A minor discourtesy at the banquet causes Pierre, who has heard rumors of the affair between Hélène and Dólokhov, to suddenly challenge Dólokhov to a duel.
A minor discourtesy at the banquet causes Pierre, who has heard rumors of the affair between Hélène and Dólokhov, to suddenly challenge Dólokhov to a duel.
Book 4, Chapter 4
A minor discourtesy at the banquet causes Pierre, who has heard rumors of the affair between Hélène and Dólokhov, to suddenly challenge Dólokhov to a duel.
Summary:
At the banquet, Pierre is seated with Dólokhov and Nicholas Rostóv. Pierre is sullen and distracted. The rumors of Dólokhov’s affair with Hélène have reached Pierre, although Pierre at first finds it hard to believe. Meditating silently about these rumors during the banquet, Pierre feels something terrible and monstrous, like a hatred for Dólokhov, rising in his soul. Meanwhile, Nicholas and Dólokhov banter flippantly. But when Dólokhov grabs a leaflet being handed to Pierre, his anger suddenly erupts and he challenges Dólokhov to a duel. Despite entreaties from friends, neither Pierre nor Dólokhov will back down. The duel is scheduled for the next morning, and, with dueling pistols in hand, the two face off for mortal combat the next morning in an isolated snowy field.
quote from the chapter:
You…! you… scoundrel! I challenge you! he ejaculated, and, pushing back his chair, he rose from the table.
At the very instant he did this and uttered those words, Pierre felt that the question of his wife’s guilt which had been tormenting him the whole day was finally and indubitably answered in the affirmative.
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