War and Peace Ch. 257: When Crisis Reveals

Summary

Pierre had decided that until he carried out his design he would disclose neither his identity nor his knowledge of French. He stood at the half-open corridor door, meaning to hide as soon as the French entered. They entered, and still he did not retire. An irresistible curiosity held him.

There were two of them. The officer was tall, soldierly, and handsome, leaning on a stick and slightly limping. The other was a short, sunburned orderly with sunken cheeks. The officer decided these were good quarters, ordered the horses put up, stroked his moustache, touched his hat, and called a gay good day. No one answered. He asked Gerasim if he were the master, then, clapping the scared little man on the shoulder, said the French were good fellows and not to be cross. Gerasim tried broken words: master not here, don't understand. The officer spread his hands, still smiling, and limped towards the door where Pierre stood. Pierre wanted to conceal himself, but at that moment he saw Makar Alexeevich at the open kitchen door with the pistol. With a madman's cunning Makar took aim and yelled to board them. Pierre threw himself on the drunkard and struck the pistol up just as the trigger went. A deafening report filled the passage with smoke. The Frenchman turned pale and rushed to the door. The plaster on the wall was damaged.

Forgetting his plan, Pierre snatched the pistol away, ran to the officer, and asked in French whether he was wounded. The officer thought not, then asked sternly who the man was. Pierre, in despair, said he was an unfortunate madman. The Frenchman took Makar by the collar, called him a brigand, and declared that the French were merciful after victory but did not pardon traitors. Pierre begged him not to hold the drunken imbecile to account. After a silent look the officer's face turned melodramatically gentle. He held out his hand: you have saved my life; you are French. For him that followed: only a Frenchman could perform so great a deed as saving Captain Ramballe of the 13th Light Regiment. Pierre said quickly that he was Russian. The officer would not hear it. He granted the pardon Pierre asked, had Makar led away, took Pierre's arm, and went with him into the room. Soldiers who had heard the shot were ready to punish someone; he checked them sternly. The orderly, who had already visited the kitchen, reported soup and a leg of mutton. The captain told him to serve them, and some wine.

In this chapter:Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Reading Reflex Over Role

Pierre meant to hide yet saves Ramballe and speaks French without thinking. Ask what simple rest you crave after overload.

Reading Reflex Over Role maps Andrew's road through Moscow flight.

This chapter

Inside the Mind: Captain Ramballe

After the shot Pierre speaks French without thinking, and Ramballe concludes that the man who saved him must be French, because only a Frenchman could perform so great a deed as saving Captain Ramballe of the 13th Light. He will not hear that Pierre is Russian. Mercy after victory still needs the rescued to remain at the centre of the story.

Continue this thoughtThe Wish to Be Authored

Coming Up in Chapter 258

When the French officer goes into the room with Pierre, Pierre again tries to assure him that he is not French and wishes to go away, but the officer will not hear of it. So polite and genuinely grateful for his saved life, he sits Pierre down with him in the parlour.

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Chapter 257

When Crisis Reveals True Character

Pierre, having decided that until he had carried out his design he would disclose neither his identity nor his knowledge of French, stood at the half-open door of the corridor, intending to conceal himself as soon as the French entered. But the French entered and still Pierre did not retire—an irresistible curiosity kept him there. There were two of them. One was an officer—a tall, soldierly, handsome man—the other evidently a private or an orderly, sunburned, short, and thin, with sunken cheeks and a dull expression. The officer walked in front, leaning on a stick and slightly limping. When he…

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When Crisis Reveals True Character

Summary

Why This Matters