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Helene smiled, with a look implying that she did not admit the

possibility of anyone seeing her without being enchanted. The

aunt coughed, swallowed, and said in French that she was very

pleased to see Helene, then she turned to Pierre with the same

words of welcome and the same look. In the middle of a dull and

halting conversation, Helene turned to Pierre with the beautiful

bright smile that she gave to everyone. Pierre was so used to

that smile, and it had so little meaning for him, that he paid no

attention to it. The aunt was just speaking of a collection of

snuffboxes that had belonged to Pierre's father, Count Bezukhov,

and showed them her own box. Princess Helene asked to see the

portrait of the aunt's husband on the box lid.

"That is probably the work of Vinesse," said Pierre, mentioning a

celebrated miniaturist, and he leaned over the table to take the

snuffbox while trying to hear what was being said at the other

table.