They put questions and gave brief replies about things they knew ought to be talked over at length.

At last the conversation gradually settled on some of the topics at first lightly touched on: their past life, plans for the future, Pierre's journeys and occupations, the war, and so on.

The preoccupation and despondency which Pierre had noticed in his friend's look was now still more clearly expressed in the smile with which he listened to Pierre, especially when he spoke with joyful animation of the past or the future.

It was as if Prince Andrew would have liked to sympathize with what Pierre was saying, but could not.