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Prince Andrew's joyous feeling was considerably weakened as he

approached the door of the minister's room. He felt offended, and

without his noticing it the feeling of offense immediately turned

into one of disdain which was quite uncalled for. His fertile

mind instantly suggested to him a point of view which gave him a

right to despise the adjutant and the minister. "Away from the

smell of powder, they probably think it easy to gain victories!"

he thought. His eyes narrowed disdainfully, he entered the room

of the Minister of War with peculiarly deliberate steps. This

feeling of disdain was heightened when he saw the minister seated

at a large table reading some papers and making pencil notes on

them, and for the first two or three minutes taking no notice of

his arrival. A wax candle stood at each side of the minister's

bent bald head with its gray temples. He went on reading to the

end, without raising his eyes at the opening of the door and the

sound of footsteps.