Natasha entered with a softened and agitated expression of face and sat down looking silently at Pierre. As soon as she entered, Pierre`s features, which had been gloomy, suddenly lighted up, and while still searching for the papers he glanced at her several times.

"You think so?" rejoined Anna Pavlovna in order to say something and get away to attend to her duties as hostess. But Pierre now committed a reverse act of impoliteness. First he had left a lady before she had finished speaking to him, and now he continued to speak to another who wished to get away. With his head bent, and his big feet spread apart, he began explaining his reasons for thinking the abbe`s plan chimerical.