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The elderly lady was a Princess Drubetskaya, belonging to one of

the best families in Russia, but she was poor, and having long

been out of society had lost her former influential connections.

She had now come to Petersburg to procure an appointment in the

Guards for her only son. It was, in fact, solely to meet Prince

Vasili that she had obtained an invitation to Anna Pavlovna's

reception and had sat listening to the vicomte's story. Prince

Vasili's words frightened her, an embittered look clouded her

once handsome face, but only for a moment; then she smiled again

and clutched Prince Vasili's arm more tightly.