About ten o'clock Rostov went to the English Hotel straight from the theater, where he had been with his family and Denisov.

He was at once shown to the best room, which Dolokhov had taken for that evening.

Some twenty men were gathered round a table at which Dolokhov sat between two candles.

On the table was a pile of gold and paper money, and he was keeping the bank.

Rostov had not seen him since his proposal and Sonya's refusal and felt uncomfortable at the thought of how they would meet.