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"Then they've not gone to bed yet? What do you think? Mind now,

don't forget to put out my new coat," added Rostov, fingering his

new mustache. "Now then, get on," he shouted to the driver. "Do

wake up, Vaska!" he went on, turning to Denisov, whose head was

again nodding. "Come, get on! You shall have three rubles for

vodka-get on!" Rostov shouted, when the sleigh was only three

houses from his door. It seemed to him the horses were not moving

at all. At last the sleigh bore to the right, drew up at an

entrance, and Rostov saw overhead the old familiar cornice with a

bit of plaster broken off, the porch, and the post by the side of

the pavement. He sprang out before the sleigh stopped, and ran

into the hall. The house stood cold and silent, as if quite

regardless of who had come to it. There was no one in the hall.

"Oh God!