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"Well, my dear fellow, tomorrow we are off at last," said Prince

Vasili one day, closing his eyes and fingering Pierre's elbow,

speaking as if he were saying something which had long since been

agreed upon and could not now be altered. "We start tomorrow and

I'm giving you a place in my carriage. I am very glad. All our

important business here is now settled, and I ought to have been

off long ago. Here is something I have received from the

chancellor. I asked him for you, and you have been entered in the

diplomatic corps and made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber. The

diplomatic career now lies open before you."

Notwithstanding the tone of wearied assurance with which these

words were pronounced, Pierre, who had so long been considering

his career, wished to make some suggestion. But Prince Vasili

interrupted him in the special deep cooing tone, precluding the

possibility of interrupting his speech, which he used in extreme

cases when special persuasion was needed.