Sayfa 266 / 3800

The three princesses have received very little, Prince Vasili

nothing, and it is Monsieur Pierre who has inherited all the

property and has besides been recognized as legitimate; so that

he is now Count Bezukhov and possessor of the finest fortune in

Russia. It is rumored that Prince Vasili played a very despicable

part in this affair and that he returned to Petersburg quite

crestfallen.

I confess I understand very little about all these matters of

wills and inheritance; but I do know that since this young man,

whom we all used to know as plain Monsieur Pierre, has become

Count Bezukhov and the owner of one of the largest fortunes in

Russia, I am much amused to watch the change in the tone and

manners of the mammas burdened by marriageable daughters, and of

the young ladies themselves, toward him, though, between you and

me, he always seemed to me a poor sort of fellow. As for the past

two years people have amused themselves by finding husbands for

me (most of whom I don't even know), the matchmaking chronicles

of Moscow now speak of me as the future Countess Bezukhova. But

you will understand that I have no desire for the post. A propos

of marriages: do you know that a while ago that universal auntie

Anna Mikhaylovna told me, under the seal of strict secrecy, of a

plan of marriage for you.