CountessRostova, withherdaughtersandalargenumberofguests, : "Hasn'tshecomeyet?" TheywereexpectingMaryaDmitrievnaAkhrosimova, knowninsocietyasleterribledragon, aladydistinguishednotforwealthorrank, , andbothcitieswonderedather, laughedprivatelyatherrudenesses, andtoldgoodstoriesabouther, whilenonethelessallwithoutexceptionrespectedandfearedher.
Inthecount'sroom, whichwasfulloftobaccosmoke, theytalkedofwarthathadbeenannouncedinamanifesto, , , butbendinghisheadfirsttoonesideandthentotheotherwatchedthesmokerswithevidentpleasureandlistenedtotheconversationofhistwoneighbors, whomheeggedonagainsteachother.
Oneofthemwasasallow, clean-shavencivilianwithathinandwrinkledface, alreadygrowingold, , havingstuckanambermouthpiecefarintohismouth,, Shinshin, acousinofthecountess', amanwith "asharptongue" , afresh, rosyofficeroftheGuards, irreproachablywashed, brushed, andbuttoned, heldhispipeinthemiddleofhismouthandwithredlipsgentlyinhaledthesmoke, , anofficerintheSemenovregimentwithwhomBoriswastotraveltojointhearmy, andaboutwhomNatashahadteasedhereldersisterVera, speakingofBergasher "intended." , acardgamehewasveryfondof, wasthatoflistener, especiallywhenhesucceededinsettingtwoloquacioustalkersatoneanother.
"Well, then, oldchap, montreshonorableAlphonseKarlovich," saidShinshin, laughingironicallyandmixingthemostordinaryRussianexpressionswiththechoicestFrenchphrases—whichwasapeculiarityofhisspeech."Vouscomptezvousfairedesrentessurl'etat;[1] youwanttomakesomethingoutofyourcompany?"
