lifted his disengaged hand from the quilt； and turning away； the doctor began feeling the pulse in absorbed attention。 They gave the sick man some drink； there was a slight bustle around him； then all went back to their places and the service was continued。 During this break in the proceedings Pierre noticed that Prince Vassily moved away from his chair…back； and with that same air of being quite sure of what he was about； and of its being so much the worse for others； if they failed to understand it； he did not go up to the sick man； but passed by him and joined the eldest princess。 Then together they went away to the further end of the room to the high bedstead under the silk canopy。 When they moved away from the bed the prince and princess disappeared together by the further door； but before the end of the service they returned one after the other to their places。 Pierre paid no more attention to this circumstance than to all the rest； having once for all made up his mind that all that he saw taking place that evening must inevitably be as it was。
The sounds of the church singing ceased and the voice of the chief ecclesiastic was heard； respectfully congratulating the sick man on his reception of the mystery。 The dying man lay as lifeless and immovable as before。 Every one was moving about him； there was the sound of footsteps and of whispers； Anna Mihalovna’s whisper rising above the rest。
Pierre heard her say： “Undoubtedly he must be moved on to the bed； it’s impossible …”
The sick man was so surrounded by the doctors； the princesses and the servants； that Pierre could no longer see the reddish…yellow face with the grey mane； which he had never lost sight of for one instant during the ceremony； even though he had been watching other people too。 Pierre guessed from the cautious movements of the people about the chair that they were lifting the dying man up and moving him。
“Hold on to my arm； you’ll drop him so；” he heard the frightened whisper of one of the servants。 “Lower down … another one here；” said voices。 And their heavy breathing and hurried tread seemed to show that the weight they carried was too heavy for them。
As they passed him—Anna Mihalovna among them—the young man caught a glimpse over people’s backs and necks of the great muscular open chest； the grey； curly； leonine head； and the massive shoulders of the sick man； which were pushed up； as he was supported under the armpits。 His head； with its extraordinarily broad brow and cheek…bones； its beautiful sensual mouth； and haughty； cold eyes； was not disfigured by the proximity of death。 It was just the same as Pierre had seen it three months before； when his father had been sending him off to Petersburg。 But the head swayed helplessly with the jerky steps of the bearers； and the cold； apathetic eyes did not know on what to rest。
They were busy for several minutes round the high bed； then the people； who had moved the count； dispersed。 Anna Mihalovna touched Pierre’s arm and said； “Come along。” With her Pierre approached the bed； on which the sick man had been laid in a ceremonial position in keeping with the sacred rite that had just been performed。 He was lying with his head propped high on the pillows。 His hands were laid symmetrically on the green silk quilt with the palms turned downwards。 When Pierre came up； the count looked straight at him； but he looked at him with a gaze the intent and significance of which no man could fathom。 Either these eyes said nothing； but simply looked because as eyes they must look at something； or they said too much。 Pierre stopped； not knowing what he was to do； and looked inquiringly at his monitress。 Anna Mihalovna gave him a hurried glance； with a gesture indicating the sick man’s hand and with her lips wafting towards it a phantom kiss。 Pierre did as he was bid； and carefully craning his neck to avoid entanglement with the quilt； kissed the broad…boned； muscular hand。 There was not the faintest stir in the hand； nor in any muscle of the count’s face。 Pierre again looked inquiringly at Anna Mihalovna to learn what he was to do now。 Anna Mihalovna glanced towards the armchair that stood beside the bed。 Pierre proceeded obediently to sit down there； his eyes still inquiring whether he had done the right thing。 Anna Mihalovna nodded approvingly。 Again Pierre fell into the na？vely symmetrical pose of an Egyptian statue； obviously distressed that his ungainly person took up so much room； and doing his utmost to look as small as possible。 He looked at the count。 The count still gazed at the spot where Pierre’s face had been； when he was standing up。 Anna Mihalovna’s attitude evinced her consciousness of the touching gravity of this last meeting between father and son。 It lasted for two minutes； which seemed to Pierre an hour。 Suddenly a shudder passed over the thick muscles and furrows of the count’s face。 The shudder grew more intense； the beautiful mouth was contorted （it was only then that Pierre grasped how near death his father was） and from the contorted mouth there came a husky； muffled sound。 Anna Mihalovna looked intently at the sick man’s mouth； and trying to guess what he wanted； pointed first to Pierre； then to some drink； then in an inquiring whisper she mentioned the name of Prince Vassily； then pointed to the quilt。 The eyes and face of the sick man showed impatience。 He made an effort to glance at the servant； who never moved away from the head of his bed。
“His excellency wants to be turned over on the other side；” whispered the servant； and he got up to turn the heavy body of the count facing the wall。
Pierre stood up to help the servant。
While the count was being turned over； one of his arms dragged helplessly behind； and he made a vain effort to pull it after him。 Whether the count noticed the face of horror with which Pierre looked at that lifeless arm； or whether some other idea passed through his dying brain； he looked at the refractory arm； at the expression of horror on Pierre’s face； again at his arm； and a smile came on his face； strangely out of keeping with its features； a weak； suffering smile； which seemed mocking at his own helplessness。 Suddenly； at the sight of that smile； Pierre felt a lump in his throat and a tickling in his nose； and tears dimmed his eyes。 The sick man was turned towards the wall。 He sighed。
“He has fallen into a doze；” said Anna Mihalovna； noticing the princess coming to take her turn by the bedside。 “Let us go。”
Pierre went out。
Chapter 21
THERE WAS by now no one in the reception…room except Prince Vassily and the eldest princess； who were in eager conversation together； sitting under the portrait of Catherine。 They were mute at once on seeing Pierre and his companion； and the princess concealed something as Pierre fancied and murmured： “I can’t stand the sight of that woman。”
“Katish has had tea served in the little drawing…room；” Prince Vassily said to Anna Mihalovna。 “Go； my poor Anna Mihalovna； take something or you will not hold out。”
To Pierre he said nothing； he simply pressed his arm sympathetically。 Pierre and Anna Mihalovna went on into the little drawing…room。
“There is nothing so reviving as a cup of this excellent Russian tea； after a sleepless night；” said Lorrain with an air of restrained briskness； sipping it out of a delicate china cup without a handle； as he stood in the little circular drawing…room close to a table laid with tea…things and cold supper…dishes。 All who were in Count Bezuhov’s house on that night had； with a view to fortifying themselves； gathered around the table。 Pierre remembered well that little circular drawing…room with its mirrors and little tables。 When there had been balls in the count’s house； Pierre； who could not dance； had liked sitting in that little room full of mirrors； watching the ladies in ball…dresses with pearls and diamonds on their bare shoulders； as they crossed that room and looked at themselves in the brightly lighted mirrors that repeated their reflections several times。 Now the same room was dimly lighted with two candles； and in the middle of the night the tea…set and supper…dishes stood in disorder on one of the little tables； and heterogeneous； plainly dressed persons were sitting at it； whispering together； and showing in every word that no one could forget what was passing at that moment and what was still to come in the bedroom。 Pierre did not eat anything； though he felt very much inclined to。 He looked round inquiringly towards his monitress； and perceived that she had gone out again on tiptoe into the reception…room where Prince Vassily had remained with the eldest princess。 Pierre supposed that this too was an inevitable part of the proceedings； and； after a little delay； he followed her。 Anna Mihalovna was standing beside the princess； and they were both talking at once in excited tones。
“Allow me； madam； to know what is and what is not to be done；” said the princess； who was apparently in the same exasperated temper as she had been when she slammed the door of her room。
“But； dear princess；” Anna Mihalovna was saying mildly and persuasively； blocking up the way towards the bedroom and not letting the princess pass。 “Would that not be too great a tax on poor uncle at such a moment； when he needs repose？ At such moments to talk of worldly matters when his soul is already prepared …”
Prince Vassily was sitting in a low chair in his habitual attitude； with one leg crossed high above the other。 His cheeks were twitching violently； and when they relaxed； they looked heavier below； but he wore the air of a man little interested in the two ladies’ discussion。
“No； my dear Anna Mihalovna； let Katish act on her own discretion。 You know how the count loves her。”
“I don’t even know what is in this document；” said the princess； addressing Prince Vassily； and pointing to the inlaid portfolio which she held in her hand。 “All I know is that the real will is in the bureau； and this is a paper that has been forgotten。 …”
She tried to get round Anna Mihalovna； but the latter； with another little skip； barred her way again。
“I know； dear； sweet princess；” said Anna Mihalovna； taking hold of the portfolio； and so firmly that it was clear she would not