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"I know, I know," answered Prince Vasili in his monotonous voice.

"I never could understand how Nataly made up her mind to marry

that unlicked bear! A perfectly absurd and stupid fellow, and a

gambler too, I am told."

"But a very kind man, Prince," said Anna Mikhaylovna with a

pathetic smile, as though she too knew that Count Rostov deserved

this censure, but asked him not to be too hard on the poor old

man. "What do the doctors say?" asked the princess after a pause,

her worn face again expressing deep sorrow.

"They give little hope," replied the prince.

"And I should so like to thank Uncle once for all his kindness to

me and Boris. He is his godson," she added, her tone suggesting

that this fact ought to give Prince Vasili much satisfaction.

Prince Vasili became thoughtful and frowned. Anna Mikhaylovna saw

that he was afraid of finding in her a rival for Count Bezukhov's

fortune, and hastened to reassure him.