Page 134 - war-and-peace

letting him commit this injustice, and not to let him die
feeling that he is rendering unhappy those who..’
‘Who sacrificed everything for him,’ chimed in the prin-
cess, who would again have risen had not the prince still
held her fast, ‘though he never could appreciate it. No, mon
cousin,’ she added with a sigh, ‘I shall always remember that
in this world one must expect no reward, that in this world
there is neither honor nor justice. In this world one has to
be cunning and cruel.’
‘Now come, come! Be reasonable. I know your excellent
heart.’
‘No, I have a wicked heart.’
‘I know your heart,’ repeated the prince. ‘I value your
friendship and wish you to have as good an opinion of me.
Don’t upset yourself, and let us talk sensibly while there is
still time, be it a day or be it but an hour.... Tell me all you
know about the will, and above all where it is. You must
know. We will take it at once and show it to the count. He
has, no doubt, forgotten it and will wish to destroy it. You
understand that my sole desire is conscientiously to carry
out his wishes; that is my only reason for being here. I came
simply to help him and you.’
‘Now I see it all! I know who has been intriguingI know!’
cried the princess.
‘That’s not the point, my dear.’
‘It’s that protege of yours, that sweet Princess Drubets-
kaya, that Anna Mikhaylovna whom I would not take for a
housemaid... the infamous, vile woman!’
‘Do not let us lose any time..’

134 War and Peace