Pagina 488 di 3800

"One can't write so fast, your honor," said the clerk, glancing

angrily and disrespectfully at Kozlovski.

Through the door came the sounds of Kutuzov's voice, excited and

dissatisfied, interrupted by another, an unfamiliar voice. From

the sound of these voices, the inattentive way Kozlovski looked

at him, the disrespectful manner of the exhausted clerk, the fact

that the clerk and Kozlovski were squatting on the floor by a tub

so near to the commander in chief, and from the noisy laughter of

the Cossacks holding the horses near the window, Prince Andrew

felt that something important and disastrous was about to happen.

He turned to Kozlovski with urgent questions.

"Immediately, Prince," said Kozlovski. "Dispositions for

Bagration."

"What about capitulation?"

"Nothing of the sort. Orders are issued for a battle."