An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 871 words)
ext day he woke late. Recalling his recent impressions, the first
thought that came into his mind was that today he had to be presented
to the Emperor Francis; he remembered the Minister of War, the polite
Austrian adjutant, Bilíbin, and last night’s conversation. Having
dressed for his attendance at court in full parade uniform, which he
had not worn for a long time, he went into Bilíbin’s study fresh,
animated, and handsome, with his hand bandaged. In the study were four
gentlemen of the diplomatic corps. With Prince Hippolyte Kurágin,
who was a secretary to the embassy, Bolkónski was already acquainted.
Bilíbin introduced him to the others.
The gentlemen assembled at Bilíbin’s were young, wealthy, gay society
men, who here, as in Vienna, formed a special set which Bilíbin, their
leader, called les nôtres. * This set, consisting almost exclusively of
diplomats, evidently had its own interests which had nothing to do with
war or politics but related to high society, to certain women, and to
the official side of the service. These gentlemen received Prince
Andrew as one of themselves, an honor they did not extend to many. From
politeness and to start conversation, they asked him a few questions
about the army and the battle, and then the talk went off into merry
jests and gossip.
* Ours.
“But the best of it was,” said one, telling of the misfortune of
a fellow diplomat, “that the Chancellor told him flatly that his
appointment to London was a promotion and that he was so to regard it.
Can you fancy the figure he cut?...”
“But the worst of it, gentlemen—I am giving Kurágin away to
you—is that that man suffers, and this Don Juan, wicked fellow, is
taking advantage of it!”
Prince Hippolyte was lolling in a lounge chair with his legs over its
arm. He began to laugh.
“Tell me about that!” he said.
“Oh, you Don Juan! You serpent!” cried several voices.
“You, Bolkónski, don’t know,” said Bilíbin turning to Prince
Andrew, “that all the atrocities of the French army (I nearly said of
the Russian army) are nothing compared to what this man has been doing
among the women!”
“La femme est la compagne de l’homme,” * announced Prince
Hippolyte, and began looking through a lorgnette at his elevated legs.
* “Woman is man’s companion.”
Bilíbin and the rest of “ours” burst out laughing in Hippolyte’s
face, and Prince Andrew saw that Hippolyte, of whom—he had to
admit—he had almost been jealous on his wife’s account, was the butt
of this set.
“Oh, I must give you a treat,” Bilíbin whispered to Bolkónski.
“Kurágin is exquisite when he discusses politics—you should see his
gravity!”
He sat down beside Hippolyte and wrinkling his forehead began talking
to him about politics. Prince Andrew and the others gathered round these
two.
“The Berlin cabinet cannot express a feeling of alliance,” began
Hippolyte gazing round with importance at the others, “without
expressing... as in its last note... you understand... Besides, unless
His Majesty the Emperor derogates from the principle of our alliance...
“Wait, I have not finished...” he said to Prince Andrew, seizing
him by the arm, “I believe that intervention will be stronger than
nonintervention. And...” he paused. “Finally one cannot impute the
nonreceipt of our dispatch of November 18. That is how it will end.”
And he released Bolkónski’s arm to indicate that he had now quite
finished.
“Demosthenes, I know thee by the pebble thou secretest in thy golden
mouth!” said Bilíbin, and the mop of hair on his head moved with
satisfaction.
Everybody laughed, and Hippolyte louder than anyone. He was evidently
distressed, and breathed painfully, but could not restrain the wild
laughter that convulsed his usually impassive features.
“Well now, gentlemen,” said Bilíbin, “Bolkónski is my guest in
this house and in Brünn itself. I want to entertain him as far as I
can, with all the pleasures of life here. If we were in Vienna it would
be easy, but here, in this wretched Moravian hole, it is more difficult,
and I beg you all to help me. Brünn’s attractions must be shown him.
You can undertake the theater, I society, and you, Hippolyte, of course
the women.”
“We must let him see Amelie, she’s exquisite!” said one of
“ours,” kissing his finger tips.
“In general we must turn this bloodthirsty soldier to more humane
interests,” said Bilíbin.
“I shall scarcely be able to avail myself of your hospitality,
gentlemen, it is already time for me to go,” replied Prince Andrew
looking at his watch.
“Where to?”
“To the Emperor.”
“Oh! Oh! Oh!”
“Well, au revoir, Bolkónski! Au revoir, Prince! Come back early to
dinner,” cried several voices. “We’ll take you in hand.”
“When speaking to the Emperor, try as far as you can to praise the way
that provisions are supplied and the routes indicated,” said Bilíbin,
accompanying him to the hall.
“I should like to speak well of them, but as far as I know the facts,
I can’t,” replied Bolkónski, smiling.
“Well, talk as much as you can, anyway. He has a passion for giving
audiences, but he does not like talking himself and can’t do it, as
you will see.”
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
External pressure strips away social masks and forces people to act according to their true priorities and values.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to assess people's true nature by observing their behavior during difficult times rather than easy times.
Practice This Today
This week, notice how different people in your workplace respond to stress or problems—who steps up to help versus who disappears or makes excuses.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"This set, consisting almost exclusively of diplomats, evidently had its own interests which had nothing to do with war or politics but related to high society, to certain women, and to the official side of the service."
Context: Describing the diplomatic circle Andrew encounters in Vienna
This reveals how the wealthy elite create their own bubble of concerns - parties, affairs, and career advancement - while remaining disconnected from the life-and-death struggles happening around them. It shows the moral gap between those who fight and those who benefit.
In Today's Words:
These guys were basically rich kids playing dress-up, more worried about who they're sleeping with than the actual war going on.
"These gentlemen received Prince Andrew as one of themselves, an honor they did not extend to many."
Context: Explaining how the diplomatic circle welcomes Andrew into their exclusive group
This shows how elite groups use inclusion and exclusion as tools of power. Being accepted gives Andrew access but also pressure to conform to their values and behaviors.
In Today's Words:
They let him sit at the cool kids' table, which was supposedly a big deal.
"From politeness and to start conversation, they asked him a few questions about the army and the battle, and then the talk went off into merry jests and gossip."
Context: Describing how the diplomats quickly shift from serious war talk to frivolous chatter
This reveals their shallow engagement with serious matters. They ask about the war out of politeness but immediately return to gossip, showing they're more comfortable with entertainment than reality.
In Today's Words:
They pretended to care about the fighting for like five minutes, then went right back to talking trash about people.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Wealthy diplomats retreat into frivolous entertainment while soldiers die, showing how privilege creates distance from consequences
Development
Continues the book's examination of how social position shapes response to crisis
In Your Life:
You might notice how people with more resources can avoid dealing with problems that directly impact you
Authenticity
In This Chapter
Andrew refuses to flatter the Emperor with lies, maintaining his integrity despite career costs
Development
Builds on Andrew's consistent pattern of choosing truth over convenience
In Your Life:
You face daily choices between saying what's expected and saying what's true
Recognition
In This Chapter
Andrew finally sees Hippolyte clearly as a shallow fool rather than a threatening rival
Development
Resolves Andrew's earlier suspicions about his wife's affair with new clarity
In Your Life:
Sometimes the people you've built up as threats or rivals turn out to be far less significant than you imagined
Duty
In This Chapter
Andrew stays focused on his military mission while surrounded by people pursuing pleasure
Development
Reinforces Andrew's commitment to purpose over personal gratification
In Your Life:
You regularly choose between what you should do and what would be more fun or comfortable
Social Performance
In This Chapter
The diplomatic circle maintains elaborate social rituals while ignoring the war's reality
Development
Introduced here as contrast to battlefield authenticity
In Your Life:
You participate in social or workplace performances that feel disconnected from what really matters
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does Andrew discover about the diplomats in Vienna, and how do they spend their time while war rages around them?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Andrew refuse Bilibin's suggestion to flatter the Emperor about military supplies, even though it might help his career?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a crisis you've witnessed—at work, in your family, or in your community. How did different people respond, and what did their reactions reveal about their true character?
application • medium - 4
When you're under pressure or stress, what behaviors emerge that show your real priorities? How can you use this self-knowledge to make better decisions?
reflection • deep - 5
Andrew finally sees Hippolyte clearly as a shallow fool rather than a threat. How does crisis help us see people more accurately, and why is this useful for navigating relationships?
application • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Crisis Character Assessment
Think of three people in your life—could be family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors. Write down how each person typically responds when things get difficult or stressful. Then consider what this reveals about their core values and whether you can count on them when you need support. This isn't about judging them harshly, but about seeing them clearly so you can adjust your expectations and relationships accordingly.
Consider:
- •Look for patterns across multiple stressful situations, not just one bad day
- •Consider both how they treat you and how they treat others during tough times
- •Remember that recognizing someone's limitations doesn't mean cutting them off—it means knowing what to expect
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when a crisis revealed something important about someone in your life—either positively or negatively. How did this change your relationship with them, and what did you learn about reading people's true character?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 40: When Opportunity Knocks During Crisis
Andrew finally meets the Emperor Francis, where his commitment to honesty will be tested in the highest circles of power. Will his refusal to play diplomatic games help or hurt his mission?
