‘I hardly dared to hope—’

"England is done for," said he, scowling and pointing his finger at someone unseen. "Mr. Pitt, as a traitor to the nation and to the rights of man, is sentenced to..." But before Pierrewho at that moment imagined himself to be Napoleon in person and to have just effected the dangerous crossing of the Straits of Dover and captured Londoncould pronounce Pitt`s sentence, he saw a well-built and handsome young officer entering his room. Pierre paused. He had left Moscow when Boris was a boy of fourteen, and had quite forgotten him, but in his usual impulsive and hearty way he took Boris by the hand with a friendly smile.