He well remembered that seven afterwards.

He laid down the seven of hearts, on which with a broken bit of chalk he had written "800 rubles" in clear upright figures; he emptied the glass of warm champagne that was handed him, smiled at Dolokhov's words, and with a sinking heart, waiting for a seven to turn up, gazed at Dolokhov's hands which held the pack.

Much depended on Rostov's winning or losing on that seven of hearts.

On the previous Sunday the old count had given his son two thousand rubles, and though he always disliked speaking of money difficulties had told Nicholas that this was all he could let him have till May, and asked him to be more economical this time.

Nicholas had replied that it would be more than enough for him and that he gave his word of honor not to take anything more till the spring.