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The Moscovites felt that something was wrong and that to discuss

the bad news was difficult, and so it was best to be silent. But

after a while, just as a jury comes out of its room, the bigwigs

who guided the club's opinion reappeared, and everybody began

speaking clearly and definitely. Reasons were found for the

incredible, unheard-of, and impossible event of a Russian defeat,

everything became clear, and in all corners of Moscow the same

things began to be said. These reasons were the treachery of the

Austrians, a defective commissariat, the treachery of the Pole

Przebyszewski and of the Frenchman Langeron, Kutuzov's

incapacity, and (it was whispered) the youth and inexperience of

the sovereign, who had trusted worthless and insignificant

people. But the army, the Russian army, everyone declared, was

extraordinary and had achieved miracles of valor. The soldiers,

officers, and generals were heroes.