Sonia shakes her head. "He hasn't, no. The Countess has been by a few times, though -- she's hard to miss, too. Always wearing her husband's greatcoat -- she practically swims in it, but she manages to make it look dignified."

Her sister manages to make almost anything look dignified. Count Piotr -- dignity, sure, but he was mostly hard-faced and, at times, terrifying. "The General Count's a busy man, but I'd be surprised if he never came by at all. Although," she adds, making a face, "you're not missing much."