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"Au revoir! Thank you very much. His Majesty will probably desire

to see you," he added, bowing his head.

When Prince Andrew left the palace he felt that all the interest

and happiness the victory had afforded him had been now left in

the indifferent hands of the Minister of War and the polite

adjutant. The whole tenor of his thoughts instantaneously

changed; the battle seemed the memory of a remote event long

past.

CHAPTER X

Prince Andrew stayed at Brunn with Bilibin, a Russian

acquaintance of his in the diplomatic service.

"Ah, my dear prince! I could not have a more welcome visitor,"

said Bilibin as he came out to meet Prince Andrew. "Franz, put

the prince's things in my bedroom," said he to the servant who

was ushering Bolkonski in. "So you're a messenger of victory, eh?

Splendid! And I am sitting here ill, as you see."