Pierre & Anatole

You promised Countess Rostova to marry her

And were about to elope, is that so?

Mon cher,

I don't consider myself bound to answer

Questions put to me in that tone

My face, already pale

Becomes distorted by fury

I seize you by the collar with my big, big hands

And I shake you from side to side

Until your face shows a sufficient degree of terror

When I tell you I must talk to you!

Come now, this is stupid!

What, what—

Don't, don't!

You're a scoundrel and a blackguard

And I don't know what deprives me of the pleasure

Of smashing your head in with this![

Did you promise to marry her?

I didn't think of it,

I never promised, because—

Have you any letters of hers?

Any letters?

I shan't be violent, don't be afraid

First, the letters

Second,

Tomorrow you must get out of Moscow

But how can I?

Third,

You must never breathe a word

Of what has happened between

You and the Countess

Now, I know I can't prevent your doing so

But if you have a spark of conscience

Pierre paces the room

Several times in silence

Anatole sits at a table,

Frowning and biting his lips

After all, you must understand

That besides your pleasure

There is such a thing as other people,

And their happiness and peace

And that you are ruining a whole life

For the sake of amusing yourself!

Amuse yourself with women like my wife

With them you're within your rights

But to promise a young girl to marry her

To deceive, to kidnap

Why don't you understand that that's as cruel

As beating an old man or a child?!

Well I don't know about that, eh?

I don't know that!

And I don't want to

But you have used such words to me—

"Scoundrel," and so on,

Which, as a man of honor,

I will not allow anyone to use

Is it satisfaction you want?

You could at least take back your words, eh?

If you want me to do as you wish

♪

Fine I take them back

I take them back

And I ask you to forgive me

And if you require money for your journey...

Anatole smiled

The reflection of that base and cringing smile

Which Pierre knew so well in his wife

Revolted him

Oh, vile and heartless brood!

Next day, Anatole left

For Petersburg!