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Berg put on the cleanest of coats, without a spot or speck of

dust, stood before a looking glass and brushed the hair on his

temples upwards, in the way affected by the Emperor Alexander,

and, having assured himself from the way Rostov looked at it that

his coat had been noticed, left the room with a pleasant smile.

"Oh dear, what a beast I am!" muttered Rostov, as he read the

letter.

"Why?"

"Oh, what a pig I am, not to have written and to have given them

such a fright! Oh, what a pig I am!" he repeated, flushing

suddenly. "Well, have you sent Gabriel for some wine? All right

let's have some!"

In the letter from his parents was enclosed a letter of

recommendation to Bagration which the old countess at Anna

Mikhaylovna's advice had obtained through an acquaintance and

sent to her son, asking him to take it to its destination and

make use of it.

"What nonsense! Much I need it!" said Rostov, throwing the letter

under the table.

"Why have you thrown that away?" asked Boris.