The　lieutenant　showed　how　to　put　on　the　remedy；　and　went　away　to　his　own　quarters。
When　Rostov　went　back　there　was　a　bottle　of　vodka　and　some　sausage　on　the　table。　Denisov　was　sitting　at　the　table；　and　his　pen　was　squeaking　over　the　paper。　He　looked　gloomily　into　Rostov’s　face。
“I　am　writing　to　her；”　he　said。　He　leaned　his　elbow　on　the　table　with　the　pen　in　his　hand；　and　obviously　rejoiced　at　the　possibility　of　saying　by　word　of　mouth　all　he　meant　to　write；　he　told　the　contents　of　his　letter　to　Rostov。　“You　see；　my　dear　boy；”　he　said；　“we　are　plunged　in　slumber；　we　are　the　children　of　dust　and　ashes；　until　we　love　…　but　love；　and　you　are　a　god；　you　are　pure；　as　on　the　first　day　of　creation。…　Who’s　that　now？　Send　him　to　the　devil！　I’ve　no　time！”　he　shouted　to　Lavrushka；　who；　not　in　the　slightest　daunted；　went　up　to　him。
“Why；　who　should　it　be？　You　told　him　to　come　yourself。　The　sergeant　has　come　for　the　money。”
Denisov　frowned；　seemed　about　to　shout　some　reply；　but　did　not　speak。
“It’s　a　nuisance；”　he　said　to　himself。　“How　much　money　was　there　left　there　in　the　purse？”　he　asked　Rostov。
“Seven　new　and　three　old　gold　pieces。”
“Oh；　it’s　a　nuisance！　Well；　why　are　you　standing　there；　you　mummy？　Send　the　sergeant！”　Denisov　shouted　to　Lavrushka。
“Please；　Denisov；　take　the　money　from　me；　I’ve　plenty；”　said　Rostov；　blushing。
“I　don’t　like　borrowing　from　my　own　friends；　I　dislike　it；”　grumbled　Denisov。
“But　if　you　won’t　take　money　from　me　like　a　comrade；　you’ll　offend　me。　I’ve　really　got　it；”　repeated　Rostov。
“Oh；　no。”　And　Denisov　went　to　the　bed　to　take　the　purse　from　under　the　pillow。
“Where　did　you　put　it；　Rostov？”
“Under　the　lower　pillow。”
“But　it’s　not　there。”　Denisov　threw　both　the　pillows　on　the　floor。　There　was　no　purse。　“Well；　that’s　a　queer　thing。”
“Wait　a　bit；　haven’t　you　dropped　it？”　said　Rostov；　picking　the　pillows　up　one　at　a　time　and　shaking　them。　He　took　off　the　quilt　and　shook　it。　The　purse　was　not　there。
“Could　I　have　forgotten？　No；　for　I　thought　that　you　keep　it　like　a　secret　treasure　under　your　head；”　said　Rostov。　“I　laid　the　purse　here。　Where　is　it？”　He　turned　to　Lavrushka。
“I　never　came　into　the　room。　Where　you　put　it；　there　it　must　be。”
“But　it　isn’t。”
“You’re　always　like　that；　you　throw　things　down　anywhere　and　forget　them。　Look　in　your　pockets。”
“No；　if　I　hadn’t　thought　of　its　being　a　secret　treasure；”　said　Rostov；　“but　I　remember　where　I　put　it。”
Lavrushka　ransacked　the　whole　bed；　glanced　under　it　and　under　the　table；　ransacked　the　whole　room　and　stood　still　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　Denisov　watched　Lavrushka’s　movements　in　silence；　and　when　Lavrushka　flung　up　his　hands　in　amazement　to　signify　that　it　was　nowhere；　he　looked　round　at　Rostov。
“Rostov；　none　of　your　schoolboy　jokes。”
Rostov；　feeling　Denisov’s　eyes　upon　him；　lifted　his　eyes　and　instantly　dropped　them　again。　All　his　blood；　which　felt　as　though　it　had　been　locked　up　somewhere　below　his　throat；　rushed　to　his　face　and　eyes。　He　could　hardly　draw　his　breath。
“And　there’s　been　no　one　in　the　room　but　the　lieutenant　and　yourselves。　It　must　be　here　somewhere；”　said　Lavrushka。
“Now　then；　you　devil’s　puppet；　bestir　yourself　and　look　for　it！”　Denisov　shouted　suddenly；　turning　purple　and　dashing　at　the　valet　with　a　threatening　gesture。　“The　purse　is　to　be　found；　or　I’ll　flog　you！　I’ll　flog　you　all！”
Rostov；　his　eyes　avoiding　Denisov；　began　buttoning　up　his　jacket　fastening　on　his　sword；　and　putting　on　his　forage…cap。
“I　tell　you　the　purse　is　to　be　found；”　roared　Denisov；　shaking　the　orderly　by　the　shoulders　and　pushing　him　against　the　wall。
“Denisov；　let　him　be；　I　know　who　has　taken　it；”　said　Rostov；　going　towards　the　door　without　raising　his　eyes。
Denisov　stopped；　thought　a　moment；　and　evidently　understanding　Rostov’s　hint；　he　clutched　him　by　the　arm。
“Nonsense！”　he　roared　so　that　the　veins　stood　out　on　his　neck　and　forehead　like　cords。　“I　tell　you；　you’ve　gone　out　of　your　mind；　I　won’t　allow　it。　The　purse　is　here；　I’ll　flay　the　skin　off　this　rascal；　and　it　will　be　here。”
“I　know　who　has　taken　it；”　repeated　Rostov；　in　a　shaking　voice；　and　he　went　to　the　door。
“And　I　tell　you；　you’re　not　to　dare　to　do　it；”　shouted　Denisov；　making　a　dash　at　the　ensign　to　detain　him。　But　Rostov　pulled　his　arm　away；　lifted　his　eyes；　and　looked　directly　and　resolutely　at　Denisov　with　as　much　fury　as　if　he　had　been　his　greatest　enemy。
“Do　you　understand　what　you’re　saying？”　he　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　“except　me；　there　has　been　no　one　else　in　the　room。　So　that；　if　it’s　not　so；　why　then　…”
He　could　not　utter　the　rest；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。
“Oh；　damn　you　and　all　the　rest；”　were　the　last　words　Rostov　heard。
Rostov　went　to　Telyanin’s　quarters。
“The　master’s　not　at　home；　he’s　gone　to　the　staff；”　Telyanin’s　orderly　told　him。　“Has　something　happened？”　the　orderly　added；　wondering　at　the　ensign’s　troubled　face。
“No；　nothing。”
“You’ve　only　just　missed　him；”　said　the　orderly。
The　staff　quarters　were　two　miles　and　a　half　from　Salzeneck。　Not　having　found　him　at　home；　Rostov　took　his　horse　and　rode　to　the　quarters　of　the　staff。　In　the　village；　where　the　staff　was　quartered；　there　was　a　restaurant　which　the　officers　frequented。　Rostov　reached　the　restaurant　and　saw　Telyanin’s　horse　at　the　entry。
In　the　second　room　the　lieutenant　was　sitting　over　a　dish　of　sausages　and　a　bottle　of　wine。
“Ah；　you　have　come　here　too；　young　man；”　he　said；　smiling　and　lifting　his　eyebrows。
“Yes；”　said　Rostov；　speaking　as　though　the　utterance　of　the　word　cost　him　great　effort；　and　he　sat　down　at　the　nearest　table。
Both　were　silent；　there　were　two　Germans　and　a　Russian　officer　in　the　room。　Every　one　was　mute；　and　the　only　sounds　audible　were　the　clatter　of　knives　on　the　plates　and　the　munching　of　the　lieutenant。　When　Telyanin　had　finished　his　lunch；　he　took　out　of　his　pocket　a　double　purse；　with　his　little　white　fingers；　that　were　curved　at　the　tips；　he　parted　the　rings；　took　out　some　gold；　and　raising　his　eyebrows；　gave　the　money　to　the　attendant。
“Make　haste；　please；”　he　said。
The　gold　was　new。　Rostov　got　up　and　went　to　Telyanin。
“Let　me　look　at　the　purse；”　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　scarcely　audible。
With　shifting　eyes；　but　eyebrows　still　raised；　Telyanin　gave　him　the　purse。
“Yes；　it’s　a　pretty　purse　…　yes　…”　he　said；　and　suddenly　he　turned　white。　“You　can　look　at　it；　young　man；”　he　added。
Rostov　took　the　purse　in　his　hand　and　looked　both　at　it　and　at　the　money　in　it；　and　also　at　Telyanin。　The　lieutenant　looked　about　him；　as　his　way　was；　and　seemed　suddenly　to　have　grown　very　good…humoured。
“If　we　go　to　Vienna；　I　suspect　I　shall　leave　it　all　there；　but　now　there’s　nowhere　to　spend　our　money　in　these　wretched　little　places；”　he　said。　“Come；　give　it　me；　young　man；　I’m　going。”
Rostov　did　not　speak。
“What　are　you　going　to　do？　have　lunch　too？　They　give　you　decent　food；”　Telyanin　went　on。　“Give　it　me。”　He　put　out　his　hand　and　took。　hold　of　the　purse。　Rostov　let　go　of　it。　Telyanin　took　the　purse　and　began　carelessly　dropping　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　riding　trousers；　while　his　eyebrows　were　carelessly　lifted　and　his　mouth　stood　a　little　open；　as　though　he　would　say：　“Yes；　yes；　I’m　putting　my　purse　in　my　pocket；　and　that’s　a　very　simple　matter；　and　no　one　has　anything　to　do　with　it。”
“Well；　young　man？”　he　said　with　a　sign；　and　from　under　his　lifted　eyebrows　he　glanced　into　Rostov’s　eyes。　A　kind　of　gleam　passed　with　the　swiftness　of　an　electric　flash　from　Telyanin’s　eyes　to　the　eyes　of　Rostov；　and　bac