AtthatverytimePrinceAndrewwassittingwithPierreandtellinghimofhisloveforNatashaandhisfirmresolvetomakeherhiswife.
, andaforeignprinceofthebloodwhohadoflatebecomeafrequentvisitorofhers, , whohadcomedownstairs, walkedthroughtheroomsandstruckeveryonebyhispreoccupied, absent-minded, andmoroseair.
, Pierrehadunexpectedlybeenmadeagentlemanofthebedchamber, andfromthattimehehadbeguntofeeloppressedandashamedincourtsociety, ', andaboutNatashaandPrinceAndrew; andagaineverythingseemedtohiminsignificantincomparisonwitheternity; againthequestion: forwhat? presenteditself; andheforcedhimselftoworkdayandnightatmasoniclabors, , afterhehadleftthecountess' apartments, hewassittingupstairsinashabbydressinggown, copyingouttheoriginaltransactionoftheScottishlodgeofFreemasonsatatableinhislowroomcloudywithtobaccosmoke, .
"Ah, it'syou!" saidPierrewithapreoccupied, dissatisfiedair."AndI, yousee, amhardatit." Hepointedtohismanuscriptbookwiththatairofescapingfromtheillsoflifewithwhichunhappypeoplelookattheirwork.
PrinceAndrew, withabeaming, ecstaticexpressionofrenewedlifeonhisface, pausedinfrontofPierreand, notnoticinghissadlook, smiledathimwiththeegotismofjoy.
"Well, dearheart," saidhe, ", myfriend!"
SuddenlyPierreheavedadeepsighanddumpedhisheavypersondownonthesofabesidePrinceAndrew.
"WithNatashaRostova, yes?" saidhe.
