,EPILOGUE #a1 ,*APT] #ad 

#ahfiahfi 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,SOON AFT] ?IS ! *ILDR5 CAME 9 TO SAY GOOD NI<T4 ,!Y KISS$ 
 EV]YONE1 ! TUTORS & GOV]NESSES MADE !IR B[S1 & !Y W5T \T4 
 ,ONLY Y\NG ,NI*OLAS & HIS TUTOR REMA9$4 ,DESSALLES :ISP]$ TO ! BOY 
 TO COME D[N/AIRS4 

0,NO1 ,MONSIEUR ,DESSALLES1 ,I WILL ASK MY AUNT TO LET ME /AY10 REPLI$ 
 ,NI*OLAS ,BOLKONSKI ALSO 9 A :ISP]4 

0,MA TANTE1 PLEASE LET ME /AY10 SAID HE1 GO+ UP TO HIS AUNT4 

,HIS FACE EXPRESS$ 5TREATY1 AGITATION1 & EC/ASY4 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y GLANC$ 
 AT HIM & TURN$ TO ,PI]RE4 

0,:5 Y\ >E H]E HE CAN'T TE> HIMSELF AWAY10 %E SAID4 

0,I WILL BR+ HIM TO Y\ DIRECTLY1 ,MONSIEUR ,DESSALLES4 ,GOOD NI<T60 SAID 
 ,PI]RE1 GIV+ HIS H& TO ! ,SWISS TUTOR1 & HE TURN$ TO Y\NG 
 ,NI*OLAS ) A SMILE4 0,Y\ & ,I HAV5'T SE5 ANY?+ ( ONE ANO!R 
 YET4444 ,H[ LIKE HE IS GR[+1 ,M>Y60 HE ADD$1 ADDRESS+ ,C\NTESS ,M>Y4 

0,LIKE MY FA!R80 ASK$ ! BOY1 FLU%+ CRIMSON & LOOK+ UP AT ,PI]RE 
 ) BRI<T1 EC/ATIC EYES4 

,PI]RE NODD$1 & W5T ON ) :AT HE HAD BE5 SAY+ :5 ! *ILDR5 
 HAD 9T]RUPT$4 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y SAT D[N DO+ WOOLWORK2 ,NATA%A DID NOT 
 TAKE H] EYES (F H] HUSB&4 ,NI*OLAS & ,D5ISOV ROSE1 ASK$ = !IR 
 PIPES1 SMOK$1 W5T TO FET* MORE TEA FROM ,SONYA--:O SAT WE>Y BUT 
 RESOLUTE AT ! SAMOV>--& QUE/ION$ ,PI]RE4 ,! CURLY-HEAD$1 
 DELICATE BOY SAT ) %9+ EYES UNNOTIC$ 9 A CORN]1 />T+ EV]Y 
 N[ & !N & MUTT]+ SOME?+ TO HIMSELF1 & EVID5TLY 
 EXP]I5C+ A NEW & P[]FUL EMOTION AS HE TURN$ HIS CURLY HEAD1 ) 
 HIS ?9 NECK EXPOS$ BY HIS TURN-D[N COLL>1 T[>D ! PLACE :]E 
 ,PI]RE SAT4 

,! CONV]SATION TURN$ ON ! CONTEMPOR>Y GOSSIP AB\T ?OSE 9 P[]1 
 9 :I* MO/ PEOPLE SEE ! *IEF 9T]E/ ( HOME POLITICS4 ,D5ISOV1 
 DISSATISFI$ ) ! GOV]NM5T ON ACC\NT ( HIS [N DISAPPO9TM5TS 9 
 ! S]VICE1 HE>D ) PLEASURE ( ! ?+S DONE 9 ,PET]SBURG :I* 
 SEEM$ TO HIM /UPID1 & MADE =CIBLE & %>P COMM5TS ON :AT ,PI]RE 
 TOLD !M4 

0,ONE US$ TO HAVE TO BE A ,G]MAN--N[ ONE MU/ DANCE ) ,TATAW9OVA 
 & ,MADAME ,KWUD5]1 & WEAD ,ECKA'T%AUS5 & ! BWE?W54 ,OH1 !Y 
 %\LD LET ?AT F9E FELL[ ,BONAP>TE LOOSE--HE'D KNOCK ALL ?IS 
 NONS5SE \T ( !M6 ,FANCY GIV+ ! COMM& ( ! ,SEM5OV WEGIM5T TO 
 A FELL[ LIKE ?AT ,S*WA'TZ60 HE CRI$4 

,NI*OLAS1 ?\< FREE FROM ,D5ISOV'S READ9ESS TO F9D FAULT ) 
 EV]Y?+1 ALSO ?\<T ?AT DISCUSSION ( ! GOV]NM5T WAS A V]Y 
 S]I\S & WEI<TY MATT]1 & ! FACT ?AT ,A HAD BE5 APPO9T$ 
 ,M9I/] ( ,?IS & ,B ,GOV]NOR ,G5]AL ( ,?AT1 & ?AT ! ,EMP]OR HAD 
 SAID SO-&-SO & ?IS M9I/] SO-&-SO1 SEEM$ TO HIM V]Y IMPORTANT4 
 ,& SO HE ?\<T IT NECESS>Y TO TAKE AN 9T]E/ 9 !SE ?+S & TO 
 QUE/ION ,PI]RE4 ,! QUE/IONS PUT BY !SE TWO KEPT ! CONV]SATION FROM 
 *ANG+ ITS ORD9>Y *>ACT] ( GOSSIP AB\T ! HI<] GOV]NM5T 
 CIRCLES4 

,BUT ,NATA%A1 KN[+ ALL H] HUSB&'S WAYS & IDEAS1 SAW ?AT HE HAD 
 LONG BE5 WI%+ BUT HAD BE5 UNABLE TO DIV]T ! CONV]SATION TO 
 ANO!R *ANNEL & EXPRESS HIS [N DEEPLY FELT IDEA = ! SAKE ( :I* 
 HE HAD GONE TO ,PET]SBURG TO CONSULT ) HIS NEW FRI5D ,PR9CE ,!ODORE1 
 & %E HELP$ HIM BY ASK+ H[ HIS AFFAIRS ) ,PR9CE ,!ODORE HAD 
 GONE4 

0,:AT WAS IT AB\T80 ASK$ ,NI*OLAS4 

0,ALWAYS ! SAME ?+10 SAID ,PI]RE1 LOOK+ R\ND AT HIS LI/5]S4 
 0,EV]YBODY SEES ?AT ?+S >E GO+ SO BADLY ?AT !Y CANNOT BE ALL[$ 
 TO GO ON SO & ?AT IT IS ! DUTY ( ALL DEC5T M5 TO C\NT]ACT IT AS 
 F> AS !Y CAN40 

0,:AT CAN DEC5T M5 DO80 ,NI*OLAS 9QUIR$1 FR[N+ SLI<TLY4 0,:AT CAN 
 BE DONE80 

0,:Y1 ?IS4440 

0,COME 9TO MY /UDY10 SAID ,NI*OLAS4 

,NATA%A1 :O HAD LONG EXPECT$ TO BE FET*$ TO NURSE H] BABY1 N[ HE>D 
 ! NURSE CALL+ H] & W5T TO ! NURS]Y4 ,C\NTESS ,M>Y FOLL[$ H]4 
 ,! M5 W5T 9TO ! /UDY & LITTLE ,NI*OLAS ,BOLKONSKI FOLL[$ !M 
 UNNOTIC$ BY HIS UNCLE & SAT D[N AT ! WRIT+ TABLE 9 A %ADY CORN] 
 BY ! W9D[4 

0,WELL1 :AT W\LD Y\ DO80 ASK$ ,D5ISOV4 

0,ALWAYS SOME FANTA/IC S*EMES10 SAID ,NI*OLAS4 

0,:Y ?IS10 BEGAN ,PI]RE1 NOT SITT+ D[N BUT PAC+ ! ROOM1 SOMETIMES 
 /OPP+ %ORT1 GE/ICULAT+1 & LISP+3 0! POSITION 9 ,PET]SBURG IS 
 ?IS3 ! ,EMP]OR DOES NOT LOOK 9TO ANY?+4 ,HE HAS AB&ON$ HIMSELF 
 ALTOGE!R TO ?IS MY/ICISM0 7,PI]RE C\LD NOT TOL]ATE MY/ICISM 9 
 ANYONE N[74 0,HE SEEKS ONLY = PEACE1 & ONLY !SE PEOPLE SANS FOI NI 
 LOI "9 CAN GIVE IT HIM--PEOPLE :O RECKLESSLY HACK AT & /RANGLE 
 EV]Y?+--,MAGNITSKI1 ,>AK*EEV1 & TUTTI QUANTI4444 ,Y\ WILL AGREE 
 ?AT IF Y\ DID NOT LOOK AFT] Y\R E/ATES Y\RSELF BUT ONLY WANT$ A 
 QUIET LIFE1 ! H>%] Y\R /EW>D WAS ! MORE READILY Y\R OBJECT 
 MI<T BE ATTA9$10 HE SAID TO ,NI*OLAS4 

 "9 ,)\T FAI? OR LAW4 

  

0,WELL1 :AT DOES ?AT LEAD UP TO80 SAID ,NI*OLAS4 

0,WELL1 EV]Y?+ IS GO+ TO RU96 ,ROBB]Y 9 ! LAW C\RTS1 9 ! >MY 
 NO?+ BUT FLOGG+1 DRILL+1 & ,MILIT>Y ,SETTLEM5TS2 ! PEOPLE >E 
 TORTUR$1 5LI<T5M5T IS SUPPRESS$4 ,ALL ?AT IS Y\NG & HONE/ IS 
 CRU%$6 ,EV]YONE SEES ?AT ?IS CANNOT GO ON4 ,EV]Y?+ IS /RA9$ TO 
 SU* A DEGREE ?AT IT WILL C]TA9LY BREAK10 SAID ,PI]RE 7AS ?OSE :O 
 EXAM9E ! ACTIONS ( ANY GOV]NM5T HAVE ALWAYS SAID S9CE GOV]NM5TS 
 BEGAN74 0,I TOLD !M JU/ ONE ?+ 9 ,PET]SBURG40 

0,TOLD :OM80 

0,WELL1 Y\ KN[ :OM10 SAID ,PI]RE1 ) A MEAN+ GLANCE FROM UND] HIS 
 BR[S4 0,PR9CE ,!ODORE & ALL ?OSE4 ,TO 5C\RAGE CULTURE & 
 PHILAN?ROPY IS ALL V]Y WELL ( C\RSE4 ,! AIM IS EXCELL5T BUT 9 ! 
 PRES5T CIRCUM/ANCES SOME?+ ELSE IS NE$$40 

,AT ?AT MOM5T ,NI*OLAS NOTIC$ ! PRES5CE ( HIS NEPHEW4 ,HIS FACE 
 D>K5$ & HE W5T UP TO ! BOY4 

0,:Y >E Y\ H]E80 

0,:Y8 ,LET HIM BE10 SAID ,PI]RE1 TAK+ ,NI*OLAS BY ! >M & CONT9U+4 
 0,?AT IS NOT 5\<1 ,I TOLD !M4 ,SOME?+ ELSE IS NE$$4 ,:5 Y\ /& 
 EXPECT+ ! OV]/RA9$ /R+ TO SNAP AT ANY MOM5T1 :5 EV]YONE IS 
 EXPECT+ ! 9EVITABLE CATA/ROPHE1 AS MANY AS POSSIBLE MU/ JO9 H&S 
 AS CLOSELY AS !Y CAN TO )/& ! G5]AL CALAMITY4 ,EV]Y?+ ?AT 
 IS Y\NG & /RONG IS BE+ 5TIC$ AWAY & DEPRAV$4 ,ONE IS LUR$ BY 
 WOM51 ANO!R BY HONORS1 A ?IRD BY AMBITION OR MONEY1 & !Y GO OV] 
 TO ?AT CAMP4 ,NO 9DEP5D5T M51 SU* AS Y\ OR ,I1 >E LEFT4 ,:AT ,I SAY 
 IS WID5 ! SCOPE ( \R SOCIETY1 LET ! MOT D'ORDRE BE NOT 
 VIRTUE ALONE BUT 9DEP5D5CE & ACTION AS WELL60 

,NI*OLAS1 :O HAD LEFT HIS NEPHEW1 IRRITABLY PU%$ UP AN >M*AIR1 SAT 
 D[N 9 IT1 & LI/5$ TO ,PI]RE1 C\<+ DISCONT5T$LY & FR[N+ 
 MORE & MORE4 

0,BUT ACTION ) :AT AIM80 HE CRI$4 0,& :AT POSITION WILL Y\ ADOPT 
 T[>D ! GOV]NM5T80 

0,:Y1 ! POSITION ( ASSI/ANTS4 ,! SOCIETY NE$ NOT BE SECRET IF ! 
 GOV]NM5T ALL[S IT4 ,NOT M]ELY IS IT NOT HO/ILE TO GOV]NM5T1 BUT IT 
 IS A SOCIETY ( TRUE CONS]VATIVES--A SOCIETY ( G5TLEM5 9 ! 
 FULL MEAN+ ( ?AT WORD4 ,IT IS ONLY TO PREV5T SOME ,PUGA*EV OR O!R 
 FROM KILL+ MY *ILDR5 & Y\RS1 & ,>AK*EEV FROM S5D+ ME (F TO 
 SOME ,MILIT>Y ,SETTLEM5T4 ,WE JO9 H&S ONLY = ! PUBLIC WELF>E & 
 ! G5]AL SAFETY40 

0,YES1 BUT IT'S A SECRET SOCIETY & !RE=E A HO/ILE & H>MFUL ONE 
 :I* CAN ONLY CAUSE H>M40 

0,:Y8 ,DID ! ,TUG5DBUND :I* SAV$ ,EUROPE0 7!Y DID NOT !N V5TURE TO 
 SUGGE/ ?AT ,RUSSIA HAD SAV$ ,EUROPE7 0DO ANY H>M8 ,! ,TUG5DBUND IS AN 
 ALLIANCE ( VIRTUE3 IT IS LOVE1 MUTUAL HELP444 IT IS :AT ,*RI/ PREA*$ 
 ON ! ,CROSS40 

,NATA%A1 :O HAD COME 9 DUR+ ! CONV]SATION1 LOOK$ JOYFULLY AT H] 
 HUSB&4 ,IT WAS NOT :AT HE WAS SAY+ ?AT PLEAS$ H]--?AT DID NOT 
 EV5 9T]E/ H]1 = IT SEEM$ TO H] ?AT WAS ALL EXTREMELY SIMPLE & 
 ?AT %E HAD KN[N IT A LONG TIME 7IT SEEM$ SO TO H] BECAUSE %E KNEW 
 ?AT IT SPRANG FROM ,PI]RE'S :OLE S\L71 BUT IT WAS HIS ANIMAT$ & 
 5?USIA/IC APPE>ANCE ?AT MADE H] GLAD4 

,! BOY ) ! ?9 NECK /RET*+ \T FROM ! TURN-D[N COLL>--:OM 
 EV]YONE HAD =GOTT5--GAZ$ AT ,PI]RE ) EV5 GREAT] & MORE 
 RAPTUR\S JOY4 ,EV]Y WORD ( ,PI]RE'S BURN$ 9TO HIS HE>T1 & ) A 
 N]V\S MOVEM5T ( HIS F+]S HE UNCONSCI\SLY BROKE ! SEAL+ WAX & 
 QUILL P5S HIS H&S CAME UPON ON HIS UNCLE'S TABLE4 

0,IT IS NOT AT ALL :AT Y\ SUPPOSE2 BUT ?AT IS :AT ! ,G]MAN ,TUG5DBUND 
 WAS1 & :AT ,I AM PROPOS+40 

0,NO1 MY FWI5D6 ,! ,TUG5DBUND IS ALL VEWY WELL = ! SAUSAGE EAT]S1 
 BUT ,I DON'T UND]/& IT & CAN'T EV5 PWON\NCE IT10 
 9T]POS$ ,D5ISOV 9 A L\D & RESOLUTE VOICE4 0,I AGWEE ?AT EVEWY?+ 
 H]E IS WOTT5 & H[WIBLE1 BUT ! ,TUG5DBUND ,I DON'T UND]/&4 
 ,IF WE'RE NOT SATISFI$1 LET US HAVE A BUNT ( \R [N4 
 ,?AT'S ALL WI<T4 ,JE SUIS VOT'E HOMME60 "9 

 "9 0,I'M Y\R MAN40 
  
  

,PI]RE SMIL$1 ,NATA%A BEGAN TO LAU<1 BUT ,NI*OLAS KNITT$ HIS BR[S 
 /ILL MORE & BEGAN PROV+ TO ,PI]RE ?AT !RE WAS NO PROSPECT ( ANY 
 GREAT *ANGE & ?AT ALL ! DANG] HE SPOKE ( EXI/$ ONLY 9 HIS 
 IMAG9ATION4 ,PI]RE MA9TA9$ ! CONTR>Y1 & AS HIS M5TAL FACULTIES 
 W]E GREAT] & MORE RES\RCEFUL1 ,NI*OLAS FELT HIMSELF CORN]$4 ,?IS 
 MADE HIM /ILL ANGRI]1 = HE WAS FULLY CONV9C$1 NOT BY REASON+ BUT 
 BY SOME?+ )9 HIM /RONG] ?AN REASON1 ( ! JU/ICE ( HIS 
 OP9ION4 

0,I WILL TELL Y\ ?IS10 HE SAID1 RIS+ & TRY+ ) N]V\SLY 
 TWIT*+ F+]S TO PROP UP HIS PIPE 9 A CORN]1 BUT F9ALLY AB&ON+ 
 ! ATTEMPT4 0,I CAN'T PROVE IT TO Y\4 ,Y\ SAY ?AT EV]Y?+ H]E IS 
 ROTT5 & ?AT AN OV]?R[ IS COM+3 ,I DON'T SEE IT4 ,BUT Y\ ALSO SAY 
 ?AT \R OA? ( ALLEGIANCE IS A CONDITIONAL MATT]1 & TO ?AT ,I REPLY3 
 ',Y\ >E MY BE/ FRI5D1 AS Y\ KN[1 BUT IF Y\ =M$ A SECRET SOCIETY 
 & BEGAN WORK+ AGA9/ ! GOV]NM5T--BE IT :AT IT MAY--,I 
 KN[ IT IS MY DUTY TO OBEY ! GOV]NM5T4 ,& IF ,>AK*EEV ORD]$ ME TO 
 LEAD A SQUADRON AGA9/ Y\ & CUT Y\ D[N1 ,I %\LD NOT HESITATE AN 
 9/ANT1 BUT %\LD DO IT4' ,& Y\ MAY >GUE AB\T ?AT AS Y\ LIKE60 

,AN AWKW>D SIL5CE FOLL[$ !SE WORDS4 ,NATA%A WAS ! FIR/ TO SPEAK1 
 DEF5D+ H] HUSB& & ATTACK+ H] BRO!R4 ,H] DEF5SE WAS WEAK & 
 9APT BUT %E ATTA9$ H] OBJECT4 ,! CONV]SATION WAS RESUM$1 & NO 
 LONG] 9 ! UNPLEASANTLY HO/ILE TONE ( ,NI*OLAS' LA/ REM>K4 

,:5 !Y ALL GOT UP TO GO 9 TO SUPP]1 LITTLE ,NI*OLAS ,BOLKONSKI W5T UP 
 TO ,PI]RE1 PALE & ) %9+1 RADIANT EYES4 

0,UNCLE ,PI]RE1 Y\444 NO444 ,IF ,PAPA W]E ALIVE444 W\LD HE AGREE ) 
 Y\80 HE ASK$4 

,& ,PI]RE SUDD5LY REALIZ$ :AT A SPECIAL1 9DEP5D5T1 COMPLEX1 & 
 P[]FUL PROCESS ( ?\<T & FEEL+ MU/ HAVE BE5 GO+ ON 9 ?IS 
 BOY DUR+ ?AT CONV]SATION1 & REMEMB]+ ALL HE HAD SAID HE REGRETT$ 
 ?AT ! LAD %\LD HAVE HE>D HIM4 ,HE HAD1 H[EV]1 TO GIVE HIM AN 
 ANSW]4 

0,YES1 ,I ?9K SO10 HE SAID RELUCTANTLY1 & LEFT ! /UDY4 

,! LAD LOOK$ D[N & SEEM$ N[ = ! FIR/ TIME TO NOTICE :AT HE 
 HAD DONE TO ! ?+S ON ! TABLE4 ,HE FLU%$ & W5T UP TO ,NI*OLAS4 

0,UNCLE1 =GIVE ME1 ,I DID ?AT444 UN9T5TIONALLY10 HE SAID1 PO9T+ TO 
 ! BROK5 SEAL+ WAX & P5S4 

,NI*OLAS />T$ ANGRILY4 

0,ALL RI<T1 ALL RI<T10 HE SAID1 ?R[+ ! BITS UND] ! TABLE4 

,& EVID5TLY SUPPRESS+ HIS VEXATION ) DIFFICULTY1 HE TURN$ AWAY 
 FROM ! BOY4 

0,Y\ \<T NOT TO HAVE BE5 H]E AT ALL10 HE SAID4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

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

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