Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace

BOOK ELEVEN: 1812 7. CHAPTER VII (continued)

By the beginning of August Helene's affairs were clearly defined and she wrote a letter to her husband- who, as she imagined, loved her very much- informing him of her intention to marry N.N. and of her having embraced the one true faith, and asking him to carry out all the formalities necessary for a divorce, which would be explained to him by the bearer of the letter.

And so I pray God to have you, my friend, in His holy and powerful keeping- Your friend Helene.

This letter was brought to Pierre's house when he was on the field of Borodino.