An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 836 words)
n the middle of this fresh tale Pierre was summoned to the commander in
chief.
When he entered the private room Count Rostopchín, puckering his face,
was rubbing his forehead and eyes with his hand. A short man was saying
something, but when Pierre entered he stopped speaking and went out.
“Ah, how do you do, great warrior?” said Rostopchín as soon as the short
man had left the room. “We have heard of your prowess. But that’s not
the point. Between ourselves, mon cher, do you belong to the Masons?” he
went on severely, as though there were something wrong about it which
he nevertheless intended to pardon. Pierre remained silent. “I am well
informed, my friend, but I am aware that there are Masons and I hope
that you are not one of those who on pretense of saving mankind wish to
ruin Russia.”
“Yes, I am a Mason,” Pierre replied.
“There, you see, mon cher! I expect you know that Messrs. Speránski and
Magnítski have been deported to their proper place. Mr. Klyucharëv has
been treated in the same way, and so have others who on the plea of
building up the temple of Solomon have tried to destroy the temple of
their fatherland. You can understand that there are reasons for this and
that I could not have exiled the Postmaster had he not been a harmful
person. It has now come to my knowledge that you lent him your carriage
for his removal from town, and that you have even accepted papers from
him for safe custody. I like you and don’t wish you any harm and—as
you are only half my age—I advise you, as a father would, to cease
all communication with men of that stamp and to leave here as soon as
possible.”
“But what did Klyucharëv do wrong, Count?” asked Pierre.
“That is for me to know, but not for you to ask,” shouted Rostopchín.
“If he is accused of circulating Napoleon’s proclamation it is not
proved that he did so,” said Pierre without looking at Rostopchín, “and
Vereshchágin...”
“There we are!” Rostopchín shouted at Pierre louder than before,
frowning suddenly. “Vereshchágin is a renegade and a traitor who will
be punished as he deserves,” said he with the vindictive heat with which
people speak when recalling an insult. “But I did not summon you to
discuss my actions, but to give you advice—or an order if you prefer it.
I beg you to leave the town and break off all communication with such
men as Klyucharëv. And I will knock the nonsense out of anybody”—but
probably realizing that he was shouting at Bezúkhov who so far was not
guilty of anything, he added, taking Pierre’s hand in a friendly manner,
“We are on the eve of a public disaster and I haven’t time to be polite
to everybody who has business with me. My head is sometimes in a whirl.
Well, mon cher, what are you doing personally?”
“Why, nothing,” answered Pierre without raising his eyes or changing the
thoughtful expression of his face.
The count frowned.
“A word of friendly advice, mon cher. Be off as soon as you can, that’s
all I have to tell you. Happy he who has ears to hear. Good-by, my dear
fellow. Oh, by the by!” he shouted through the doorway after Pierre,
“is it true that the countess has fallen into the clutches of the holy
fathers of the Society of Jesus?”
Pierre did not answer and left Rostopchín’s room more sullen and angry
than he had ever before shown himself.
When he reached home it was already getting dark. Some eight people had
come to see him that evening: the secretary of a committee, the colonel
of his battalion, his steward, his major-domo, and various petitioners.
They all had business with Pierre and wanted decisions from him. Pierre
did not understand and was not interested in any of these questions and
only answered them in order to get rid of these people. When left alone
at last he opened and read his wife’s letter.
“They, the soldiers at the battery, Prince Andrew killed... that old
man... Simplicity is submission to God. Suffering is necessary... the
meaning of all... one must harness... my wife is getting married... One
must forget and understand...” And going to his bed he threw himself on
it without undressing and immediately fell asleep.
When he awoke next morning the major-domo came to inform him that a
special messenger, a police officer, had come from Count Rostopchín to
know whether Count Bezúkhov had left or was leaving the town.
A dozen persons who had business with Pierre were awaiting him in the
drawing room. Pierre dressed hurriedly and, instead of going to see
them, went to the back porch and out through the gate.
From that time till the end of the destruction of Moscow no one of
Bezúkhov’s household, despite all the search they made, saw Pierre again
or knew where he was.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
When crisis strikes, your connections become liabilities and institutions exile broadly to show decisive action.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when organizations shift from rewarding collaboration to punishing connection.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when workplace dynamics change after leadership transitions—watch which previously valued behaviors suddenly become 'problematic.'
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Between ourselves, mon cher, do you belong to the Masons?"
Context: Rostopchin opens his interrogation with this seemingly casual question
This appears friendly but is actually a trap. The casual tone masks the serious consequences of Pierre's answer, showing how power operates through false intimacy and manufactured comfort.
In Today's Words:
So, just between us, are you one of those people we're cracking down on?
"Yes, I am a Mason"
Context: Pierre's direct response to Rostopchin's question about his membership
Pierre's honesty reveals both his integrity and his political naivety. He could have lied or deflected, but his straightforward answer shows he hasn't learned to navigate dangerous political waters.
In Today's Words:
Yeah, I'm exactly what you're looking for to blame.
"You can understand that there are reasons for this and that I could not have exiled the Postmaster had he not been a harmful person"
Context: Rostopchin justifying the exile of Klyucharev
This is classic authoritarian logic - the punishment proves the guilt. Rostopchin presents his actions as obviously reasonable while providing no actual evidence, forcing Pierre to either accept this logic or challenge authority directly.
In Today's Words:
Obviously I wouldn't have fired him if he wasn't guilty of something, right?
Thematic Threads
Political Survival
In This Chapter
Rostopchin sacrifices individuals to demonstrate control and decisive action during wartime chaos
Development
Escalated from earlier political tensions to direct personal threats and forced exile
In Your Life:
You might see this when workplace politics force you to distance yourself from certain colleagues to protect your own position
Institutional Power
In This Chapter
The state uses Pierre's Freemason connections as evidence of disloyalty, regardless of his actual beliefs or actions
Development
Built from earlier themes of how institutions shape individual fate through arbitrary classifications
In Your Life:
You experience this when organizations judge you by demographics, affiliations, or associations rather than individual merit
Social Isolation
In This Chapter
Pierre finds himself suddenly cut off from normal social networks and forced into hiding
Development
Progression from Pierre's earlier social awkwardness to complete social exile
In Your Life:
You might face this when taking unpopular stands at work or in your community leads to gradual social freezing-out
Crisis Decision-Making
In This Chapter
Pierre must choose between defending his principles and ensuring his physical safety
Development
Evolution from Pierre's earlier philosophical debates to life-or-death practical choices
In Your Life:
You encounter this when family emergencies or workplace crises force you to abandon ideal responses for survival tactics
Hidden Networks
In This Chapter
The Freemasons transform from a respectable social organization into a dangerous secret society overnight
Development
Introduced here as new theme about how group identities shift meaning during crises
In Your Life:
You see this when professional associations, social groups, or online communities suddenly become liabilities during controversies
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Count Rostopchin suddenly consider Pierre's Freemason connections dangerous when they were perfectly acceptable before the war?
analysis • surface - 2
What does Rostopchin's warning reveal about how power protects itself during crisis, and why doesn't he care about Pierre's actual guilt or innocence?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this same pattern of 'guilt by association' playing out in workplaces, families, or communities today?
application • medium - 4
Pierre chooses to disappear rather than defend himself or comply with the order to leave town. When is strategic withdrawal the smartest response to an unfair situation?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter teach us about the difference between being right and being safe, and how do people in power use fear to justify casting wide nets of suspicion?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Association Risk
List your current associations - work groups, social circles, online communities, family connections. For each one, imagine a crisis scenario where that association could suddenly become a liability. Consider how quickly yesterday's normal connection could become tomorrow's 'problematic' association. This isn't about paranoia - it's about understanding how power dynamics shift during turbulent times.
Consider:
- •Which associations would you defend publicly versus keep private?
- •How do you maintain authentic relationships while protecting yourself from guilt by association?
- •What early warning signs might tell you when it's time for strategic withdrawal rather than principled defense?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone judged you based on who you knew rather than who you were. How did you handle it, and what would you do differently now with Pierre's example in mind?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 241: A Mother's Terror and Moscow's Last Days
With Pierre gone into hiding, the story shifts focus as Moscow braces for Napoleon's arrival. The city's fate—and that of its remaining inhabitants—hangs in the balance.
