InthehighestspiritsNicholasarrivedatnightatahotelinVoronezh, orderedthingshehadlongbeendeprivedofincamp, andnextday, veryclean-shavenandinafull-dressuniformhehadnotwornforalongtime, wenttopresenthimselftotheauthorities.
Thecommanderofthemilitiawasaciviliangeneral, (imaginingthistobecharacteristicallymilitary) andquestionedhimwithanimportantair, .
, , recommendedtohimahorsedealerinthetownandalandownerfourteenmilesoutoftownwhohadthebesthorses, andpromisedtoassisthimineveryway.
"YouareCountIlyaRostov'sson? Mywifewasagreatfriendofyourmother'—todayisThursday, sopleasecomeandseeusquiteinformally," saidthegovernor, takingleaveofhim.
Immediatelyonleavingthegovernor's, Nicholashiredposthorsesand, takinghissquadronquartermasterwithhim, droveatagalloptothelandowner, fourteenmilesaway, , asusuallyhappenswhenamanisinapleasantstateofmind, everythingwentwellandeasily.
ThelandownertowhomNicholaswentwasabachelor, anoldcavalryman, ahorsefancier, asportsman, thepossessorofsomecentury-oldbrandyandsomeoldHungarianwine, whohadasnuggerywherehesmoked, andwhoownedsomesplendidhorses.
InveryfewwordsNicholasboughtseventeenpickedstallionsforsixthousandrubles—toserve, ashesaid, , Nicholas—havingexchangedkisseswiththelandowner, withwhomhewasalreadyonthefriendliestterms—gallopedbackoverabominableroads, inthebrightestframeofmind, continuallyurgingonthedriversoastobeintimeforthegovernor'sparty.
