" Excuse me!" he added, turning to the baron, "we will finish this conversation elsewhere--at a ball one must dance.

" He stepped forward in the direction Pierre indicated.

The despairing, dejected expression of Natasha's face caught his eye.

He recognized her, guessed her feelings, saw that it was her debut, remembered her conversation at the window, and with an expression of pleasure on his face approached Countess Rostova.

"Allow me to introduce you to my daughter," said the countess, with heightened color.