“Why talk of me?” she said quietly and glanced at Natásha.

Natásha, who felt her glance, did not look at her. All three were again silent.

“André, would you like⁠ ⁠…” Princess Márya suddenly said in a trembling voice, “would you like to see Nikolúshka? He is always talking about you!”

Prince Andréy smiled just perceptibly and for the first time, but Princess Márya, who knew his face so well, saw with horror that he did not smile with pleasure or affection for his son, but with quiet, gentle irony because he thought she was trying what she believed to be the last means of arousing him.

“Yes, I shall be very glad to see him. Is he quite well?”