BOOK 9, Chptr. 21, P&V pg. 672

Book 9, Chapter 21

Pétya, having tried and failed to speak with the Emperor, returns home and insists he be permitted to join the army. Reluctantly, his parents agree.

Summary:

The Emperor is in Moscow and will be appearing in public. Pétya, very upset at his parents’ not permitting him to join the army, goes to where the Emperor will be. But the crowd outside is huge, and getting nearer to the Emperor, Pétya is crushed by the mob and faints. A bystander helps revive him. Pétya gives up any hope of talking to the Emperor, but remains with the crowd all day on the slight hope the Emperor may appear again in public. Returning home that night, he tells his parents he will run away unless they permit him to join the army. Reluctantly, Count Rostóv yields and begins to look for the safest place for his young son to serve in the army.

quote from the chapter:

So this is what the Emperor is! thought Pétya. No, I can’t petition him myself-that would be too bold. But in spite of this he continued to struggle desperately forward, and from between the backs of those in front he caught glimpses of an open space with a strip of red cloth spread out on it; but just then the crowd swayed back-the police in front were pushing back those who had pressed too close to the procession: the Emperor was passing from the palace to the Cathedral of the Assumption-and Pétya unexpectedly received such a blow on his side and ribs and was squeezed so hard that suddenly everything grew dim before his eyes and he lost consciousness. When he came to himself, a man of clerical appearance with a tuft of gray hair at the back of his head and wearing a shabby blue cassock-probably a church clerk and chanter-was holding him under the arm with one hand while warding off the pressure of the crowd with the other.

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