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 X

Prince Vasíli (Prince Vasíli Kurágin, the smooth court intriguer) kept the promise he had given to Princess Drubetskáya (Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya, Borís' scheming mother) who had spoken to him on behalf (in another's name) of her only son Borís (Borís Drubetskóy, the ambitious young officer) on the evening of Anna Pávlovna (the Petersburg hostess)’s soiree (an evening party — French). The matter was mentioned to the Emperor, an exception (a case left out) made, and Borís transferred into the regiment (a body of soldiers under a colonel) of Semënov (of the Semënov Guards) Guards with the rank (a line of soldiers; one's standing) of cornet (the lowest cavalry officer). He received, however, no appointment (a naming to office; a set meeting) to Kutúzov (Michael Kutúzov, the old one-eyed commander in chief)’s staff despite all Anna (a woman's name — Anna Pávlovna Schérer and others) Mikháylovna (a patronymic — daughter of Michael)’s endeavors (an earnest attempt) and entreaties (an earnest plea). Soon after Anna Pávlovna’s reception (a receiving; a formal welcome) Anna Mikháylovna returned to Moscow and went straight to her rich relations, the Rostóvs (the warm-hearted Moscow family at the novel's center), with whom she stayed when in the town and where her darling (a dearly loved one) Bóry (a wood by Smolénsk), who had only just entered a regiment (a body of soldiers under a colonel) of the line and was being at once transferred to the Guards as a cornet (the lowest cavalry officer), had been educated (to teach and train) from childhood and lived for years at a time. The Guards had already left Petersburg on the tenth (the 10th) of August, and her son, who had remained in Moscow for his equipment, was to join them on the march to Radzivílov (a border town).

It was St. Natalia (Natásha's formal name)’s day and the name day of two of the Rostóvs—the mother and the youngest daughter—both named Nataly (Natásha — French form). Ever since the morning, carriages (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing) with six horses had been coming and going continually (over and over without stop), bringing visitors (one who visits) to the Countess (a count's wife) Rostóva (a lady of the Rostóv family)’s big house on the Povarskáya (the Rostóvs' Moscow street), so well known to all Moscow. The countess (a count's wife) herself and her handsome (fine-looking) eldest (the eldest) daughter were in the drawing room with the visitors (one who visits) who came to congratulate (to wish joy on a success), and who constantly succeeded (to follow; to prosper) one another in relays (a fresh set of horses).

The countess (a count's wife) was a woman of about forty-five (forty-five), with a thin (of little thickness) Oriental type of face, evidently (as plainly appears) worn out with childbearing (bearing children)—she had had twelve (twelve). A languor (dreamy weakness; lack of energy) of motion and speech, resulting from weakness (want of strength), gave her a distinguished (of marked honor) air which inspired respect. Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya, who as a member of the household (all who live in a house) was also seated in the drawing room, helped to receive and entertain (to amuse; to host) the visitors (one who visits). The young people were in one of the inner rooms, not considering it necessary to take part in receiving the visitors (one who visits). The count met the guests and saw them off, inviting (to bid to come) them all to dinner.

“I am very, very grateful (full of thanks) to you, mon cher (dear — French, as in mon cher),” or “ma chère (dear — French, as in ma chère, my dear)”—he called everyone without exception (a case left out) and without the slightest (small; to treat as of no account) variation (a varying) in his tone (a sound's quality; a manner), “my dear,” whether they were above or below him in rank (a line of soldiers; one's standing)—“I thank you for myself and for our two dear ones whose name day we are keeping. But mind you come to dinner or I shall be offended (to hurt feelings; to sin against), ma chère (dear — French, as in ma chère, my dear)! On behalf (in another's name) of the whole family I beg (to ask humbly) you to come, mon cher (dear — French, as in mon cher)!” These words he repeated (to say or do again) to everyone without exception (a case left out) or variation (a varying), and with the same expression on his full, cheerful (full of cheer), clean-shaven (with no beard) face, the same firm pressure of the hand and the same quick, repeated (to say or do again) bows (to bend in respect; a ribbon knot). As soon as he had seen a visitor (one who visits) off he returned to one of those who were still in the drawing room, drew a chair toward him or her, and jauntily (with easy, showy confidence) spreading out his legs and putting his hands on his knees (the leg's middle joint) with the air of a man who enjoys life and knows how to live, he swayed (to swing from side to side; to rule) to and fro (to and fro: back and forth) with dignity (noble worth), offered surmises (a guess) about the weather, or touched on questions of health, sometimes in Russian and sometimes in very bad but self-confident (sure of oneself) French; then again, like a man weary (tired out) but unflinching (without shrinking) in the fulfillment (carrying out fully) of duty, he rose to see some visitors (one who visits) off and, stroking (a blow; a sudden attack of illness) his scanty (barely enough; thin) gray (the color between black and white) hairs over his bald (without hair) patch (a mending piece), also asked them to dinner. Sometimes on his way back from the anteroom (a waiting room) he would pass through the conservatory (a glass room for plants) and pantry (the food storeroom) into the large marble (fine white stone) dining (eating dinner) hall, where tables were being set out for eighty (eighty) people; and looking at the footmen (a liveried man servant), who were bringing in silver and china, moving tables, and unfolding (to open out) damask (fine woven table linen) table linen (cloth of flax; underclothing), he would call Dmítri (the Rostóvs' man of business) Vasílevich (a patronymic — son of Vasíli), a man of good family and the manager of all his affairs (a matter of business; a love matter), and while looking with pleasure at the enormous (vastly big) table would say: “Well, Dmítri, you’ll see that things are all as they should be? That’s right! The great thing is the serving, that’s it.” And with a complacent (smugly satisfied) sigh (a long sad breath) he would return to the drawing room.

“Márya (a Russian woman's name — Princess Mary and others) Lvóvna (a patronymic — daughter of Lev) Karágina (Julie Karágina's family name) and her daughter!” announced the countess (a count's wife)’ gigantic (huge as a giant) footman (a liveried man servant) in his bass (the deep voice) voice, entering the drawing room. The countess (a count's wife) reflected (to throw back; to think over) a moment and took a pinch (to squeeze sharply) from a gold snuffbox (a small box for powdered tobacco) with her husband’s portrait (a painted likeness) on it.

“I’m quite worn out by these callers (a visitor). However, I’ll see her and no more. She is so affected. Ask her in,” she said to the footman (a liveried man servant) in a sad voice, as if saying: “Very well, finish me off.”

A tall, stout (fat and solid; brave), and proud-looking (with a proud look) woman, with a round-faced (with a round face) smiling daughter, entered the drawing room, their dresses rustling (a soft dry whispering sound).

“Dear Countess (a count's wife), what an age... She has been laid up, poor child ... at the Razumóvski (a great count's family)’s ball ... and Countess (a count's wife) Apráksina (a lady of the Apráksin family) ... I was so delighted (greatly pleased)...” came the sounds of animated (full of life; lively) feminine (of women) voices, interrupting (to break in upon) one another and mingling (to mix among) with the rustling (a soft dry whispering sound) of dresses and the scraping (rubbing harshly; bowing low) of chairs. Then one of those conversations began which last out until, at the first pause (a brief stop), the guests rise with a rustle (a soft dry whispering sound) of dresses and say, “I am so delighted (greatly pleased)... Mamma (mother)’s health... and Countess (a count's wife) Apráksina...” and then, again rustling (a soft dry whispering sound), pass into the anteroom (a waiting room), put on cloaks (a loose outer wrap) or mantles (a cloak), and drive away. The conversation was on the chief topic (a subject of talk) of the day: the illness (sickness) of the wealthy (rich) and celebrated (to keep a feast) beau (a fine gentleman admirer — French) of Catherine (Catherine the Great, the famous Empress)’s day, Count Bezúkhov (the family name of Pierre, the novel's hero), and about his illegitimate (born out of marriage; against law) son Pierre, the one who had behaved (to conduct oneself) so improperly (not properly) at Anna Pávlovna’s reception (a receiving; a formal welcome).

“I am so sorry for the poor count,” said the visitor (one who visits). “He is in such bad health, and now this vexation (annoyance; distress) about his son is enough to kill him!”

“What is that?” asked the countess (a count's wife) as if she did not know what the visitor (one who visits) alluded (to hint at) to, though she had already heard about the cause of Count Bezúkhov’s distress (suffering trouble) some fifteen (fifteen) times.

“That’s what comes of a modern education,” exclaimed (to cry out) the visitor (one who visits). “It seems that while he was abroad (in foreign lands) this young man was allowed to do as he liked, now in Petersburg I hear he has been doing such terrible things that he has been expelled (to drive out) by the police.”

“You don’t say so!” replied the countess (a count's wife).

“He chose his friends badly (in a bad way),” interposed (to put in a word between others) Anna Mikháylovna. “Prince Vasíli’s son, he, and a certain Dólokhov (the cold-eyed duelist, gambler, and partisan) have, it is said, been up to heaven only knows what! And they have had to suffer (to bear pain) for it. Dólokhov has been degraded (to drag low; strip of rank) to the ranks (a line of soldiers; one's standing) and Bezúkhov’s son sent back to Moscow. Anatole (Anatole Kurágin, Prince Vasíli's handsome, dissolute son) Kurágin (the family name of Prince Vasíli and his children)’s father managed somehow to get his son’s affair (a matter of business; a love matter) hushed (a sudden quiet) up, but even he was ordered out of Petersburg.”

“But what have they been up to?” asked the countess (a count's wife).

“They are regular brigands (a robber; bandit), especially Dólokhov,” replied the visitor (one who visits). “He is a son of Márya Ivánovna (a patronymic — daughter of Iván) Dólokhova (Dólokhov's mother), such a worthy (deserving) woman, but there, just fancy (the imagination; a liking)! Those three got hold of a bear somewhere, put it in a carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), and set off with it to visit some actresses (a woman player on the stage)! The police tried to interfere (to meddle), and what did the young men do? They tied a policeman (an officer of the law) and the bear back to back and put the bear into the Moyka (a Petersburg canal) Canal. And there was the bear swimming (to move through water) about with the policeman (an officer of the law) on his back!”

“What a nice figure the policeman (an officer of the law) must have cut, my dear!” shouted (a loud cry) the count, dying with laughter (laughing).

“Oh, how dreadful (filling with dread)! How can you laugh at it, Count?”

Yet the ladies themselves could not help laughing.

“It was all they could do to rescue (to save from danger) the poor man,” continued the visitor (one who visits). “And to think it is Cyril Vladímirovich (a patronymic — son of Vladímir) Bezúkhov’s son who amuses (entertained; smiling) himself in this sensible (sensible: aware — the old sense here) manner! And he was said to be so well educated (to teach and train) and clever (quick of mind). This is all that his foreign education has done for him! I hope that here in Moscow no one will receive him, in spite of (despite) his money. They wanted to introduce (to make known; bring in) him to me, but I quite declined (to refuse; to sink): I have my daughters to consider.”

“Why do you say this young man is so rich?” asked the countess (a count's wife), turning away from the girls, who at once assumed an air of inattention (lack of attention). “His children are all illegitimate (born out of marriage; against law). I think Pierre also is illegitimate (born out of marriage; against law).”

The visitor (one who visits) made a gesture (a meaning movement) with her hand.

“I should think he has a score of them.”

Princess Anna Mikháylovna intervened (to come between) in the conversation, evidently (as plainly appears) wishing to show her connections and knowledge of what went on in society.

“The fact of the matter is,” said she significantly, and also in a half whisper (a soft hushed voice), “everyone knows Count Cyril’s reputation (one's standing in others' eyes).... He has lost count of his children, but this Pierre was his favorite.”

“How handsome (fine-looking) the old man still was only a year ago!” remarked (to say; to notice) the countess (a count's wife). “I have never seen a handsomer (more handsome) man.”

“He is very much altered (to change) now,” said Anna Mikháylovna. “Well, as I was saying, Prince Vasíli is the next heir (one who inherits) through his wife, but the count is very fond (loving) of Pierre, looked after his education, and wrote to the Emperor about him; so that in the case of his death—and he is so ill that he may die at any moment, and Dr. Lorrain (the fashionable French doctor) has come from Petersburg—no one knows who will inherit (to receive from one's fathers) his immense (vastly great) fortune (wealth; luck), Pierre or Prince Vasíli. Forty thousand serfs (a peasant bound to a master's land) and millions of rubles (the Russian unit of money)! I know it all very well for Prince Vasíli told me himself. Besides, Cyril Vladímirovich is my mother’s second cousin (an uncle's or aunt's child). He’s also my Bóry’s godfather (a child's sponsor at baptism),” she added, as if she attached no importance at all to the fact.

“Prince Vasíli arrived in Moscow yesterday. I hear he has come on some inspection (an official examination) business,” remarked (to say; to notice) the visitor (one who visits).

“Yes, but between ourselves,” said the princess, “that is a pretext (a false stated reason). The fact is he has come to see Count Cyril Vladímirovich, hearing how ill he is.”

“But do you know, my dear, that was a capital joke,” said the count; and seeing that the elder (the eldest) visitor (one who visits) was not listening, he turned to the young ladies. “I can just imagine what a funny figure that policeman (an officer of the law) cut!”

And as he waved his arms to impersonate (to act the part of another) the policeman (an officer of the law), his portly (stout and dignified) form again shook (to move quickly to and fro) with a deep ringing laugh, the laugh of one who always eats well and, in particular, drinks well. “So do come and dine (to eat dinner) with us!” he said.