AnatolehadlatelymovedtoDolokhov''sabductionhadbeenarrangedandthepreparationsmadebyDolokhovafewdaysbefore, andonthedaythatSonya, afterlisteningatNatasha'sdoor, resolvedtosafeguardher, , , andfromtheretheywouldhastenabroadwithposthorses.
Anatolehadapassport, anorderforposthorses, tenthousandrubleshehadtakenfromhissisterandanothertenthousandborrowedwithDolokhov'shelp.
Twowitnessesforthemockmarriage—Khvostikov, aretiredpettyofficialwhomDolokhovmadeuseofinhisgamblingtransactions, andMakarin, aretiredhussar, akindly, weakfellowwhohadanunboundedaffectionforKuragin—weresittingatteainDolokhov'sfrontroom.
Inhislargestudy, thewallsofwhichwerehungtotheceilingwithPersianrugs, bearskins, andweapons, satDolokhovinatravelingcloakandhighboots, , withuniformunbuttoned, walkedtoandfrofromtheroomwherethewitnessesweresitting, throughthestudytotheroombehind, .
"Well," hesaid, "Khvostikovmusthavetwothousand."
"Giveittohim, then," saidAnatole.
"Makarka" (theirnameforMakarin) "," saidDolokhov, showinghimthememorandum."Isthatright?"
"Yes, ofcourse," returnedAnatole, evidentlynotlisteningtoDolokhovandlookingstraightbeforehimwithasmilethatdidnotleavehisface.
DolokhovbangeddownthelidofhisdeskandturnedtoAnatolewithanironicsmile:
"Doyouknow? You''sstilltime!"
"Fool," retortedAnatole."Don'ttalknonsense! Ifyouonlyknew...it'sthedevilknowswhat!"
"No, really, giveitup!" saidDolokhov."'snojoke, thisplotyou'vehatched."
