Prince Vasili, with one leg thrown high over the other and a snuffbox in his hand, was sitting there with a smile of deep emotion on his face, as if stirred to his heart's core and himself regretting and laughing at his own sensibility, when Princess Mary entered.

He hurriedly took a pinch of snuff.

"Ah, my dear, my dear!" he began, rising and taking her by both hands.

Then, sighing, he added: "My son's fate is in your hands.