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 you 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 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, hey
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 honour I will not allow anyone to use!
If it's 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 brute!

Next day, Anatole left
For Petersburg