Prince Andrew looked sternly at her and an expression of anger suddenly came over his face.

He said nothing to her but looked at her forehead and hair, without looking at her eyes, with such contempt that the Frenchwoman blushed and went away without a word.

When he reached his sister's room his wife was already awake and her merry voice, hurrying one word after another, came through the open door.

She was speaking as usual in French, and as if after long self-restraint she wished to make up for lost time.

"No, but imagine the old Countess Zubova, with false curls and her mouth full of false teeth, as if she were trying to cheat old age....