,BOOK #a#e1 ,*APT] #ag 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,PI]RE WAS %[N 9TO ! L>GE1 BRI<TLY LIT D9+ ROOM2 A FEW M9UTES 
 LAT] HE HE>D FOOT/EPS & ,PR9CESS ,M>Y 5T]$ ) ,NATA%A4 ,NATA%A 
 WAS CALM1 ?\< A SEV]E & GRAVE EXPRESSION HAD AGA9 SETTL$ ON H] 
 FACE4 ,!Y ALL ?REE ( !M N[ EXP]I5C$ ?AT FEEL+ ( AWKW>DNESS 
 :I* USUALLY FOLL[S AFT] A S]I\S & HE>TFELT TALK4 ,IT IS IMPOSSIBLE 
 TO GO BACK TO ! SAME CONV]SATION1 TO TALK ( TRIFLES IS AWKW>D1 & 
 YET ! DESIRE TO SPEAK IS !RE & SIL5CE SEEMS LIKE AFFECTATION4 ,!Y 
 W5T SIL5TLY TO TABLE4 ,! FOOTM5 DREW BACK ! *AIRS & PU%$ !M 
 UP AGA94 ,PI]RE UNFOLD$ HIS COLD TABLE NAPK9 &1 RESOLV+ TO BREAK 
 ! SIL5CE1 LOOK$ AT ,NATA%A & AT ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 ,!Y HAD EVID5TLY 
 BO? =M$ ! SAME RESOLUTION2 ! EYES ( BO? %ONE ) SATISFACTION 
 & A CONFESSION ?AT BESIDES SORR[ LIFE ALSO HAS JOY4 

0,DO Y\ TAKE VODKA1 ,C\NT80 ASK$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y1 & ?OSE WORDS SUDD5LY 
 BANI%$ ! %AD[S ( ! PA/4 0,N[ TELL US AB\T Y\RSELF10 SAID %E4 
 0,ONE HE>S SU* IMPROBABLE WOND]S AB\T Y\40 

0,YES10 REPLI$ ,PI]RE ) ! SMILE ( MILD IRONY N[ HABITUAL TO HIM4 
 0,!Y EV5 TELL ME WOND]S ,I MYSELF NEV] DREAM$ (6 ,M>Y ,ABRAMOVNA 
 9VIT$ ME TO H] H\SE & KEPT TELL+ ME :AT HAD HAPP5$1 OR \<T TO 
 HAVE HAPP5$1 TO ME4 ,/EPAN ,/EPANY* ALSO 9/RUCT$ ME H[ ,I \<T TO 
 TELL ( MY EXP]I5CES4 ,9 G5]AL ,I HAVE NOTIC$ ?AT IT IS V]Y EASY TO 
 BE AN 9T]E/+ MAN 7,I AM AN 9T]E/+ MAN N[72 PEOPLE 9VITE ME \T 
 & TELL ME ALL AB\T MYSELF40 

,NATA%A SMIL$ & WAS ON ! PO9T ( SPEAK+4 

0,WE HAVE BE5 TOLD10 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y 9T]RUPT$ H]1 0?AT Y\ LO/ TWO 
 MILLIONS 9 ,MOSC[4 ,IS ?AT TRUE80 

0,BUT ,I AM ?REE TIMES AS RI* AS BE=E10 RETURN$ ,PI]RE4 

,?\< ! POSITION WAS N[ ALT]$ BY HIS DECISION TO PAY HIS WIFE'S 
 DEBTS & TO REBUILD HIS H\SES1 ,PI]RE /ILL MA9TA9$ ?AT HE HAD 
 BECOME ?REE TIMES AS RI* AS BE=E4 

0,:AT ,I HAVE C]TA9LY GA9$ IS FRE$OM10 HE BEGAN S]I\SLY1 BUT DID NOT 
 CONT9UE1 NOTIC+ ?AT ?IS !ME WAS TOO EGOTI/IC4 

0,& >E Y\ BUILD+80 

0,YES4 ,SAVELI* SAYS ,I MU/60 

0,TELL ME1 Y\ DID NOT KN[ ( ! C\NTESS' DEA? :5 Y\ DECID$ TO 
 REMA9 9 ,MOSC[80 ASK$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y & IMM$IATELY BLU%$1 NOTIC+ 
 ?AT H] QUE/ION1 FOLL[+ HIS M5TION ( FRE$OM1 ASCRIB$ TO HIS WORDS 
 A MEAN+ HE HAD P]HAPS NOT 9T5D$4 

0,NO10 ANSW]$ ,PI]RE1 EVID5TLY NOT CONSID]+ AWKW>D ! MEAN+ 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y HAD GIV5 TO HIS WORDS4 0,I HE>D ( IT 9 ,OREL & Y\ 
 CANNOT IMAG9E H[ IT %OCK$ ME4 ,WE W]E NOT AN EXEMPL>Y C\PLE10 HE 
 ADD$ QUICKLY1 GLANC+ AT ,NATA%A & NOTIC+ ON H] FACE CURIOSITY AS 
 TO H[ HE W\LD SPEAK ( HIS WIFE1 0BUT H] DEA? %OCK$ ME T]RIBLY4 
 ,:5 TWO PEOPLE QU>REL !Y >E ALWAYS BO? 9 FAULT1 & ONE'S [N GUILT 
 SUDD5LY BECOMES T]RIBLY S]I\S :5 ! O!R IS NO LONG] ALIVE4 ,& 
 !N SU* A DEA?444 )\T FRI5DS & )\T CONSOLATION6 ,I AM V]Y1 
 V]Y SORRY = H]10 HE CONCLUD$1 & WAS PLEAS$ TO NOTICE A LOOK ( 
 GLAD APPROVAL ON ,NATA%A'S FACE4 

0,YES1 & SO Y\ >E ONCE MORE AN ELIGIBLE BA*ELOR10 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

,PI]RE SUDD5LY FLU%$ CRIMSON & = A LONG TIME TRI$ NOT TO LOOK AT 
 ,NATA%A4 ,:5 HE V5TUR$ TO GLANCE H] WAY AGA9 H] FACE WAS COLD1 
 /]N1 & HE FANCI$ EV5 CONTEMPTU\S4 

0,& DID Y\ REALLY SEE & SPEAK TO ,NAPOLEON1 AS WE HAVE BE5 TOLD80 SAID 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

,PI]RE LAU<$4 

0,NO1 NOT ONCE6 ,EV]YBODY SEEMS TO IMAG9E ?AT BE+ TAK5 PRISON] MEANS 
 BE+ ,NAPOLEON'S GUE/4 ,NOT ONLY DID ,I NEV] SEE HIM BUT ,I HE>D NO?+ 
 AB\T HIM--,I WAS 9 MU* L[] COMPANY60 

,SUPP] WAS OV]1 & ,PI]RE :O AT FIR/ DECL9$ TO SPEAK AB\T HIS 
 CAPTIVITY WAS GRADUALLY L$ ON TO DO SO4 

0,BUT IT'S TRUE ?AT Y\ REMA9$ 9 ,MOSC[ TO KILL ,NAPOLEON80 ,NATA%A 
 ASK$ ) A SLI<T SMILE4 0,I GUESS$ IT !N :5 WE MET AT ! ,SUKH>EV 
 T[]1 DO Y\ REMEMB]80 

,PI]RE ADMITT$ ?AT IT WAS TRUE1 & FROM ?AT WAS GRADUALLY L$ BY 
 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y'S QUE/IONS & ESPECIALLY BY ,NATA%A'S 9TO GIV+ A 
 DETAIL$ ACC\NT ( HIS ADV5TURES4 

,AT FIR/ HE SPOKE ) ! AMUS$ & MILD IRONY N[ CU/OM>Y ) HIM 
 T[>D EV]YBODY & ESPECIALLY T[>D HIMSELF1 BUT :5 HE CAME TO 
 DESCRIBE ! HORRORS & SUFF]+S HE HAD WITNESS$ HE WAS UNCONSCI\SLY 
 C>RI$ AWAY & BEGAN SPEAK+ ) ! SUPPRESS$ EMOTION ( A MAN 
 REEEXP]I5C+ 9 RECOLLECTION /RONG IMPRESSIONS HE HAS LIV$ ?R\<4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y ) A G5TLE SMILE LOOK$ N[ AT ,PI]RE & N[ AT ,NATA%A4 
 ,9 ! :OLE N>RATIVE %E SAW ONLY ,PI]RE & HIS GOODNESS4 ,NATA%A1 
 LEAN+ ON H] ELB[1 ! EXPRESSION ( H] FACE CON/ANTLY *ANG+ ) 
 ! N>RATIVE1 WAT*$ ,PI]RE ) AN ATT5TION ?AT NEV] W&]$--EVID5TLY 
 H]SELF EXP]I5C+ ALL ?AT HE DESCRIB$4 ,NOT ONLY H] LOOK1 BUT H] 
 EXCLAMATIONS & ! BRIEF QUE/IONS %E PUT1 %[$ ,PI]RE ?AT %E 
 UND]/OOD JU/ :AT HE WI%$ TO CONVEY4 ,IT WAS CLE> ?AT %E UND]/OOD 
 NOT ONLY :AT HE SAID BUT ALSO :AT HE WI%$ TO1 BUT C\LD NOT1 EXPRESS 
 9 WORDS4 ,! ACC\NT ,PI]RE GAVE ( ! 9CID5T ) ! *ILD & ! 
 WOMAN = PROTECT+ :OM HE WAS >RE/$ WAS ?IS3 0,IT WAS AN AWFUL SI<T--*ILDR5 
 AB&ON$1 SOME 9 ! FLAMES444 ,ONE WAS SNAT*$ \T BE=E MY EYES444 
 & !RE W]E WOM5 :O HAD !IR ?+S SNAT*$ (F & !IR E>R+S 
 TORN \T4440 HE FLU%$ & GREW CONFUS$4 0,!N A PATROL >RIV$ & ALL 
 ! M5--ALL ?OSE :O W]E NOT LOOT+1 ?AT IS--W]E >RE/$1 
 & ,I AMONG !M40 

0,I AM SURE Y\'RE NOT TELL+ US EV]Y?+2 ,I AM SURE Y\ DID 
 SOME?+4440 SAID ,NATA%A & PAUS+ ADD$1 0SOME?+ F9E80 

,PI]RE CONT9U$4 ,:5 HE SPOKE ( ! EXECUTION HE WANT$ TO PASS OV] 
 ! HORRIBLE DETAILS1 BUT ,NATA%A 9SI/$ ?AT HE %\LD NOT OMIT 
 ANY?+4 

,PI]RE BEGAN TO TELL AB\T ,K>ATAEV1 BUT PAUS$4 ,BY ?IS TIME HE HAD RIS5 
 FROM ! TABLE & WAS PAC+ ! ROOM1 ,NATA%A FOLL[+ HIM ) H] 
 EYES4 ,!N HE ADD$3 

0,NO1 Y\ CAN'T UND]/& :AT ,I LE>N$ FROM ?AT ILLIT]ATE MAN--?AT 
 SIMPLE FELL[40 

0,YES1 YES1 GO ON60 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,:]E IS HE80 

0,!Y KILL$ HIM ALMO/ BE=E MY EYES40 

,& ,PI]RE1 HIS VOICE TREMBL+ CONT9UALLY1 W5T ON TO TELL ( ! LA/ 
 DAYS ( !IR RETREAT1 ( ,K>ATAEV'S ILLNESS & HIS DEA?4 

,HE TOLD ( HIS ADV5TURES AS HE HAD NEV] YET RECALL$ !M4 ,HE N[1 AS IT 
 W]E1 SAW A NEW MEAN+ 9 ALL HE HAD GONE ?R\<4 ,N[ ?AT HE WAS 
 TELL+ IT ALL TO ,NATA%A HE EXP]I5C$ ?AT PLEASURE :I* A MAN HAS 
 :5 WOM5 LI/5 TO HIM--NOT CLEV] WOM5 :O :5 LI/5+ EI!R 
 TRY TO REMEMB] :AT !Y HE> TO 5RI* !IR M9DS & :5 OPPORTUNITY 
 (F]S TO RETELL IT1 OR :O WI% TO ADOPT IT TO SOME ?\<T ( !IR [N 
 & PROMPTLY CONTRIBUTE !IR [N CLEV] COMM5TS PREP>$ 9 !IR LITTLE 
 M5TAL WORK%OP--BUT ! PLEASURE GIV5 BY REAL WOM5 GIFT$ ) A 
 CAPACITY TO SELECT & ABSORB ! V]Y BE/ A MAN %[S ( HIMSELF4 
 ,NATA%A )\T KN[+ IT WAS ALL ATT5TION3 %E DID NOT LOSE A WORD1 NO 
 S+LE QUIV] 9 ,PI]RE'S VOICE1 NO LOOK1 NO TWIT* ( A MUSCLE 9 HIS 
 FACE1 NOR A S+LE GE/URE4 ,%E CAU<T ! UNF9I%$ WORD 9 ITS FLI<T 
 & TOOK IT /RAI<T 9TO H] OP5 HE>T1 DIV9+ ! SECRET MEAN+ ( 
 ALL ,PI]RE'S M5TAL TRAVAIL4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y UND]/OOD HIS /ORY & SYMPA?IZ$ ) HIM1 BUT %E N[ 
 SAW SOME?+ ELSE ?AT ABSORB$ ALL H] ATT5TION4 ,%E SAW ! 
 POSSIBILITY ( LOVE & HAPP9ESS BETWE5 ,NATA%A & ,PI]RE1 & ! 
 FIR/ ?\<T ( ?IS FILL$ H] HE>T ) GLADNESS4 

,IT WAS ?REE O'CLOCK 9 ! MORN+4 ,! FOOTM5 CAME 9 ) SAD & 
 /]N FACES TO *ANGE ! C&LES1 BUT NO ONE NOTIC$ !M4 

,PI]RE F9I%$ HIS /ORY4 ,NATA%A CONT9U$ TO LOOK AT HIM 9T5TLY ) 
 BRI<T1 ATT5TIVE1 & ANIMAT$ EYES1 AS IF TRY+ TO UND]/& SOME?+ 
 MORE :I* HE HAD P]HAPS LEFT UNTOLD4 ,PI]RE 9 %AMEFAC$ & HAPPY 
 CONFUSION GLANC$ OCCASIONALLY AT H]1 & TRI$ TO ?9K :AT TO SAY NEXT 
 TO 9TRODUCE A FRE% SUBJECT4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y WAS SIL5T4 ,IT OCCURR$ TO 
 NONE ( !M ?AT IT WAS ?REE O'CLOCK & TIME TO GO TO B$4 

0,PEOPLE SPEAK ( MIS=TUNES & SUFF]+S10 REM>K$ ,PI]RE1 0BUT IF AT 
 ?IS MOM5T ,I W]E ASK$3 ',W\LD Y\ RA!R BE :AT Y\ W]E BE=E Y\ 
 W]E TAK5 PRISON]1 OR GO ?R\< ALL ?IS AGA98' !N = HEAV5'S SAKE 
 LET ME AGA9 HAVE CAPTIVITY & HORSEFLE%6 ,WE IMAG9E ?AT :5 WE >E 
 ?R[N \T ( \R USUAL RUTS ALL IS LO/1 BUT IT IS ONLY !N ?AT :AT IS 
 NEW & GOOD BEG9S4 ,:ILE !RE IS LIFE !RE IS HAPP9ESS4 ,!RE IS 
 MU*1 MU* BE=E US4 ,I SAY ?IS TO Y\10 HE ADD$1 TURN+ TO ,NATA%A4 

0,YES1 YES10 %E SAID1 ANSW]+ SOME?+ QUITE DIFF]5T4 0,I TOO %\LD 
 WI% NO?+ BUT TO RELIVE IT ALL FROM ! BEG9N+40 

,PI]RE LOOK$ 9T5TLY AT H]4 

0,YES1 & NO?+ MORE10 SAID ,NATA%A4 

0,IT'S NOT TRUE1 NOT TRUE60 CRI$ ,PI]RE4 0,I AM NOT TO BLAME = BE+ 
 ALIVE & WI%+ TO LIVE--NOR Y\ EI!R40 

,SUDD5LY ,NATA%A B5T H] HEAD1 COV]$ H] FACE ) H] H&S1 & BEGAN 
 TO CRY4 

0,:AT IS IT1 ,NATA%A80 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

0,NO?+1 NO?+40 ,%E SMIL$ AT ,PI]RE ?R\< H] TE>S4 0,GOOD NI<T6 
 ,IT IS TIME = B$40 

,PI]RE ROSE & TOOK HIS LEAVE4 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y & ,NATA%A MET AS USUAL 9 ! B$ROOM4 ,!Y TALK$ ( :AT 
 ,PI]RE HAD TOLD !M4 ,PR9CESS ,M>Y DID NOT EXPRESS H] OP9ION ( ,PI]RE 
 NOR DID ,NATA%A SPEAK ( HIM4 

0,WELL1 GOOD NI<T1 ,M>Y60 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,DO Y\ KN[1 ,I AM (T5 AFRAID 
 ?AT BY NOT SPEAK+ ( HIM0 7%E MEANT ,PR9CE ,&REW7 0= FE> ( NOT 
 DO+ JU/ICE TO \R FEEL+S1 WE =GET HIM40 

,PR9CESS ,M>Y SI<$ DEEPLY & !REBY ACKN[L$G$ ! JU/ICE ( 
 ,NATA%A'S REM>K1 BUT %E DID NOT EXPRESS AGREEM5T 9 WORDS4 

0,IS IT POSSIBLE TO =GET80 SAID %E4 

0,IT DID ME SO MU* GOOD TO TELL ALL AB\T IT TODAY4 ,IT WAS H>D & 
 PA9FUL1 BUT GOOD1 V]Y GOOD60 SAID ,NATA%A4 0,I AM SURE HE REALLY LOV$ 
 HIM4 ,?AT IS :Y ,I TOLD HIM444 ,WAS IT ALL RI<T80 %E ADD$1 SUDD5LY 
 BLU%+4 

0,TO TELL ,PI]RE8 ,OH1 YES4 ,:AT A SPL5DID MAN HE IS60 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

0,DO Y\ KN[1 ,M>Y4440 ,NATA%A SUDD5LY SAID ) A MIS*IEV\S SMILE SU* 
 AS ,PR9CESS ,M>Y HAD NOT SE5 ON H] FACE = A LONG TIME1 0HE HAS SOMEH[ 
 GR[N SO CLEAN1 SMOO?1 & FRE%--AS IF HE HAD JU/ COME \T ( A 
 ,RUSSIAN BA?2 DO Y\ UND]/&8 ,\T ( A MORAL BA?4 ,ISN'T IT TRUE80 

0,YES10 REPLI$ ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 0,HE HAS GREATLY IMPROV$40 

0,) A %ORT COAT & HIS HAIR CROPP$2 JU/ AS IF1 WELL1 JU/ AS IF HE 
 HAD COME /RAI<T FROM ! BA?444 ,PAPA US$ TO4440 

0,I UND]/& :Y HE0 7,PR9CE ,&REW7 0LIK$ NO ONE SO 
 MU* AS HIM10 SAID ,PR9CESS ,M>Y4 

0,YES1 & YET HE IS QUITE DIFF]5T4 ,!Y SAY M5 >E FRI5DS :5 !Y 
 >E QUITE DIFF]5T4 ,?AT MU/ BE TRUE4 ,REALLY HE IS QUITE UNLIKE HIM--9 
 EV]Y?+40 

0,YES1 BUT HE'S WOND]FUL40 

0,WELL1 GOOD NI<T10 SAID ,NATA%A4 

,& ! SAME MIS*IEV\S SMILE L+]$ = A LONG TIME ON H] FACE AS IF 
 IT HAD BE5 =GOTT5 !RE4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfh 3 ,BOOK #a#e1 ,*APT] #ag -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #a#a1 #bag 3 ,BOOK #a#e1 ,*APT] #ag -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/