Pagina 602 van 3800

More than anyone else, Prince Vasili took possession of Pierre's

affairs and of Pierre himself in those early days. From the death

of Count Bezukhov he did not let go his hold of the lad. He had

the air of a man oppressed by business, weary and suffering, who

yet would not, for pity's sake, leave this helpless youth who,

after all, was the son of his old friend and the possessor of

such enormous wealth, to the caprice of fate and the designs of

rogues. During the few days he spent in Moscow after the death of

Count Bezukhov, he would call Pierre, or go to him himself, and

tell him what ought to be done in a tone of weariness and

assurance, as if he were adding every time: "You know I am

overwhelmed with business and it is purely out of charity that I

trouble myself about you, and you also know quite well that what

I propose is the only thing possible."