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Pierre went in； stepping on to the soft carpet； and noticed that the adjutant and the unknown lady and some servants too； all followed him in； as though there were no need now to ask permission to enter that room。
Chapter 20
PIERRE KNEW WELL that great room； divided by columns and an arch； and carpeted with Persian rugs。 The part of the room behind the columns； where on one side there stood a high mahogany bedstead with silken hangings； and on the other a huge case of holy pictures； was brightly and decoratively lighted up； as churches are lighted for evening service。 Under the gleaming ornamentation of the case stood a long invalid chair； and in the chair； on snow…white； uncrumpled； freshly changed pillows； covered to the waist with a bright green quilt； Pierre recognised the majestic figure of his father； Count Bezuhov； with the grey shock of hair like a lion’s mane over his broad forehead； and the characteristically aristocratic； deep lines on his handsome； reddish…yellow face。 He was lying directly under the holy pictures： both his great stout arms were lying on the quilt。 In his right hand； which lay with the palm downwards； a wax candle had been thrust between the thumb and forefinger； and an old servant bending down over the chair held it in it。 About the chair stood the clergy in their shining ceremonial vestments； with their long hair pulled out over them。 They held lighted candles in their hands； and were performing the service with deliberate solemnity。 A little behind them stood the two younger princesses holding handkerchiefs to their eyes； and in front of them the eldest； Katish； stood with a vindictive and determined air； never for an instant taking her eyes off the holy image； as though she were declaring to all that she would not answer for herself； if she were to look around。 Anna Mihalovna with a countenance of meek sorrow and forgiveness stood at the door with the unknown lady。 Prince Vassily was standing close to the invalid chair on the other side of the door。 He had drawn a carved； velvet chair up to him； and was leaning on the back of it with his left hand； in which he held a candle； while with his right he crossed himself； turning his eyes upwards every time as he put his finger to his forehead。 His face expressed quiet piety and submission to the will of God。 “If you don’t understand such feelings； so much the worse for you；” his face seemed to say。
Behind him stood the adjutant； the doctors； and the men…servants； the men and the women had separated as though they were in church。 All were silently crossing themselves； nothing was audible but the reading of the service； the subdued； deep bass singing； and in the intervals of silence sighs could be heard and the shuffling of feet。 With a significant air； which showed she knew what she was about； Anna Mihalovna walked right across the room to Pierre and gave him a candle。 He lighted it； and absorbed in watching the people around him； he absent…mindedly crossed himself with the hand in which he held the candle。 The youngest princess； Sophie； the rosy； laughing one with the mole； was looking at him。 She smiled； hid her face in her handkerchief； and for a long while did not uncover it。 But looking at Pierre again； again she laughed。 She was apparently unable to look at him without laughing； but could not resist looking at him； and to be out of temptation； she softly moved behind a column。 In the middle of the service the voices of the priests suddenly ceased； and they whispered something to one another。 The old servant； who was holding the count’s hand； got up and turned to the ladies。 Anna Mihalovna stepped forward and； stooping over the sick man； she beckoned behind her back to Lorrain。 The French doctor had been leaning against the column without a candle； in the respectful attitude of the foreigner； who would show that in spite of the difference of religion he comprehends all the solemnity of the ceremony and even approves of it。 With the noiseless steps of a man in full vigour of his age； he went up to the sick man。 His delicate； white fingers lifted his disengaged hand from the quilt； and turning away； the doctor began feeling the pulse in absorbed attention。 They gave the sick man some drink； there was a slight bustle around him； then all went back to their places and the service was continued。 During this break in the proceedings Pierre noticed that Prince Vassily moved away from his chair…back； and with that same air of being quite sure of what he was about； and of its being so much the worse for others； if they failed to understand it； he did not go up to the sick man； but passed by him and joined the eldest princess。 Then together they went away to the further end of the room to the high bedstead under the silk canopy。 When they moved away from the bed the prince and princess disappeared together by the further door； but before the end of the service they returned one after the other to their places。 Pierre paid no more attention to this circumstance than to all the rest； having once for all made up his mind that all that he saw taking place that evening must inevitably be as it was。
The sounds of the church singing ceased and the voice of the chief ecclesiastic was heard； respectfully congratulating the sick man on his reception of the mystery。 The dying man lay as lifeless and immovable as before。 Every one was moving about him； there was the sound of footsteps and of whispers； Anna Mihalovna’s whisper rising above the rest。
Pierre heard her say： “Undoubtedly he must be moved on to the bed； it’s impossible …”
The sick man was so surrounded by the doctors； the princesses and the servants； that Pierre could no longer see the reddish…yellow face with the grey mane； which he had never lost sight of for one instant during the ceremony； even though he had been watching other people too。 Pierre guessed from the cautious movements of the people about the chair that they were lifting the dying man up and moving him。
“Hold on to my arm； you’ll drop him so；” he heard the frightened whisper of one of the servants。 “Lower down … another one here；” said voices。 And their heavy breathing and hurried tread seemed to show that the weight they carried was too heavy for them。
As they passed him—Anna Mihalovna among them—the young man caught a glimpse over people’s backs and necks of the great muscular open chest； the grey； curly； leonine head； and the massive shoulders of the sick man； which were pushed up； as he was supported under the armpits。 His head； with its extraordinarily broad brow and cheek…bones； its beautiful sensual mouth； and haughty； cold eyes； was not disfigured by the proximity of death。 It was just the same as Pierre had seen it three months before； when his father had been sending him off to Petersburg。 But the head swayed helplessly with the jerky steps of the bearers； and the cold； apathetic eyes did not know on what to rest。
They were busy for several minutes round the high bed； then the people； who had moved the count； dispersed。 Anna Mihalovna touched Pierre’s arm and said； “Come along。” With her Pierre approached the bed； on which the sick man had been laid in a ceremonial position in keeping with the sacred