[By Joseph Alexeevich's advice Pierre had entered the service of the state and served on one of the committees.

] Returned home for dinner and dined alone--the countess had many visitors I do not like.

I ate and drank moderately and after dinner copied out some passages for the Brothers.

In the evening I went down to the countess and told a funny story about B.

, and only remembered that I ought not to have done so when everybody laughed loudly at it.