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When he entered, Prince Andrew, his eyes drooping contemptuously

(with that peculiar expression of polite weariness which plainly

says, "If it were not my duty I would not talk to you for a

moment"), was listening to an old Russian general with

decorations, who stood very erect, almost on tiptoe, with a

soldier's obsequious expression on his purple face, reporting

something.

"Very well, then, be so good as to wait," said Prince Andrew to

the general, in Russian, speaking with the French intonation he

affected when he wished to speak contemptuously, and noticing

Boris, Prince Andrew, paying no more heed to the general who ran

after him imploring him to hear something more, nodded and turned

to him with a cheerful smile.