Pagina 231 di 3800

Behind him stood the aide-de-camp, the doctors, and the

menservants; the men and women had separated as in church. All

were silently crossing themselves, and the reading of the church

service, the subdued chanting of deep bass voices, and in the

intervals sighs and the shuffling of feet were the only sounds

that could be heard. Anna Mikhaylovna, with an air of importance

that showed that she felt she quite knew what she was about, went

across the room to where Pierre was standing and gave him a

taper. He lit it and, distracted by observing those around him,

began crossing himself with the hand that held the taper.