In November 1805 Prince Vasíli must tour four provinces, look in on neglected estates, pick up Anatole, and take him to old Prince Bolkónski to arrange a match. First he has to settle Pierre, who spends whole days in the Kurágin house, absurd and excited with Hélène, yet has not proposed. "Things must be settled," Vasíli tells himself, tasting his own goodness of heart. Lëlya's name day is the day after tomorrow; he will invite a few people, and if Pierre still does not understand, it will be a father's affair. Six weeks after Anna Pávlovna's evening and the sleepless night when Pierre decided the marriage would be a calamity, he has not left. Evening parties now happen almost daily. Vasíli takes his hand, offers a cheek, says he is staying in for Pierre's sake, and barely speaks two words. Pierre cannot disappoint him. He argues that Hélène is not stupid because she never says anything foolish; her smile treats his reflections as nonsense. Desire from the snuffbox evening has left a guilt that paralyses the will he thought he possessed.
At the small family supper everyone has been given to understand that the girl's fate will be decided. Vasíli eats nothing, circles the table, and tells the story of Sergéy Kuzmích Vyazmítinov sobbing through the Emperor's rescript, never getting past "From all sides." Laughter, Rhine wine, and ices are a pretence; glances keep returning to Pierre and Hélène, silent, smiling, at the bottom of the table. Vasíli's eyes say it will all be settled today. Pierre feels himself the centre of a play he did not write. He cannot disappoint people so sure. After supper relatives linger. Alone with Hélène he cannot take the last step; an inner voice says this happiness is not for him. Vasíli looks in, mutters, goes away disconcerted. He sends his wife to spy, then strides in triumphant: "Thank God! My wife has told me everything!" He embraces them, kisses Pierre with his malodorous mouth, weeps, and calls the old princess in to weep too.
Left alone, Pierre holds his betrothed's hand and thinks it had to be, so the old doubt is finished. She tells him to take off his spectacles, intercepts his kiss with a rapid, almost brutal movement, her face unpleasantly excited. "Je vous aime!" he says, and the words sound so weak he is ashamed. Six weeks later he is married and settled in Count Bezúkhov's large, newly furnished Petersburg house, the happy possessor, people say, of a celebrated beauty and of millions.
Coming Up in Chapter 52
In November 1805 old Prince Nicholas Bolkonski receives a letter from Prince Vasili announcing that he and his son will pay him a visit. I shall think nothing of an extra seventy miles to see you, my honoured benefactor, Vasili writes, and Anatole is coming with him on his way to the army.
