The old prince disputed it chaffingly, but without getting angry.

"Drain the blood from men's veins and put in water instead, then there will be no more war! Old women's nonsense--old women's nonsense!" he repeated, but still he patted Pierre affectionately on the shoulder, and then went up to the table where Prince Andrew, evidently not wishing to join in the conversation, was looking over the papers his father had brought from town.

The old prince went up to him and began to talk business.

"The marshal, a Count Rostov, hasn't sent half his contingent.

He came to town and wanted to invite me to dinner--I gave him a pretty dinner!... And there, look at this....