The table was beautifully set, and Andrei and Pavel, having forgotten the taste of normal food, devoured it with relish, barely paying attention to the general's barbs, who kept making various comments, mostly directed at Andrei. During dinner, they were served by two young maids, no older than seventeen, which finally overwhelmed Andrei, who was already struggling to stand from the shock. Never in his life had anyone waited on him! He couldn't even comprehend how such a thing could happen. The girls tried to smile and be welcoming, but Gronin could clearly see from their faces that life here wasn't easy for them, and the range of their duties was far broader and far more psychologically taxing than serving at table.
After dinner, Leonelli got straight to work, but he invited only Gronin
