BOOK 4, Chptr. 13, P&V pg. 336

Nicholas joins a card game with Dólokhov and begins to lose a great deal of money.

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  1. Book 4, Chapter 13

      Nicholas joins a card game with Dólokhov and begins to lose a great deal of money.

      Summary:
      Dólokhov invites Nicholas to a dinner at the English hotel, where he finds Dólokhov and about 20 others gambling at cards. Dólokhov encourages Nicholas to join the game, and Nicholas begins losing money steadily. Nicholas continues to play and lose, even though there have been hints and rumors that Dólokhov might cheat at cards. Prompted by Dólokhov, Nicholas loses more and more. Nicholas loses all the money his father has given him for the next six months. Hoping to win it back, Nicholas continues gambling and goes deeper and deeper in debt. He loses more than he can pay.

      quote from the chapter:
      Or are you afraid to play with me? Dólokhov now asked as if guessing Rostóv’s thought. Beneath his smile Rostóv saw in him the mood he had shown at the club dinner and at other times, when as if tired of everyday life he had felt a need to escape from it by some strange, and usually cruel, action. Rostóv felt ill at ease. He tried, but failed, to find some joke with which to reply to Dólokhov’s words. But before he had thought of anything, Dólokhov, looking straight in his face, said slowly and deliberately so that everyone could hear: Do you remember we had a talk about cards… ‘He’s a fool who trusts to luck, one should make certain,’ and I want to try.

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