Pagina 12 de 3800

"Do you know," he said at last, evidently unable to check the sad

current of his thoughts, "that Anatole is costing me forty

thousand rubles a year? And," he went on after a pause, "what

will it be in five years, if he goes on like this?" Presently he

added: "That's what we fathers have to put up with.... Is this

princess of yours rich?"

"Her father is very rich and stingy. He lives in the country. He

is the well-known Prince Bolkonski who had to retire from the

army under the late Emperor, and was nicknamed 'the King of

Prussia.' He is very clever but eccentric, and a bore. The poor

girl is very unhappy. She has a brother; I think you know him, he

married Lise Meinen lately. He is an aide-de-camp of Kutuzov's

and will be here tonight."