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"You at least must tackle him properly, or else if he goes on

like this he'll soon have us, too, for his subjects! How are

you?" And he held out his cheek.

The old man was in a good temper after his nap before dinner. (He

used to say that a nap "after dinner was silver-before dinner,

golden.") He cast happy, sidelong glances at his son from under

his thick, bushy eyebrows. Prince Andrew went up and kissed his

father on the spot indicated to him. He made no reply on his

father's favorite topic-making fun of the military men of the

day, and more particularly of Bonaparte.

"Yes, Father, I have come to you and brought my wife who is

pregnant," said Prince Andrew, following every movement of his

father's face with an eager and respectful look. "How is your

health?"

"Only fools and rakes fall ill, my boy. You know me: I am busy

from morning till night and abstemious, so of course I am well."

"Thank God," said his son smiling.