Anna Mikhaylovna touched Pierre's hand and said, "Come.

" Pierre went with her to the bed on which the sick man had been laid in a stately pose in keeping with the ceremony just completed.

He lay with his head propped high on the pillows.

His hands were symmetrically placed on the green silk quilt, the palms downward.

When Pierre came up the count was gazing straight at him, but with a look the significance of which could not be understood by mortal man.