Two officers with flushed faces, looking cheerful and happy, passed by Rostov.

"What d'you think of the treat? All on silver plate," one of them was saying.

" Have you seen Lazarev?" "I have.

" "Tomorrow, I hear, the Preobrazhenskis will give them a dinner.

" "Yes, but what luck for Lazarev! Twelve hundred francs' pension for life.