"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 wigh 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."