Dita von Teese in her youth: photos and interesting biography facts

Dita Von Teese
Dita von Teese

Birth name:	Heather Renee Sweet
Date of Birth:	September 28, 1972(1972-09-28) (age 47)
Place of Birth:	Rochester (Michigan, USA)
Citizenship:	USA USA
Profession:	dancer, fashion model, actress, singer
Career:	1990 - present time

Dita Von Teese

(eng.
Dita von Teese
), real name
Heather Renee Sweet
English.
Heather Renée Sweet
; genus. September 28, 1972, Rochester, Michigan, USA) is an American burlesque performer, model, and singer.

Childhood and youth

Early years and education

Heather Renee Sweet was born on September 28, 1972 in Rochester, Michigan, the middle of three daughters. On her paternal side, Dita is of Armenian descent. She stated this in her microblog during her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, expressing her delight at the performance of participants from Armenia - Inga and Anush Arshakyan [2]. Dita von Teese mentions her Armenian roots during interviews with various publications, saying that her grandmother was half Armenian.[3]

Dita Von Teese is known for her passion for 1940s cinema and her classic retro style.

She studied ballet from an early age and danced solos at the age of 13. Although she wanted to become a ballerina, at age 15 she was “at the peak of her powers.” She later incorporated elements of ballet into her burlesque routines, such as performing on pointe shoes.

The family moved to Orange County (California) due to his father's job change. There, Dita entered high school in Irvine. As a teenager, she worked first in a pizzeria, and from the age of 15 in a lingerie store.

In college I studied historical costume and dreamed of working as a costume designer on historical films. Now she is a stylist and costume designer for her own shows and photo shoots.

At the age of 19, she started working part-time dancing in clubs. My main place of work during the day is as a consultant in a cosmetics store. In 1990, she got a job at the strip club Captain Cream.

in Lake Forest, where the basis of her image was born[4]. After a year of work, a pseudonym was born: the name “Dita” - in honor of the film star of the 20s, Dita Parlo. In 1999, Playboy magazine asked Dita for her full name to publish a photo. Dita opened the phone book and chose the surname “von Treese”. But the editors made a typo, and the magazine was published with the signature Dita von Teese - and thus the dancer’s pseudonym was born.

Star Trek

At the age of 19, Dita Von Teese got a job at the strip club Captain Cream. She differed from other dancers in that she replaced thongs and feathers with stockings, veils and long gloves. It was at this time that she changed her real name from Heather Sweet to Dita, in honor of the famous actress Dita Parlo in the twenties. In 1993, Dita went on her first tour, the program of which included tricks with a cardboard moon, corset performances and swimming in a huge martini glass. She copied the scene with the wine glass from the famous stripper Lily Saint Cyrus, who bathed on stage in a glass of champagne. Soon she was invited to her show by Carmen Electra, who danced Cabaret with her girl gang called the Pussycat Dolls. One day, PlayBoy publisher Hugh Hefner visited one of the Pussycat Dolls' performances, and Dita's career took off.

She acted in films: she started in short films, and then began to appear in larger-scale films. As an actress, she was invited to participate in the filming of videos for musicians such as George Michael, Marilyn Manson and the band Green Day. Dita also takes an active part in the life of the fashion world - in 2005 she became the heroine of a Vivienne Westwood advertisement, and in 2007 she appeared as a model in the Jean-Paul Gaultier show. Together with the Wonderbra brand, she was able to prepare several lingerie collections. Dita von Teese never uses the services of a stylist, which she is incredibly proud of. The dancer thinks through her image herself down to the smallest detail. She never goes out without makeup, always wears red lipstick, and gets her hair cut at a hairdresser near her house for $20.

Career

Burlesque

Dita von Teese is known mainly for her burlesque performances; in the press she is often called the “Queen of Burlesque.” Dita began performing burlesque numbers in 1992 in a group of dancers who initiated the revival of the burlesque genre. According to Dita, she “brings back the playfulness of striptease” by enriching her performances with original props and characters. She is inspired by musicals and movies of the 1930s and 1940s. Her unique style was inspired by such eccentric women as Luisa Casati, Anna Piaggi and Isabella Blow.[5]

Dita's most famous rooms include a carousel with horses, a huge powder compact, a Chinese-style boudoir and a bathtub. The famous fan dance, inspired by dancer Sally Rand, is performed by Dita with the world's largest feather fans, which can now be seen at the Museum of Sex in Hollywood.

Dita Von Teese's key number is "Martini Glass".

Dita's burlesque career includes several key performances.

In 2005, Dita performed at the New York Academy of Art wearing a suit encrusted with $5 million worth of diamonds.

Dita became the first guest dancer to perform at the Paris cabaret club Crazy Horse in October 2006.

Also in 2006, Dita appeared in the 7th season of the show America's Next Top Model, where she gave dance lessons to the participants.

In 2007, Dita von Teese performed at the annual Erotica festival in London.

Cameron Diaz performed Dita's number in a martini glass in the movie Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Dita's name is listed in the end credits under the "Special Thanks" section.

Dita von Teese's first book, Burlesque/Fetish and the Art of Seduction, 2006, HarperCollins, contains Dita's views on the origins of burlesque and fetish and the history of these genres.

Vanity Fair magazine called Dita "The Superheroine of Burlesque."

In 2009, Dita took part in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Moscow. She danced for the number "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" by the German group "Alex swings Oscar sings". The number ranked 20th out of 25. Dita said that the number was censored because the dancer's breasts were too exposed.

Fashion model

Dita Von Teese is known for her fetish photos. She is famous in the fetish community for her corset and bondage photos.

Frequently wearing a corset reduced her waist to 56 cm; in the corset, Dita’s waist was 42 cm[6].

Dita's height is 160 cm[7] and her weight is 52 kg[8][9].

Dita has appeared on the covers of many fetish magazines, including Bizarre and Marquis.

In 2002, Dita appeared on the cover of the book “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” by Japanese author Midori.

Dita's photographs were published in Playboy magazine in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Dita appeared on the cover of Playboy in 2002.

The German group Atrocity chose Dita's photo as the cover of their album "Werk 80 II" in 2008.

Movie

Von Teese sometimes appears in films. Early in her career, she appeared in fetish films and porn films. For example, Romancing Sara

“, “
Matter of Trust
” - in these films she is listed under her real name.
Dita starred in two hardcore fetish films directed by Andrew Blake: Pin Ups 2
and
Decadence
.

Lately, Dita has appeared in mainstream films, such as the 2005 short film The Death of Salvador Dali

"(
The Death of Salvador Dali
).
The film won several awards at festivals ( Raindance Film Festival
,
Mill Valley Film Festival
, etc.), and Dita received the award for “Best Actress at the Beverly Hills
Film Festival
.”

Music

In 2013, together with the British electronic duo Monarchy, Dita recorded the single “ Disintegration

"and starred in [www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhkZGqkIjPg music video] for him.

In 2020, Dita again took part in the filming of the video “ Black Widow”

", but only as a model.

In 2020, Dita collaborated for the second time with the South African rave/hip-hop group Die Antwoord to record the song “ GUCCI COOCHIE

"from the first mixtape "Suck On This".

Fashion industry and advertising

Dita Von Teese often appears on “Best Dressed Celebrities” lists and is a frequent guest at fashion shows.

Several times Dita herself appeared on the podium.

In the spring of 2004, she was at Fashion Week in Los Angeles, where she represented the Heatherette brand.

In 2005, she performed at the Autumn/Winter show in Paris, where she represented the Giambattista Valli brand.

In 2006, at Milan Fashion Week, Dita participated in the Moschino Cheap & Chic Fall/Winter 2006/07 show

In 2007, Dita appeared twice at Paris Fashion Week at the shows of Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Dita has starred in several advertising campaigns.

In 2005, she appeared in an advertisement for Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer collection.

In 2006, Dita became the face of the Australian brand Wheels and Dollbaby in advertising for the Spring/Summer 2006/07 collection.

Dita was the face of MAC Cosmetics.

Dita is the advertising representative and face of Rémy Cointreau liqueur Cointreau.

Dita appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Vogue, Elle, Tatler and many others.

The dancer has also appeared in charity advertising campaigns for PETA.

Dita also, together with the Wonderbra company, released two collections of underwear of her own design. A third collection is expected at the beginning of 2012.

In October 2011, the first fragrance from Dita, “Femme totale”[10], was released.

At the moment, Dita von Teese is working on writing a book “about beauty”, and is also going to release her own line of cosmetics[11].

In 2012, Dita von Teese became the face of the German cosmetics brand ARTDECO, developing her own line of cosmetics for creating makeup in the “Dita” style. The Dita fon Teesу Classics collection for the ARTDECO brand is accompanied by a quote from the Queen of Burlesque - “Beauty is an art.”

Career as an actress and singer

As Dita von Teese herself says, she never dreamed of becoming either a singer or an actress, because all her life her soul lay only in dancing. But, nevertheless, the American diva has several roles in films. She also starred in several videos, including the video of her ex-husband Marilyn Manson for the song “Mobscene”.

Dita’s musical career debuted in 2013, when she, together with the world-famous British duo Monarchy, recorded a song called “Disintegration.” Quite soon, a video for this composition was shot, and Dita von Teese took an active part in its creation.

Dita says she can’t understand why famous women who have risen to the peak of popularity try so hard to become “actresses.” According to Heather, she will only act in films where she feels free and where she does not have to pretend to be someone else. And it doesn’t matter what role she gets - the main one or the secondary one, because Dita von Teese always prefers to remain herself, even if she is in front of the public in a revealing outfit and full war paint.

Personal life

Dita lives in two cities - Los Angeles and Paris.

She collects antique porcelain (particularly egg cups and tea sets), corsets, cocktail shakers and pointe shoes.

Before her marriage to Marilyn Manson, Dita dated Social Distortion vocalist/guitarist Mike Ness and actor Peter Sarsgaard. According to Dita, at the age of 20 she had a lesbian experience and lived with a girl.

From 2005 to 2007, Dita was married to musician Marilyn Manson.

Dita openly talks about the plastic surgeries she has had. She enlarged her breasts and got a mole on her cheekbone - a tattoo.

Dita's cars are a 1965 BMW Z4 and a Jaguar S-type. Until December 2010, she owned a 1939 Chrysler New Yorker.

Notes

Naomi West
.
[www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/main.jhtml?xml=/fashion/2006/03/06/efdita04.xml Art of the Teese], Telegraph.co.uk
(3 June 2006). Retrieved February 17, 2007.
[twitter.com/DitaVonTeese/status/1808509968 Dita's Twitter post dated May 15, 2009] Original text
(English)
At eurovision, The Armenians are killing me with their hair and especially the fierce cateye liner! LOVE! I am part Armenian, in fact.
[blognews.am/rus/news/38407/eksklyuzivnoe-intervyu-ditiy-fon-tiz-da-u-menya-armyanskie-korni!.html Exclusive interview with Dita von Teese: Yes, I have Armenian roots! | BlogNews.am]. Retrieved April 20, 2013. [www.webcitation.org/6GDdWZ6Tv Archived from the original on April 28, 2013].
Sofia Raifikerst.
[www.fashiontime.ru/article/2956.html Dita von Teese: porcelain goddess] (RU) (November 15, 2009). Retrieved February 9, 2010. [www.webcitation.org/65s7QfqNR Archived from the original on March 3, 2012].
Amy Schroeder & Constanze Lyndsay Han.
[www.venuszine.com/articles/fashion/features/2670/Dita_Von_Teese_the_showgirl Dita Von Teese the Showgirl].
Venuszine.com
(December 1, 2007). Retrieved July 13, 2009. [www.webcitation.org/6A00kTaeE Archived from the original on August 18, 2012].
[www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/more_teese_if_you_please_1_2076457 More Teese if you please], Yorkshire Evening Post
, October 20, 2006. Accessed November 5, 2011.
[twitter.com/DitaVonTeese/status/1815031469 Dita Von Teese's official Twitter]. Twitter.com (2009-05-16). Retrieved on August 22, 2011.
[www.celebheights.com/s/Dita-Von-Teese-4005.html Dita Von Teese Height - Von Teese's]. celebrityheights.com. Retrieved on August 22, 2011.
[www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/von-teeses-drug-ravaged-boobs_1120345 Dita Von Teese | Von Teese's Drug-Ravaged Boobs]. Contactmusic (2009-10-27). Retrieved on August 22, 2011.
[twitter.com/DitaVonTeese/status/1808509968 Dita's Twitter message dated August 30, 2011.]
Original text
(English)
This October!!! RT @swt_ness10: @DitaVonTeese when is ur perfume coming out??
[twitter.com/#!/DitaVonTeese/status/108434798216884224 Dita's Twitter message dated August 30, 2011.]
Original text
(English)
Early 2012, I hope!! (Along with a makeup line!!) RT @Siobhan0787: @DitaVonTeese Dita!! When's your beauty book coming out?

Queen of Burlesque

Thanks to journalists, Dita received the name “queen of burlesque”, this style makes her unique on stage, this is her style. Since 1992, the girl has been dancing burlesque, believing that such dance elements add playful notes to striptease.

Her most famous performances are in the bathtub and dance using a feather fan. The best dance of Dita Von Teese is considered to be “Martini Glass”. This dance was later repeated by the inimitable Cameron Diaz in the film Charlie's Angels.

In 2005, the famous stripper showed her amazing performances in New York, at the Academy of Arts. Her suit was trimmed with diamonds, their total cost was $5 million.

A year later, she was invited to perform at the Crazy Horse cabaret, which is located in Paris. In 2009, she took part in the popular Eurovision contest, which was then held in Moscow.

Links

Dita Von Teese (English) on the Internet Movie Database


Mini albums	Smells Like Children Remix & Repent

Live albums	The Last Tour on Earth

Collections	Lunch Boxes & Choklit Cows Lest We Forget: The Best Of Lost & Found

Singles	"Get Your Gunn" "Lunchbox" "Dope Hat" "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" "The Beautiful People" "Tourniquet" "Antichrist Superstar" "Man That You Fear" "Cryptorchid" "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" "Apple of Sodom" "The Dope Show" "I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)" "Rock Is Dead" "Coma White" "Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes" "Disposable Teens" "The Fight Song" "The Nobodies" "Tainted Love" "mOBSCENE" "This Is the New Shit" "(s)AINT" "Personal Jesus" "The Nobodies: 2005 Against All Gods Mix" "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)" "Putting Holes in Happiness" "We're from America" "Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon" "No Reflection" "Slo-Mo-Tion" "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" "Deep Six" "Cupid Carries a Gun" "The Mephistopheles Of Los Angeles"

Video	Dead to the World God Is in the TV Guns, God and Government

Movies	"Autopsy" "Demystifying the Devil" "Doppelherz"

Books	Long, hard way out of hell Holy Wood

see also	Marilyn Manson discography Nothing Records Interscope Records Trent Reznor Dita Von Teese Satan on Fire Demos Goon Moon

Childhood

Dita von Teese, and then Heather Renee Sweet, was born into the family of a machinist and a seamstress.
Despite such mundane professions of her parents, the girl was drawn to creativity from birth, so she studied ballet. After school, Heather went to college. There she was determined to study the history of the costume, and thoroughly. And immediately after graduation, the girl planned to start working as a film stylist. She dreamed of becoming a certified costume designer.

Dita Von Teese as a child

Excerpt characterizing Dita von Teese

Pierre waved his arms and head as if mosquitoes or bees were attacking him. - Oh, what is this! I got everything mixed up. There are so many relatives in Moscow! Are you Boris...yes. Well, you and I have agreed. Well, what do you think about the Boulogne expedition? After all, the British will have a bad time if only Napoleon crosses the canal? I think the expedition is very possible. Villeneuve would not have made a mistake! Boris knew nothing about the Boulogne expedition, he did not read the newspapers and heard about Villeneuve for the first time. “We are more busy here in Moscow with dinners and gossip than with politics,” he said in his calm, mocking tone. – I don’t know anything about it and don’t think anything about it. Moscow is most busy with gossip,” he continued. “Now they’re talking about you and the count.” Pierre smiled his kind smile, as if afraid for his interlocutor, lest he might say something for which he would repent. But Boris spoke distinctly, clearly and dryly, looking directly into Pierre’s eyes. “Moscow has nothing better to do than gossip,” he continued. “Everyone is busy with who the count will leave his fortune to, although perhaps he will outlive us all, which is what I sincerely wish...” “Yes, this is all very difficult,” Pierre picked up, “very difficult.” “Pierre was still afraid that this officer would accidentally get into an awkward conversation for himself. “And it must seem to you,” Boris said, blushing slightly, but without changing his voice or posture, “it must seem to you that everyone is busy only with getting something from the rich man.” “So it is,” thought Pierre. “But I just want to tell you, in order to avoid misunderstandings, that you will be very mistaken if you count me and my mother among these people.” We are very poor, but I, at least, speak for myself: precisely because your father is rich, I do not consider myself his relative, and neither I nor my mother will ever ask or accept anything from him. Pierre could not understand for a long time, but when he understood, he jumped up from the sofa, grabbed Boris’s hand from below with his characteristic speed and awkwardness and, flushed much more than Boris, began to speak with a mixed feeling of shame and annoyance. - This is strange! I really... and who could have thought... I know very well... But Boris interrupted him again: “I’m glad I expressed everything.” Maybe it’s unpleasant for you, excuse me,” he said, reassuring Pierre, instead of being reassured by him, “but I hope I didn’t offend you.” I have a rule of saying everything directly... How can I convey it? Will you come to dinner with the Rostovs? And Boris, apparently having relieved himself of a heavy duty, getting out of an awkward situation himself and putting someone else in it, became completely pleasant again. “No, listen,” Pierre said, calming down. – You are an amazing person. What you just said is very good, very good. Of course you don't know me. We haven’t seen each other for so long... since we were children... You can assume in me... I understand you, I understand you very much. I wouldn't do it, I wouldn't have the guts, but it's wonderful. I am very glad that I met you. It’s strange,” he added, after a pause and smiling, “what you assumed in me!” - He laughed. - Well, so what? We'll get to know you better. Please. – He shook hands with Boris. – You know, I have never been to the count. He didn’t call me... I feel sorry for him as a person... But what to do? – And you think that Napoleon will have time to transport the army? – Boris asked, smiling. Pierre realized that Boris wanted to change the conversation, and, agreeing with him, began to outline the advantages and disadvantages of the Boulogne enterprise. The footman came to summon Boris to the princess. The princess was leaving. Pierre promised to come for dinner in order to get closer to Boris, firmly shook his hand, looking affectionately into his eyes through his glasses... After he left, Pierre walked around the room for a long time, no longer piercing the invisible enemy with his sword, but smiling at the memory of this dear, smart and strong young man. As happens in early youth and especially in a lonely situation, he felt an unreasonable tenderness for this young man and promised himself to make friends with him. Prince Vasily saw off the princess. The princess held a handkerchief to her eyes, and her face was in tears. - It's horrible! terrible! - she said, - but no matter what it costs me, I will do my duty. I'll come over for the night. He can't be left like that. Every minute is precious. I don’t understand why the princesses are delaying. Maybe God will help me find a way to prepare it!... Adieu, mon prince, que le bon Dieu vous soutienne... [Farewell, prince, may God support you.] - Adieu, ma bonne, [Farewell, my dear,] - answered the prince Vasily, turning away from her. “Oh, he’s in a terrible situation,” the mother said to her son as they got back into the carriage. “He hardly recognizes anyone.” “I don’t understand, mamma, what is his relationship with Pierre?” - asked the son. “The will will say everything, my friend; Our fate depends on him... - But why do you think that he will leave anything to us? - Ah, my friend! He is so rich and we are so poor! “Well, that’s not a good enough reason, mummy.” - Oh my god! My God! How bad he is! - exclaimed the mother. When Anna Mikhailovna left with her son to visit Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhy, Countess Rostova sat alone for a long time, putting a handkerchief to her eyes. Finally, she called. “What are you talking about, dear,” she said angrily to the girl, who made herself wait for several minutes. – Don’t you want to serve, or what? So I'll find a place for you. The countess was upset by the grief and humiliating poverty of her friend and therefore was out of sorts, which she always expressed by calling the maid “dear” and “you.” “It’s your fault,” said the maid. - Ask the Count to come to me. The Count, waddled, approached his wife with a somewhat guilty look, as always. - Well, countess! What a saute au madere [sauté in Madeira] will be from hazel grouse, ma chere! I tried; It’s not for nothing that I gave a thousand rubles for Taraska. Costs! He sat down next to his wife, resting his arms bravely on his knees and ruffling his gray hair. - What do you order, Countess? - So, my friend, what is it that you have dirty here? - she said, pointing to the vest. “It’s sote, that’s right,” she added, smiling. - That's it, Count: I need money. Her face became sad. - Oh, countess!... And the count began to fuss, taking out his wallet. “I need a lot, Count, I need five hundred rubles.” And she, taking out a cambric handkerchief, rubbed her husband’s vest with it. - Now. Hey, who's there? - he shouted in a voice that only people shout when they are sure that those they are calling will rush headlong to their call. - Send Mitenka to me! Mitenka, that noble son raised by the count, who was now in charge of all his affairs, entered the room with quiet steps. “That’s it, my dear,” said the count to the respectful young man who entered. “Bring me…” he thought. - Yes, 700 rubles, yes. But look, don’t bring anything torn and dirty like that time, but good ones for the countess. “Yes, Mitenka, please, keep them clean,” said the countess, sighing sadly. - Your Excellency, when will you order it to be delivered? - said Mitenka. “If you please know that... However, please don’t worry,” he added, noticing how the count had already begun to breathe heavily and quickly, which was always a sign of beginning anger. - I forgot... Will you order it to be delivered this minute? - Yes, yes, then, bring it. Give it to the Countess. “This Mitenka is such gold,” the count added, smiling, when the young man left. - No, it’s not possible. I can't stand this. Everything is possible. - Oh, money, count, money, how much grief it causes in the world! - said the countess. - And I really need this money. “You, countess, are a well-known reel,” said the count and, kissing his wife’s hand, he went back into the office. When Anna Mikhailovna returned again from Bezukhoy, the countess already had money, all in brand new pieces of paper, under a scarf on the table, and Anna Mikhailovna noticed that the countess was disturbed by something. - Well, what, my friend? – asked the Countess. - Oh, what a terrible situation he is in! It is impossible to recognize him, he is so bad, so bad; I stayed for a minute and didn’t say two words... “Annette, for God’s sake, don’t refuse me,” the countess suddenly said, blushing, which was so strange in her middle-aged, thin and important face, taking money out from under her scarf. Anna Mikhailovna instantly understood what was happening, and already bent down to deftly hug the countess at the right moment. - Here's to Boris from me, to sew a uniform... Anna Mikhailovna was already hugging her and crying. The Countess cried too. They cried that they were friends; and that they are good; and that they, friends of youth, are busy with such a low subject - money; and that their youth had passed... But the tears of both were pleasant... Countess Rostova with her daughters and already with a large number of guests was sitting in the living room. The Count led the male guests into his office, offering them his hunting collection of Turkish pipes. Occasionally he would go out and ask: has she arrived? They were waiting for Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, nicknamed in society le terrible dragon, [a terrible dragon,] a lady famous not for wealth, not for honors, but for her directness of mind and frank simplicity of manner. Marya Dmitrievna was known by the royal family, all of Moscow and all of St. Petersburg knew her, and both cities, surprised by her, secretly laughed at her rudeness and told jokes about her; nevertheless, everyone without exception respected and feared her. In the office, full of smoke, there was a conversation about the war, which was declared by the manifesto, about recruitment. No one had read the manifesto yet, but everyone knew about its appearance. The Count sat on the ottoman between two neighbors who were smoking and talking. The Count himself did not smoke or speak, but tilting his head, now to one side, now to the other, looked with visible pleasure at those smoking and listened to the conversation of his two neighbors, whom he pitted against each other. One of the speakers was a civilian, with a wrinkled, bilious and shaved thin face, a man already approaching old age, although dressed like the most fashionable young man; he sat with his feet on the ottoman with the air of a domestic man and, throwing amber far into his mouth from the side, impulsively inhaled the smoke and squinted. It was the old bachelor Shinshin, the countess's cousin, an evil tongue, as they said about him in Moscow drawing rooms. He seemed to condescend to his interlocutor. Another, fresh, pink, guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned up and combed, held amber in the middle of his mouth and lightly pulled out smoke with his pink lips, releasing it in ringlets from his beautiful mouth. This was Lieutenant Berg, an officer of the Semenovsky regiment, with whom Boris rode together in the regiment and with whom Natasha teased Vera, the senior countess, calling Berg her fiancé. The Count sat between them and listened attentively. The most enjoyable activity for the Count, with the exception of the game of Boston, which he loved very much, was the position of listening, especially when he managed to pit two talkative interlocutors against each other. “Well, of course, father, mon tres honorable [most venerable] Alfons Karlych,” said Shinshin, laughing and combining (which was the peculiarity of his speech) the most popular Russian expressions with refined French phrases. – Vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l'etat, [You expect to have income from the treasury,] do you want to receive income from the company? - No, Pyotr Nikolaich, I just want to show that cavalry has much less benefits against infantry. Now imagine, Pyotr Nikolaich, my situation... Berg always spoke very precisely, calmly and courteously. His conversation always concerned himself alone; he always remained calmly silent while they were talking about something that had nothing directly to do with him. And he could remain silent in this way for several hours without experiencing or causing the slightest confusion in others. But as soon as the conversation concerned him personally, he began to speak at length and with visible pleasure. - Consider my position, Pyotr Nikolaich: if I were in the cavalry, I would receive no more than two hundred rubles a third, even with the rank of lieutenant; and now I get two hundred and thirty,” he said with a joyful, pleasant smile, looking at Shinshin and the count, as if it was obvious to him that his success would always be the main goal of the desires of all other people.