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Pierre at the age of ten had been sent abroad with an abbe as

tutor, and had remained away till he was twenty. When he returned

to Moscow his father dismissed the abbe and said to the young

man, "Now go to Petersburg, look round, and choose your

profession. I will agree to anything. Here is a letter to Prince

Vasili, and here is money. Write to me all about it, and I will

help you in everything." Pierre had already been choosing a

career for three months, and had not decided on anything. It was

about this choice that Prince Andrew was speaking. Pierre rubbed

his forehead.

"But he must be a Freemason," said he, referring to the abbe whom

he had met that evening.

"That is all nonsense." Prince Andrew again interrupted him, "let

us talk business. Have you been to the Horse Guards?"