Nicholas’ losses from the card game continue to rise, until at last Dólokhov brings the game to an end.
Summary:
The card game continues and Nicholas continues to lose. Dólokhov plans to continue until Nicholas loses 43,000 roubles, 43 being the sum of Dólokhov and Sónya’s ages. Nicholas has already lost far more than he can afford to pay, yet he continues playing, feeling as if he is in Dólokhov’s power. He thinks about how happy he was at home, and how miserable now. He thinks of suicide. When Nicholas’s losses pass 43,000, Dólokhov suddenly ends the game. He seemingly allows Nicholas to win back 21 roubles, so as to bring the debt down to an even 43,000. Dólokhov then asks to be paid. When asked to accept an IOU, Dólokhov brings up Sónya’s love for Nicholas. Nicholas says My cousin has nothing to do with this and it’s not necessary to mention her! Dólokhov asks Then when am I to have it? Nicholas promises to pay Dólokhov the next day, although he has no idea how he can do that.
quote from the chapter:
Such a little while ago I came to this table with the thought of winning a hundred rubles to buy that casket for Mamma’s name day and then going home. I was so happy, so free, so lighthearted! And I did not realize how happy I was! When did that end and when did this new, terrible state of things begin? What marked the change? I sat all the time in this same place at this table, chose and placed cards, and watched those broad-boned agile hands in the same way. When did it happen and what has happened? I am well and strong and still the same and in the same place. No, it can’t be! Surely it will all end in nothing! He was flushed and bathed in perspiration, though the room was not hot. His face was terrible and piteous to see, especially from its helpless efforts to seem calm. The score against him reached the fateful sum of forty-three thousand.
Book 4, Chapter 14
Nicholas’ losses from the card game continue to rise, until at last Dólokhov brings the game to an end.
Summary:
The card game continues and Nicholas continues to lose. Dólokhov plans to continue until Nicholas loses 43,000 roubles, 43 being the sum of Dólokhov and Sónya’s ages. Nicholas has already lost far more than he can afford to pay, yet he continues playing, feeling as if he is in Dólokhov’s power. He thinks about how happy he was at home, and how miserable now. He thinks of suicide. When Nicholas’s losses pass 43,000, Dólokhov suddenly ends the game. He seemingly allows Nicholas to win back 21 roubles, so as to bring the debt down to an even 43,000. Dólokhov then asks to be paid. When asked to accept an IOU, Dólokhov brings up Sónya’s love for Nicholas. Nicholas says My cousin has nothing to do with this and it’s not necessary to mention her! Dólokhov asks Then when am I to have it? Nicholas promises to pay Dólokhov the next day, although he has no idea how he can do that.
quote from the chapter:
Such a little while ago I came to this table with the thought of winning a hundred rubles to buy that casket for Mamma’s name day and then going home. I was so happy, so free, so lighthearted! And I did not realize how happy I was! When did that end and when did this new, terrible state of things begin? What marked the change? I sat all the time in this same place at this table, chose and placed cards, and watched those broad-boned agile hands in the same way. When did it happen and what has happened? I am well and strong and still the same and in the same place. No, it can’t be! Surely it will all end in nothing! He was flushed and bathed in perspiration, though the room was not hot. His face was terrible and piteous to see, especially from its helpless efforts to seem calm. The score against him reached the fateful sum of forty-three thousand.
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