صفحة 895 من 3800

And Prince Andrew, with others fatally wounded, was left to the

care of the inhabitants of the district.

BOOK FOUR: 1806

CHAPTER I

Early in the year 1806 Nicholas Rostov returned home on leave.

Denisov was going home to Voronezh and Rostov persuaded him to

travel with him as far as Moscow and to stay with him there.

Meeting a comrade at the last post station but one before Moscow,

Denisov had drunk three bottles of wine with him and, despite the

jolting ruts across the snow-covered road, did not once wake up

on the way to Moscow, but lay at the bottom of the sleigh beside

Rostov, who grew more and more impatient the nearer they got to

Moscow.

"How much longer? How much longer? Oh, these insufferable

streets, shops, bakers' signboards, street lamps, and sleighs!"

thought Rostov, when their leave permits had been passed at the

town gate and they had entered Moscow.