Seite 644 von 3800

A fortnight after the letter Prince Vasili's servants came one

evening in advance of him, and he and his son arrived next day.

Old Bolkonski had always had a poor opinion of Prince Vasili's

character, but more so recently, since in the new reigns of Paul

and Alexander Prince Vasili had risen to high position and

honors. And now, from the hints contained in his letter and given

by the little princess, he saw which way the wind was blowing,

and his low opinion changed into a feeling of contemptuous ill

will. He snorted whenever he mentioned him. On the day of Prince

Vasili's arrival, Prince Bolkonski was particularly discontented

and out of temper. Whether he was in a bad temper because Prince

Vasili was coming, or whether his being in a bad temper made him

specially annoyed at Prince Vasili's visit, he was in a bad

temper, and in the morning Tikhon had already advised the

architect not to go to the prince with his report.