son his hand to kiss, and embraced him. > “Remember this, Prince Andréy, if they kill you it will hurt me, your old father …” he paused unexpectedly, and then in a querulous voice suddenly shrieked: > “but if I hear that you have not behaved like a son of Nikoláy Bolkónski, I shall
“You need not have said that to me, Father,” said the son with a smile.
The old man was silent.
“I also wanted to ask you,” continued Prince Andréy, “if I’m killed and if I have a son, do not let him be taken away from you—as I said yesterday … let him grow up with you. … Please.”
“Not let the wife have him?” said the old man, and laughed.
They stood silent, facing one another. The old man’s sharp eyes were fixed straight on