Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER IX

It was past one o’clock when Pierre (a big young man, on his way home from a friend's) left his friend. It was a cloudless (with no clouds), northern, summer night (a summer night in the far north, when the sky never grows fully dark). Pierre took an open cab (a hired horse carriage with no roof) intending to drive straight home. But the nearer he drew to the house (the closer he got to his home) the more he felt the impossibility of going to sleep (that he could not possibly sleep) on such a night. It was light enough to see a long way in the deserted (empty of people) street and it seemed more like morning or evening than night. On the way Pierre remembered that Anatole Kurágin (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) was expecting the usual set (the usual group of friends) for cards that evening, after which there was generally a drinking bout (a night of heavy drinking), finishing with visits of a kind (visits to women paid for sex) Pierre was very fond of.

“I should like to go (I would like to go) to Kurágin’s (Anatole Kurágin's house),” thought he.

But he immediately recalled (remembered) his promise to Prince Andrew (Pierre's friend, spoken of but not here) not to go there. Then, as happens to people of weak character (the writer judges him: this is what weak people do), he desired so passionately (wanted so badly) once more to enjoy that dissipation (wild living, spent on pleasure) he was so accustomed to (was so used to) that he decided to go. The thought immediately occurred to him (he suddenly thought) that his promise to Prince Andrew (Pierre's friend, spoken of but not here) was of no account (did not count), because before he gave it he had already promised Prince Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) to come to his gathering (party); “besides,” thought he, “all such ‘words of honor (serious promises)’ are conventional things with no definite meaning (just customs that mean nothing fixed), especially if one considers that by tomorrow one may be dead, or something so extraordinary (very strange) may happen to one that honor and dishonor will be all the same (keeping a promise or breaking it will make no difference)!” Pierre often indulged in reflections of this sort (let himself think in this way), nullifying all his decisions and intentions (so that none of his plans or promises ever lasted). He went to Kurágin’s. (he went to Anatole's house: all his clever reasons were only excuses for doing what he wanted)

Reaching the large house near the Horse Guards’ barracks (the buildings where a large group of soldiers on horseback lived), in which Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) lived, Pierre entered the lighted porch (the covered entrance, with lamps burning), ascended (went up) the stairs, and went in at the open door. There was no one in the anteroom (entrance room); empty bottles, cloaks (long loose coats worn over clothes), and overshoes (rubber shoes worn over boots in bad weather) were lying about (were lying everywhere); there was a smell of alcohol, and sounds of voices and shouting in the distance.

Cards and supper were over, but the visitors had not yet dispersed (gone home). Pierre threw off (quickly removed) his cloak (long loose coat) and entered the first room, in which were the remains of supper (what was left of supper). A footman (a male servant who serves food and drink), thinking no one saw him, was drinking on the sly (secretly) what was left in the glasses. From the third room came sounds of laughter, the shouting of familiar voices, the growling (deep angry sound) of a bear, and general commotion (noise and confusion everywhere). Some eight or nine young men were crowding anxiously round an open window. Three others were romping (playing roughly) with a young bear, one pulling him by the chain and trying to set him at the others (trying to make the bear attack the others).

“I bet a hundred on (I will risk a hundred rubles, Russian money, that this man wins) Stevens (one of the guests)!” shouted one.

“Mind, no holding on! (careful: he must not hold on to anything)” cried another (shouted another man).

“I bet on Dólokhov (a young friend of Anatole's)!” cried a third (shouted a third man). “Kurágin (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home), you part our hands (we shake hands on the bet, and you pull our hands apart to show it is agreed).”

“There, (stop that) leave Bruin (the bear (Bruin is an old joking name for a bear)) alone; here’s a bet on (a bet is being made here).”

“At one draught (in one long drink without stopping), or he loses!” shouted a fourth.

“Jacob (a servant), bring a bottle!” shouted the host (the man giving the party), a tall, handsome fellow (a tall, good-looking man) who stood in the midst of (in the middle of) the group, without a coat, and with his fine linen shirt (shirt of expensive thin cloth) unfastened (open) in front. “Wait a bit, you fellows (wait a moment, friends).... Here is Pétya (Pierre: Pétya is a friendly short form of Peter, his name in Russian)! Good man! (a friendly hello, glad he has come)” cried he, addressing Pierre (he shouted this to Pierre, so Pétya is Pierre).

Another voice, from a man of medium height (neither tall nor short) with clear blue eyes, particularly striking (easy to notice) among all these drunken voices (voices of drunk men) by its sober ring (its clear sound, like a man who is not drunk), cried (shouted) from the window: “Come here; part the bets (come and pull apart our shaking hands, to show the bets are agreed)!” This was Dólokhov, an officer of the Semënov regiment (an army officer in one of the groups of soldiers who guard the ruler), a notorious (famous for bad things) gambler (man who plays games for money) and duelist (man who often fights other men with guns or swords over matters of honor), who was living with Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home). Pierre smiled, looking about him merrily (looking around him happily).

“I don’t understand. What’s it all about?”

“Wait a bit (wait a moment), he is not drunk yet! A bottle here,” said Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home), and taking a glass from the table he went up to Pierre.

“First of all you must drink!”

Pierre drank one glass after another, looking from under his brows (with his head down, looking up) at the tipsy (a little drunk) guests who were again crowding round the window, and listening to their chatter (fast, silly talk). Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) kept on refilling (filled again and again) Pierre’s glass while explaining that Dólokhov was betting with Stevens (the guest from England), an English naval officer (an officer who serves on fighting ships at sea), that he would drink a bottle of rum (a very strong alcohol made from sugar) sitting on the outer ledge (the narrow stone shelf outside) of the third floor window with his legs hanging out.

“Go on, (do it now) you must drink it all,” said Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home), giving Pierre the last glass, “or I won’t let you go!”

“No, I won’t,” said Pierre, pushing Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) aside, and he went up to the window.

Dólokhov was holding the Englishman’s (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) hand and clearly and distinctly (very clearly) repeating the terms of the bet (the exact rules of the bet), addressing himself particularly to (speaking mainly to) Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) and Pierre.

Dólokhov was of medium height, with curly hair and light-blue eyes. He was about twenty-five. Like all infantry officers he wore no mustache (officers of foot soldiers were not allowed hair on the upper lip), so that his mouth, the most striking feature (the part of his face you noticed first) of his face, was clearly seen. The lines of that mouth were remarkably finely curved (were shaped unusually well). The middle of the upper lip formed a sharp wedge (made a sharp point) and closed firmly on the firm lower one, and something like two distinct smiles played continually round the two corners of the mouth (the corners of his mouth always seemed to be smiling a little); this, together with the resolute (firm, sure of itself), insolent (rude and proud) intelligence of his eyes, produced an effect which made it impossible not to notice his face. Dólokhov was a man of small means and no connections (poor, with no important family or friends). Yet, though Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) spent tens of thousands of rubles (huge sums of Russian money), Dólokhov lived with him and had placed himself on such a footing (had made his position so strong) that all who knew them, including Anatole himself, respected him more than they did Anatole. Dólokhov could play all games and nearly always won. However much he drank, he never lost his clearheadedness (clear thinking). Both Kurágin (Anatole) and Dólokhov were at that time notorious (famous for bad behaviour) among the rakes and scapegraces (wild young men who lived for pleasure and trouble) of Petersburg (St. Petersburg, then the capital of Russia).

The bottle of rum (the strong alcohol) was brought. The window frame which prevented anyone from sitting on the outer sill (the flat shelf at the bottom of a window) was being forced out (being pulled out by force) by two footmen (male servants), who were evidently (clearly) flurried and intimidated (nervous and afraid) by the directions (orders) and shouts of the gentlemen around.

Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) with his swaggering air (walking proudly, wanting everyone to look at him) strode (walked with long steps) up to the window. He wanted to smash (break) something. Pushing away the footmen (male servants) he tugged at (pulled hard at) the frame, but could not move it. He smashed a pane (broke a sheet of glass in the window).

“You have a try (you try it), Hercules (a hero of old Greek stories, famous for his strength: a joke about big Pierre),” said he, turning to Pierre.

Pierre seized (grabbed) the crossbeam (the wooden bar across the window), tugged (pulled hard), and wrenched (pulled with a hard twist) the oak (strong heavy wood) frame out with a crash.

“Take it right out (take the frame out completely), or they’ll think I’m holding on (gripping the frame to stay safe),” said Dólokhov.

“Is the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) bragging (saying he can do more than he can)?... Eh? (well? what do you say?) Is it all right?” said Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home).

“First-rate (excellent),” said Pierre, looking at Dólokhov, who with a bottle of rum (the strong alcohol) in his hand was approaching the window, from which the light of the sky, the dawn merging with the afterglow of sunset (the first light of morning already mixing with the last light of evening), was visible.

Dólokhov, the bottle of rum (the strong alcohol) still in his hand, jumped onto the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window). “Listen!” cried he (he shouted), standing there and addressing those in the room (speaking to everyone there). All were silent.

“I bet fifty imperials (gold coins, each worth ten rubles of Russian money)”—he spoke French that the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) might understand him (so that he could understand him), but he did not speak it very well—“I bet fifty imperials ... or do you wish to make it a hundred?” added he, addressing (speaking to) the Englishman.

“No, fifty,” replied the latter (the Englishman).

“All right. Fifty imperials (gold coins) ... that I will drink a whole bottle of rum (the strong alcohol) without taking it from my mouth, sitting outside the window on this spot” (he stooped (bent down) and pointed to the sloping ledge (the narrow stone shelf, slanting down) outside the window) “and without holding on to anything. Is that right?”

“Quite right (yes, exactly),” said the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov).

Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) turned to the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) and taking him by one of the buttons of his coat and looking down at him—the Englishman was short—began repeating the terms of the wager (the rules of the bet) to him in English.

“Wait!” cried (shouted) Dólokhov, hammering (banging) with the bottle on the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window) to attract attention (to make people look). “Wait a bit, Kurágin (Anatole, called by his family name). Listen! If anyone else does the same, I will pay him a hundred imperials (gold coins). Do you understand?”

The Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) nodded, but gave no indication (did not show) whether he intended to accept this challenge (offer to try the same) or not. Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) did not release (stop holding) him, and though he kept nodding (though Stevens kept nodding) to show that he understood, Anatole went on (kept) translating Dólokhov’s words into English. A thin young lad (boy), an hussar of the Life Guards (a soldier on horseback in the ruler's own guard), who had been losing that evening (who had lost money at cards that night), climbed on the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window), leaned over, and looked down.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” he muttered (said quietly), looking down from the window at the stones of the pavement (the stone path beside the street far below).

“Shut up!” cried (shouted) Dólokhov, pushing him away from the window. The lad (the young man) jumped awkwardly (not smoothly, almost falling) back into the room, tripping over his spurs (catching his feet on the metal spikes riders wear on their boot heels).

Placing the bottle on the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window) where he could reach it easily, Dólokhov climbed carefully and slowly through the window and lowered his legs (let his legs hang over the edge). Pressing against both sides of the window, he adjusted himself on his seat (moved until he sat firmly), lowered his hands, moved a little to the right and then to the left, and took up the bottle (lifted the bottle). Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) brought two candles and placed them on the window sill (put them on the shelf at the bottom of the window), though it was already quite light (though morning had come and it was already bright). Dólokhov’s back in his white shirt, and his curly head, were lit up (had light shining on them) from both sides. Everyone crowded to the window, the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) in front. Pierre stood smiling but silent. One man, older than the others present, suddenly pushed forward with a scared and angry look and wanted to seize hold of (grab) Dólokhov’s shirt.

“I say (a way of making people listen), this is folly (madness)! He’ll be killed,” said this more sensible (wiser) man.

Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) stopped him.

“Don’t touch him! You’ll startle (make him jump with fright) him and then he’ll be killed. Eh? (do you see?)... What then? (and then what would happen?)... Eh?”

Dólokhov turned round and, again holding on with both hands, arranged himself on his seat (moved until he sat firmly again).

“If anyone comes meddling (tries to stop me) again,” said he, emitting the words separately (pushing out each word on its own) through his thin compressed (pressed tight) lips, “I will throw him down there. Now then! (a word to say he is about to start)”

Saying this he again turned round, dropped his hands, took the bottle and lifted it to his lips, threw back his head, and raised his free hand to balance himself. One of the footmen (male servants) who had stooped (bent down) to pick up some broken glass remained in that position without taking his eyes from the window (never looking away from the window) and from Dólokhov’s back. Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home) stood erect (straight) with staring eyes. The Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) looked on sideways (watched from the side), pursing up his lips (pushing his lips tightly together). The man who had wished to stop the affair (the whole thing) ran to a corner of the room and threw himself on a sofa with his face to the wall. Pierre hid his face, from which a faint smile forgot to fade (a small smile stayed on his face by itself) though his features (face) now expressed horror and fear. All were still (no one moved). Pierre took his hands from his eyes. Dólokhov still sat in the same position, only his head was thrown further back till his curly hair touched his shirt collar, and the hand holding the bottle was lifted higher and higher and trembled with the effort. The bottle was emptying perceptibly (so that one could see it) and rising still higher and his head tilting (leaning) yet further back (even further back). “Why is it so long?” thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had elapsed (passed). Suddenly Dólokhov made a backward movement with his spine (moved his body back suddenly), and his arm trembled nervously (shook hard); this was sufficient (enough) to cause his whole body to slip as he sat on the sloping ledge (the narrow stone shelf, slanting down). As he began slipping down, his head and arm wavered (shook from side to side) still more with the strain (effort). One hand moved as if to clutch (grab) the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window), but refrained from touching it (did not touch it). Pierre again covered his eyes and thought he would never open them again. Suddenly he was aware of a stir all around (he felt people moving all around him). He looked up: Dólokhov was standing on the window sill (standing on the shelf at the bottom of the window), with a pale but radiant (shining with joy) face.

“It’s empty.”

He threw the bottle to the Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov), who caught it neatly (cleanly and easily). Dólokhov jumped down. He smelt strongly of rum (smelled strongly of the alcohol).

“Well done!... Fine fellow! (what a man!)... There’s a bet for you! (that was a real bet!)... Devil take you! (a rough cry of admiration)” came from different sides.

The Englishman (Stevens, the man who has made the bet with Dólokhov) took out his purse (small money bag) and began counting out the money. Dólokhov stood frowning (with an unhappy, serious face) and did not speak. Pierre jumped upon the window sill (the shelf at the bottom of the window).

“Gentlemen, who wishes to bet with me? I’ll do the same thing!” he suddenly cried (shouted). “Even without a bet, there! (I mean it!) Tell them to bring me a bottle. I’ll do it.... Bring a bottle!”

“Let him do it, let him do it,” said Dólokhov, smiling.

“What next? (what madness will come next?) Have you gone mad?... No one would let you!... Why (a word of protest, not a question), you go giddy even on a staircase (you feel dizzy even on stairs),” exclaimed (shouted) several voices.

“I’ll drink it! Let’s have a bottle of rum (the strong alcohol)!” shouted Pierre, banging the table with a determined and drunken gesture (firm, drunk movement of the hand) and preparing to climb out of the window.

They seized (grabbed) him by his arms; but he was so strong that everyone who touched him was sent flying (was thrown back).

“No, you’ll never manage him that way (you will never control him like that),” said Anatole (a rich young prince Pierre knows, who often has wild evenings at his home). “Wait a bit and I’ll get round him (I will persuade him).... Listen! I’ll take your bet tomorrow (I will accept your bet tomorrow), but now we are all going to (the dash hides a name the writer will not print: a house where men pay women for sex) ——’s.”

“Come on then (let us go, then),” cried (shouted) Pierre. “Come on!... And we’ll take Bruin (the bear (Bruin is an old nickname for a bear)) with us.”

And he caught the bear, took it in his arms, lifted it from the ground, and began dancing round the room with it.