Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER XVII

After Anna (a woman's name — Anna Pávlovna Schérer and others) Mikháylovna (a patronymic — daughter of Michael) had driven off with her son to visit Count Cyril Vladímirovich (a patronymic — son of Vladímir) Bezúkhov (the family name of Pierre, the novel's hero), Countess (a count's wife) Rostóva (a lady of the Rostóv family) sat for a long time all alone applying her handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes) to her eyes. At last she rang.

“What is the matter with you, my dear?” she said crossly (in a bad temper) to the maid (a girl servant) who kept her waiting some minutes. “Don’t you wish to serve me? Then I’ll find you another place.”

The countess (a count's wife) was upset by her friend’s sorrow (deep sadness) and humiliating (shaming) poverty (being poor), and was therefore out of sorts, a state (state: ceremony; pomp — the old sense here) of mind which with her always found expression in calling her maid (a girl servant) “my dear” and speaking to her with exaggerated (blown up beyond truth) politeness (good manners).

“I am very sorry, ma’am,” answered the maid (a girl servant).

“Ask the count to come to me.”

The count came waddling (to walk with a rolling sway) in to see his wife with a rather guilty look as usual.

“Well, little countess (a count's wife)? What a sauté (a dish fried in butter — French) of game au madère (Madeira wine — French) we are to have, my dear! I tasted it. The thousand rubles (the Russian unit of money) I paid for Tarás (the count's prized serf cook) were not ill-spent (badly spent). He is worth it!”

He sat down by his wife, his elbows (the arm's joint) on his knees (the leg's middle joint) and his hands ruffling (a gathered frill at the neck) his gray (the color between black and white) hair.

“What are your commands, little countess (a count's wife)?”

“You see, my dear... What’s that mess?” she said, pointing to his waistcoat (a vest worn under the coat). “It’s the sauté (a dish fried in butter — French), most likely,” she added with a smile. “Well, you see, Count, I want some money.”

Her face became sad.

“Oh, little countess (a count's wife)!” ... and the count began bustling (hurried stir and fuss) to get out his pocketbook (a small carrying book).

“I want a great deal, Count! I want five hundred rubles (the Russian unit of money),” and taking out her cambric (fine white linen) handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes) she began wiping (to rub clean) her husband’s waistcoat (a vest worn under the coat).

“Yes, immediately, immediately! Hey, who’s there?” he called out in a tone (a sound's quality; a manner) only used (use: habit; custom — the old sense here) by persons who are certain that those they call will rush (to move with violent haste) to obey (to do as ordered) the summons (to call to come). “Send Dmítri (the Rostóvs' man of business) to me!”

Dmítri, a man of good family who had been brought up in the count’s house and now managed all his affairs, stepped softly (gently and quietly) into the room.

“This is what I want, my dear fellow,” said the count to the deferential (humbly respectful) young man who had entered. “Bring me...” he reflected (to throw back; to think over) a moment, “yes, bring me seven hundred rubles (the Russian unit of money), yes! But mind, don’t bring me such tattered (torn to rags) and dirty notes as last time, but nice clean ones for the countess (a count's wife).”

“Yes, Dmítri, clean ones, please,” said the countess (a count's wife), sighing (a long sad breath) deeply (to a great depth).

“When would you like them, your excellency (the title of a high official)?” asked Dmítri. “Allow me to inform (to give knowledge to) you... But, don’t be uneasy (uncomfortable and anxious),” he added, noticing that the count was beginning to breathe (to draw air) heavily and quickly which was always a sign of approaching anger (hot displeasure). “I was forgetting... Do you wish it brought at once?”

“Yes, yes; just so! Bring it. Give it to the countess (a count's wife).”

“What a treasure (stored riches) that Dmítri is,” added the count with a smile when the young man had departed (to go away). “There is never any ‘impossible’ with him. That’s a thing I hate! Everything is possible.”

“Ah, money, Count, money! How much sorrow (deep sadness) it causes in the world,” said the countess (a count's wife). “But I am in great need of this sum (an amount of money; a total).”

“You, my little countess (a count's wife), are a notorious (famous for ill) spendthrift (one who wastes money freely),” said the count, and having kissed his wife’s hand he went back to his study.

When Anna Mikháylovna returned from Count Bezúkhov’s the money, all in clean notes, was lying ready under a handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes) on the countess (a count's wife)’ little table, and Anna Mikháylovna noticed that something was agitating (stirred up; troubled) her.

“Well, my dear?” asked the countess (a count's wife).

“Oh, what a terrible state (state: ceremony; pomp — the old sense here) he is in! One would not know him, he is so ill! I was only there a few moments and hardly said a word...”

“Annette (a pet form of Anna), for heaven’s sake (for the good of) don’t refuse (to say no) me,” the countess (a count's wife) began, with a blush (to redden with shame) that looked very strange on her thin (of little thickness), dignified (full of dignity), elderly (getting old) face, and she took the money from under the handkerchief (a cloth for the nose or eyes).

Anna Mikháylovna instantly (at once) guessed her intention (what one means to do) and stooped (to bend down) to be ready to embrace (to hold in the arms) the countess (a count's wife) at the appropriate moment.

“This is for Borís (Borís Drubetskóy, the ambitious young officer) from me, for his outfit (a set of equipment).”

Anna Mikháylovna was already embracing (to hold in the arms) her and weeping (shedding tears). The countess (a count's wife) wept (to shed tears) too. They wept (to shed tears) because they were friends, and because they were kindhearted (kind at heart), and because they—friends from childhood—had to think about such a base thing as money, and because their youth was over.... But those tears (a drop of weeping; to rip) were pleasant (pleasing) to them both.