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He now approached the sick man with the noiseless step of one in

full vigor of life, with his delicate white fingers raised from

the green quilt the hand that was free, and turning sideways felt

the pulse and reflected a moment. The sick man was given

something to drink, there was a stir around him, then the people

resumed their places and the service continued. During this

interval Pierre noticed that Prince Vasili left the chair on

which he had been leaning, and-with an air which intimated that

he knew what he was about and if others did not understand him it

was so much the worse for them-did not go up to the dying man,

but passed by him, joined the eldest princess, and moved with her

to the side of the room where stood the high bedstead with its

silken hangings. On leaving the bed both Prince Vasili and the

princess passed out by a back door, but returned to their places

one after the other before the service was concluded.