The governor’s wife led him up to a tall and very stout old lady with a blue headdress, who had just finished her game of cards with the most important personages of the town. This was Malvíntseva, Princess Márya’s aunt on her mother’s side, a rich, childless widow who always lived in Vorónezh. When Rostóv approached her she was standing settling up for the game. She looked at him and, screwing up her eyes sternly, continued to upbraid the general who had won from her.

“Very pleased, mon cher ,” she then said, holding out her hand to Nikoláy. “Pray come and see me.”

After a few words about Princess Márya and her late father, whom Malvíntseva had evidently not liked, and having asked what Nikoláy knew of Prince Andréy, who also was evidently no favorite of hers, the important old lady dismissed Nikoláy after repeating her invitation to come to see her.