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The news of Count Bezukhov's death reached us before your letter

and my father was much affected by it. He says the count was the

last representative but one of the great century, and that it is

his own turn now, but that he will do all he can to let his turn

come as late as possible. God preserve us from that terrible

misfortune!

I cannot agree with you about Pierre, whom I knew as a child. He

always seemed to me to have an excellent heart, and that is the

quality I value most in people. As to his inheritance and the

part played by Prince Vasili, it is very sad for both. Ah, my

dear friend, our divine Saviour's words, that it is easier for a

camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to

enter the Kingdom of God, are terribly true. I pity Prince Vasili

but am still more sorry for Pierre. So young, and burdened with

such riches-to what temptations he will be exposed! If I were

asked what I desire most on earth, it would be to be poorer than

the poorest beggar. A thousand thanks, dear friend, for the

volume you have sent me and which has such success in Moscow. Yet

since you tell me that among some good things it contains others

which our weak human understanding cannot grasp, it seems to me

rather useless to spend time in reading what is unintelligible

and can therefore bear no fruit.