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s marauders。 When five weeks later these same men set out from Moscow； they no longer made up an army。 They were a mob of marauders； each of whom carried or dragged along with him a mass of objects he regarded as precious and useful。 The aim of each of these men on leaving Moscow was not； as it had been； to fight as a soldier； but simply to keep the booty he had obtained。 Like the ape； who slipping his hand into the narrow neck of a pitcher； and snatching up a handful of nuts inside it； will not open his fist for fear of losing his prize； even to his own ruin； the French on leaving Moscow were inevitably bound to come to ruin； because they dragged their plunder along with them； and it seemed as impossible to them to fling away their booty as it seems to the ape to let go of the nuts。 Ten minutes after the several French regiments had dispersed about the various quarters of Moscow； not a soldier nor an officer was left among them。 At the windows of the houses men could be seen in military coats and Hessian boots； laughing and strolling through the rooms。 In the cellars； in the storerooms similar men were busily looking after the provisions； in the courtyards they were unlocking or breaking open the doors of sheds and stables； in the kitchens they were making up fires； and with bare arms mixing； kneading； and baking； and frightening； or trying to coax and amuse； women and children。 Men there were in plenty everywhere； in all the shops and houses； but the army was no more。
That day one order after another was issued by the French commanders forbidding the troops to disperse about the town； sternly forbidding violence to the inhabitants； and pillaging； and proclaiming that a general roll…call was to take place that evening。 But in spite of all such measures the men； who had made up an army； flowed about the wealthy； deserted city； so richly provided with luxuries and comforts。 Like a starved herd； that keeps together crossing a barren plain； but at once on reaching rich pastures inevitably strays apart and scatters over them； the army was irresistibly lured into scattering over the wealthy town。
Moscow was without its inhabitants； and the soldiers were sucked up in her； like water into sand； as they flowed away irresistibly in all directions from the Kremlin； which they had entered first。 Cavalry soldiers who had entered a merchant’s house abandoned with all its belongings； and finding stabling for their horses and to spare； yet went on to take the house next door； which seemed to them better。 Many took several houses； chalking their names on them； and quarrelled and even fought with other companies for their possession。 Soldiers had no sooner succeeded in securing quarters than they ran along the street to look at the town； and on hearing that everything had been abandoned； hurried off where objects of value could be carried off for nothing。 The officers followed to check the soldiers； and were involuntarily lured into doing the same。 In Carriage Row shops had been abandoned stocked with carriages； and the generals flocked thither to choose coaches and carriages for themselves。 The few inhabitants who had stayed on invited the officers into their houses； hoping thereby to secure themselves against being robbed。 Wealth there was in abundance： there seemed no end to it。 Everywhere all round the parts occupied by the French there were unexplored regions unoccupied beyond； in which the French fancied there were even more riches to be found。 And Moscow absorbed them further and further into herself。 Just as when water flows over dry land； water and dry land alike disappear and are lost in mud； so when the hungry army entered the wealthy； deserted city； the army and the wealth of the city both perished； and fires and marauding bands sprang up where they had been。
The French ascribed the burning of Moscow au patriotisme féroce de Rastoptchine； the Russians to the savagery of the French。 In reality； explanations of the fire of Moscow； in the sense of the conflagration being brought home to the door of any one person or group of persons； there have never been； and never could be。 Moscow was burned because she was placed in conditions in which any town built of wood was bound to be burned； quite apart from the question whether there were or were not one hundred and thirty inefficient fire…engines in the town。 Moscow was sure to be burned； because her inhabitants had gone away； as inevitably as a heap of straw is sure to be burned where sparks are scattered on it for several days in succession。 A town of wooden houses； in which when the police and the inhabitants owning the houses are in possession of it； fires are of daily occurrence； cannot escape being burned when its inhabitants are gone and it is filled with soldiers smoking pipes； making fires in Senate…house Square of the Senate…house chairs； and cooking themselves meals twice a day。 In times of peace； whenever troops are quartered on villages in any district； the number of fires in the district at once increases。 How greatly must the likelihood of fires be increased in an abandoned town； built of wood； and occupied by foreign soldiers！ Le patriotisme féroce de Rastoptchine and the savagery of the French do not come into the question。 Moscow was burned through the pipes； the kitchen stoves； and camp…fires； through the recklessness of the enemy’s soldiers； who lived in the houses without the care of householders。 Even if there were cases of incendiarism （which is very doubtful； because no one had any reason for incendiarism； and in any case such a crime is a troublesome and dangerous one）； there is no need to accept incendiarism as the cause； for the conflagration would have been inevitable anyway without it。
Soothing as it was to the vanity of the French to throw the blame on the ferocity of Rastoptchin； and to that of the Russians to throw the blame on the miscreant Bonaparte； or later on to place the heroic torch in the hand of its patriot peasantry； we cannot disguise from ourselves that there could be no such direct cause of the fire； since Moscow was as certain to be burned as any village； factory； or house forsaken by its owners； and used as a temporary shelter and cooking…place by strangers。 Moscow was burned by her inhabitants； it is true； but not by the inhabitants who had lingered on； but by the inhabitants who had abandoned her。 Moscow did not； like Berlin； Vienna； and other towns； escape harm while in the occupation of the enemy； simply because her inhabitants did not receive the French with the keys； and the bread and salt of welcome； but abandoned her。
Chapter 27
THE PROCESS of the absorption of the French into Moscow in a widening circle in all directions did not； till the evening of the 2nd of September； reach the quarter of the town in which Pierre was staying。
After the two last days spent in solitude and exceptional conditions； Pierre was in a condition approaching madness。 One haunting idea had complete possession of him。 He could not have told how or when it had come to him； but that idea had now such complete possession of him that he remembered nothing in the past； and understood nothing in the present； and everything he saw and heard seemed passing in a dream。
Pierre had left his own house simply to escape from the complicated tangle woven about him by the demands of daily life； which in his condition at that time he was incapable of unravelling。 He had gone to Osip Alexyevitch’s house on the pretext of sorting out the books and papers of the deceased。 Simply he was in search of a quiet home of rest from the storm of life； and his memories of Osip Alexyevitch were connected in his soul with a whole world of calm； solemn； and eternal ideals； in every way the reverse of the tangled whirl of agitation into which he felt himself being drawn。 He was in search of a quiet refuge； and he certainly found it in Osip Alexyevitch’s study。 When； in the deathlike stillness of the study； he sat with his elbows on the dusty writing…table of his deceased friend； there passed in calm and significant succession before his mental vision the impressions of the last few days； especially of the battle of Borodino； and of that overwhelming sense of his own pettiness and falsity in comparison with the truth and simplicity and force of that class of men； who were mentally referred to by him as “they。” When Gerasim roused him from his reverie； the idea occurred to Pierre that he would take part in the defence of Moscow by the people； which was； he knew； expected。 And with that object he had asked Gerasim to get him a peasant’s coat and a pistol； and had told him that he intended to conceal his name； and to remain in Osip Alexyevitch’s house。 Then during the first day of solitude and idleness （Pierre tried several times in vain to fix his attention on the masonic manuscripts） there rose several times vaguely to his mind the idea that had occurred to him in the past of the cabalistic significance of his name in connection with the name of Bonaparte。 But the idea that he； l’russe Besuhof； was destined to put an end to the power of the Beast； had as yet only come to him as one of those dreams that flit idly through the brain； leaving no trace behind。 When after buying the peasant’s coat； simply with the object of taking part in the defence of Moscow by the people； Pierre had met the Rostovs； and Natasha said to him； “You are staying？ Ah； how splendid that is！” the idea had flashed into his mind that it really might be splendid； even if they did take Moscow； for him to remain； and to do what had been fore…told for him to do。
Next day with the simple aim of not sparing himself and not doing less than they would do； he had gone out to the Three Hills barrier。 But when he came back； convinced that Moscow would not be defended； he suddenly felt that what had only occurred to him before as a possibility had now become something necessary and inevitable。 He must remain in Moscow； concealing his name； must meet Napoleon； and kill him； so as either to perish or to put an end to the misery of all Europe； which was in Pierre’s opinion entirely due to Napoleon alone。
Pierre knew all the details of the German student’s attempt on Napoleon’s life at Vienna in 1809； and knew that that student had been shot。 And the danger to which he would be exposing his own life in carrying out his design excited him even more violently。
Two equally powerful feelings drew Pierre irresistibly to his design。 The first was the craving for sacrifice and suffering through the sense of the common calamity； the feeling that had impelled him to go to Mozhaisk on the 25th； and to place himself in the very thick of the battle； and now to run away from his own house； to give up his accustomed luxury and comfort； to sleep without undressing on a hard sofa； and to eat the same food as Gerasim。 The other was that vague and exclusively Russian feeling of contempt for everything conventional； artificial； human； for everything that is regarded by the majority of men as the highest good in the world。 Pierre had for the first time experienced that strange and fascinating feeling in the Slobodsky palace； when he suddenly felt that wealth and power and life； all that men build up and guard with such effort； is only worth anything through the joy with which it can all be cast away。
It was the same feeling that impels the volunteer…recruit to drink up his last farthing； the drunken man to smash looking…glasses and window…panes for no apparent cause； though he knows it will cost him his little all； the feeling through which a man in doing things； vulgarly speaking； senseless； as it were； proves his personal force and power； by manifesting the presence of a higher standard of judging life； outside mere human limitations。
Ever since the day when Pierre first experienced this feeling in the Slobodsky palace； he had been continually under the influence of it； but it was only now that it found full satisfaction。 Moreover at the present moment Pierre was supported in his design； and prevented from abandoning it； by the steps he had already taken in that direction。 His flight from his own house； and his disguise； and his pistol； and his statement to the Rostovs that he should remain in Moscow；—all would have been devoid of meaning； would h