CHAPTER III

　　CHAPTER III

　　Old Prince Nicholas Bolkonski received a letter from Prince Vasiliin November, 1805, announcing that he and his son would be payinghim a visit. "I am starting on a journey of inspection, and ofcourse I shall think nothing of an extra seventy miles to come and seeyou at the same time, my honored benefactor," wrote Prince Vasili. "Myson Anatole is accompanying me on his way to the army, so I hope youwill allow him personally to express the deep respect that,emulating his father, he feels for you."

　　"It seems that there will be no need to bring Mary out, suitorsare coming to us of their own accord," incautiously remarked thelittle princess on hearing the news.

　　Prince Nicholas frowned, but said nothing.

　　A fortnight after the letter Prince Vasili's servants came oneevening in advance of him, and he and his son arrived next day.

　　Old Bolkonski had always had a poor opinion of Prince Vasili'scharacter, but more so recently, since in the new reigns of Paul andAlexander Prince Vasili had risen to high position and honors. Andnow, from the hints contained in his letter and given by the littleprincess, he saw which way the wind was blowing, and his low opinionchanged into a feeling of contemptuous ill will. He snorted wheneverhe mentioned him. On the day of Prince Vasili's arrival, PrinceBolkonski was particularly discontented and out of temper. Whetherhe was in a bad temper because Prince Vasili was coming, or whetherhis being in a bad temper made him specially annoyed at PrinceVasili's visit, he was in a bad temper, and in the morning Tikhonhad already advised the architect not to go the prince with hisreport.

　　"Do you hear how he's walking?" said Tikhon, drawing the architect'sattention to the sound of the prince's footsteps. "Stepping flat onhis heels- we know what that means...."

　　However, at nine o'clock the prince, in his velvet coat with a sablecollar and cap, went out for his usual walk. It had snowed the daybefore and the path to the hothouse, along which the prince was in thehabit of walking, had been swept: the marks of the broom were stillvisible in the snow and a shovel had been left sticking in one ofthe soft snowbanks that bordered both sides of the path. The princewent through the conservatories, the serfs' quarters, and theoutbuildings, frowning and silent.