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"And, if your excellency will allow me to express my opinion," he

continued, "we owe today's success chiefly to the action of that

battery and the heroic endurance of Captain Tushin and his

company," and without awaiting a reply, Prince Andrew rose and

left the table.

Prince Bagration looked at Tushin, evidently reluctant to show

distrust in Bolkonski's emphatic opinion yet not feeling able

fully to credit it, bent his head, and told Tushin that he could

go. Prince Andrew went out with him.

"Thank you; you saved me, my dear fellow!" said Tushin.

Prince Andrew gave him a look, but said nothing and went away. He

felt sad and depressed. It was all so strange, so unlike what he

had hoped.