Pagina 242 de 3800

"There is nothing so refreshing after a sleepless night as a cup

of this delicious Russian tea," Lorrain was saying with an air of

restrained animation as he stood sipping tea from a delicate

Chinese handleless cup before a table on which tea and a cold

supper were laid in the small circular room. Around the table all

who were at Count Bezukhov's house that night had gathered to

fortify themselves. Pierre well remembered this small circular

drawing room with its mirrors and little tables. During balls

given at the house Pierre, who did not know how to dance, had

liked sitting in this room to watch the ladies who, as they

passed through in their ball dresses with diamonds and pearls on

their bare shoulders, looked at themselves in the brilliantly

lighted mirrors which repeated their reflections several times.

Now this same room was dimly lighted by two candles.