Whiletheseconversationsweregoingoninthereceptionroomandtheprincess' room, acarriagecontainingPierre (whohadbeensentfor) andAnnaMikhaylovna (whofounditnecessarytoaccompanyhim) wasdrivingintothecourtofCountBezukhov', AnnaMikhaylovna, havingturnedwithwordsofcomforttohercompanion, , PierrefollowedAnnaMikhaylovnaoutofthecarriage, , wholookedliketradespeople, , , whocouldnothelpseeingthesepeople, tookanynoticeofthem."Itseemstobeallright," Pierreconcluded, , callingtoPierre, whowaslaggingbehind, , stilllesswhyhehadtogobythebackstairs, yetjudgingbyAnnaMikhaylovna'sairofassuranceandhaste, , carryingpails, camerunningdownstairs, .
"Isthisthewaytotheprincesses' apartments?" askedAnnaMikhaylovnaofoneofthem.
"Yes," repliedafootmaninaboldloudvoice, asifanythingwerenowpermissible; "thedoortotheleft, ma'am."
"Perhapsthecountdidnotaskforme," saidPierrewhenhereachedthelanding."I'dbettergotomyownroom."
AnnaMikhaylovnapausedandwaitedforhimtocomeup.
"Ah, myfriend!" shesaid, touchinghisarmasshehaddoneherson'swhenspeakingtohimthatafternoon, "believemeIsuffernolessthanyoudo, butbeaman!"
"Butreally, hadn'tIbettergoaway?" heasked, lookingkindlyatheroverhisspectacles.
"Ah, mydearfriend! ...perhapsintheagonyofdeath." Shesighed.", ."
Pierredidnotunderstandaword, buttheconvictionthatallthishadtobegrewstronger, andhemeeklyfollowedAnnaMikhaylovnawhowasalreadyopeningadoor.
