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Prince Andrew was one of those rare staff officers whose chief

interest lay in the general progress of the war. When he saw Mack

and heard the details of his disaster he understood that half the

campaign was lost, understood all the difficulties of the Russian

army's position, and vividly imagined what awaited it and the

part he would have to play. Involuntarily he felt a joyful

agitation at the thought of the humiliation of arrogant Austria

and that in a week's time he might, perhaps, see and take part in

the first Russian encounter with the French since Suvorov met

them. He feared that Bonaparte's genius might outweigh all the

courage of the Russian troops, and at the same time could not

admit the idea of his hero being disgraced.

Excited and irritated by these thoughts Prince Andrew went toward

his room to write to his father, to whom he wrote every day. In

the corridor he met Nesvitski, with whom he shared a room, and

the wag Zherkov; they were as usual laughing.