Pierre drives to Márya Dmítrievna's to report that Kurágin has been banished. The house is in alarm. Natásha is very ill: the night after she was told Anatole was married she swallowed a little arsenic she had stealthily procured, then was so frightened that she woke Sónya. Antidotes were given in time; she is out of danger but too weak to move to the country, so the countess has been sent for. Pierre sees the distracted count and tear-stained Sónya, but not Natásha.
At the Club that day gossip of the attempted abduction is everywhere. Pierre resolutely denies it, assuring everyone that nothing happened except that his brother-in-law proposed and was refused. He believes it his duty to conceal the affair and re-establish her name. He dreads Andrew's return and goes every day to the old prince for news. Old Prince Bolkónski has heard the town rumours from Bourienne and has read Natásha's note breaking the engagement; he seems in better spirits and awaits his son with impatience. Some days after Anatole's departure Pierre receives a note that Andrew has arrived.
Pierre expects to find him as shattered as Natásha, and is surprised to hear a loud animated voice in the study arguing about Speránski's sudden exile. Mary comes out, sighs toward the door, and is plainly glad both at what happened and at how her brother has taken it: he says he expected it; his pride will not let him show feeling. Andrew, healthier, in civilian dress, a fresh horizontal wrinkle between his brows, is disputing with his father and Prince Meshchérski. At the sight of Pierre his face quivers into a vindictive look, then he asks if Pierre is still getting stouter. The smile says he is well, but his health is of no use to anyone. After roads, Switzerland, and tutor Dessalles, he returns to justice for Speránski. Pierre recognizes the need to argue extraneous matters in order to stifle what is too intimate. Alone, Andrew hands over Natásha's letters and portrait to return, smiles like his father about her illness, asks where Kurágin is, snorts that he did not honour her with his hand, and, when Pierre recalls their Petersburg talk of forgiving a fallen woman, says he said such a woman should be forgiven, not that he could forgive. If Pierre wishes to be his friend, never mention her again. Mary is quietly glad. At dinner Andrew talks without stopping, now with his father, now with Dessalles, about the coming war.
Coming Up in Chapter 167
That same evening Pierre goes to the Rostovs' to fulfil the commission entrusted to him. Natasha is in bed, the count at the club, and Pierre, after giving the letters to Sonya, goes to Marya Dmitrievna, who wants to know how Prince Andrew has taken the news. Ten minutes later Sonya comes: Natasha insists on seeing Count Peter Kirilovich.
