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"Listen, dear Annette," said the prince, suddenly taking Anna

Pavlovna's hand and for some reason drawing it downwards.

"Arrange that affair for me and I shall always be your most

devoted slave-slafe with an f, as a village elder of mine writes

in his reports. She is rich and of good family and that's all I

want."

And with the familiarity and easy grace peculiar to him, he

raised the maid of honor's hand to his lips, kissed it, and swung

it to and fro as he lay back in his armchair, looking in another

direction.

"Attendez," said Anna Pavlovna, reflecting, "I'll speak to Lise,

young Bolkonski's wife, this very evening, and perhaps the thing

can be arranged. It shall be on your family's behalf that I'll

start my apprenticeship as old maid."

CHAPTER II