The Awkward Exit and Hidden Motives — War and Peace

Guests thank Anna and drift out. Pierre, stout and absent-minded, takes a general's hat by mistake and cannot manage a graceful exit; his kind smile still disarms. Anna hopes he will change his opinions; he bows as if to say opinions are opinions and he remains decent.

In the hall Andrew shrugs through his cloak while Hippolyte whispers to pregnant Lise and lingers with her shawl too long; Andrew's eyes close in weary disgust. Anna and Lise murmur the Anatole match settled. Hippolyte stumbles after them praising the evening he skipped at the ambassador's. Andrew snaps at him in Russian, then softens to Pierre waiting outside.

At Bolkonski's study Pierre sprawls with Caesar, still arguing perpetual peace; Andrew rubs his hands and asks guards or diplomacy. Pierre cannot choose, doubts fighting Napoleon for England and Austria, admires the abbe's Freemasonry. Andrew shrugs off childish ethics, then answers Pierre's real question: he goes to war because life here does not suit him. The chapter ends with two exits: Pierre's clumsy goodwill still liked, Andrew's polished misery heading for the front to escape a marriage and a room.