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On one small table tea things and supper dishes stood in

disorder, and in the middle of the night a motley throng of

people sat there, not merrymaking, but somberly whispering, and

betraying by every word and movement that they none of them

forgot what was happening and what was about to happen in the

bedroom. Pierre did not eat anything though he would very much

have liked to. He looked inquiringly at his monitress and saw

that she was again going on tiptoe to the reception room where

they had left Prince Vasili and the eldest princess. Pierre

concluded that this also was essential, and after a short

interval followed her. Anna Mikhaylovna was standing beside the

princess, and they were both speaking in excited whispers.

"Permit me, Princess, to know what is necessary and what is not

necessary," said the younger of the two speakers, evidently in

the same state of excitement as when she had slammed the door of

her room.