Rostov'sshareinDolokhov'sduelwithBezukhovwashushedupbytheeffortsoftheoldcount, , , 'swholovedhimpassionatelyandtenderly, andoldMaryIvanovna, whohadgrownfondofRostovforhisfriendshiptoherFedya, oftentalkedtohimaboutherson.
"Yes, Count," shewouldsay, "heistoonobleandpure-souledforourpresent, ; , Count, wasitright, wasithonorable, ofBezukhov? AndFedya, withhisnoblespirit, , didn'ttheydoittogether? Andthere! Bezukhovgotoffscotfree, ! It'struehehasbeenreinstated, buthowcouldtheyfailtodothat? —thisduel! Havethesepeoplenofeeling, orhonor? Knowinghimtobeanonlyson, tochallengehimandshootsostraight! It'? Whodoesn'thaveintriguesnowadays? Why, ifhewassojealous, asIseethingsheshouldhaveshownitsooner, , reckoningonFedyanotfightingbecauseheowedhimmoney! Whatbaseness! Whatmeanness! IknowyouunderstandFedya, mydearcount; that, believeme, , heavenlysoul!"
DolokhovhimselfduringhisconvalescencespoketoRostovinawaynoonewouldhaveexpectedofhim.
"Iknowpeopleconsidermeabadman!" hesaid."Letthem! Idon'tcareastrawaboutanyonebutthoseIlove; butthoseIlove, IlovesothatIwouldgivemylifeforthem, andtheothersI', apricelessmother, andtwoorthreefriends—youamongthem—, , dearboy," hecontinued, "Ihavemetloving, noble, high-mindedmen, butIhavenotyetmetanywomen—countessesorcooks—'dgivemylifeforher! Butthose!..." andhemadeagestureofcontempt."Andbelieveme, ifIstillvaluemylifeitisonlybecauseIstillhopetomeetsuchadivinecreature, whowillregenerate, purify, 'tunderstandit."
