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"Can I see the count?" Pierre again asked.

"Hm.... If you wish to kill him, to kill him outright, you can

see him... Olga, go and see whether Uncle's beef tea is ready-it

is almost time," she added, giving Pierre to understand that they

were busy, and busy making his father comfortable, while

evidently he, Pierre, was only busy causing him annoyance.

Olga went out. Pierre stood looking at the sisters; then he bowed

and said: "Then I will go to my rooms. You will let me know when

I can see him."

And he left the room, followed by the low but ringing laughter of

the sister with the mole.

Next day Prince Vasili had arrived and settled in the count's

house. He sent for Pierre and said to him: "My dear fellow, if

you are going to behave here as you did in Petersburg, you will

end very badly; that is all I have to say to you. The count is

very, very ill, and you must not see him at all."

Since then Pierre had not been disturbed and had spent the whole

time in his rooms upstairs.