War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide

A quick chapter centering on the emotions of Countess Natasha Rostova. Once Anna Mikhaylovna Drubetskaya left for the Bezukhov estate, Natasha becomes sentimental. Anna’s message, whether intended or not, affects her deeply. The Countess decides to help her childhood friend and not make Anna pursue a bequeathment from the sickly Count Bezukov who may be in no position to distribute anything. The Countess summons her husband through a servant and the good-natured Illya quickly answers. He is dripping from the fancy duck sauté his serf Taras is making for the extravagant dinner that lies ahead. Ilya notes that the 1000 rubles he paid for Taras was well worth it! The serf is a Russian who trained under a French chief. This "1000" ruble reference is likely a signal for what comes next -- the amount Natasha will give to her friend to set her son Boris on a noble path.Boris needs 500 rubles to properly enter his position with the Imperial Guard. His mother (Anna) simply doesn’t have it. As far as disposable