Pagina 286 de 3800

Prince Andrew, seeing that his father insisted, began-at first

reluctantly, but gradually with more and more animation, and from

habit changing unconsciously from Russian to French as he went

on-to explain the plan of operation for the coming campaign. He

explained how an army, ninety thousand strong, was to threaten

Prussia so as to bring her out of her neutrality and draw her

into the war; how part of that army was to join some Swedish

forces at Stralsund; how two hundred and twenty thousand

Austrians, with a hundred thousand Russians, were to operate in

Italy and on the Rhine; how fifty thousand Russians and as many

English were to land at Naples, and how a total force of five

hundred thousand men was to attack the French from different

sides. The old prince did not evince the least interest during

this explanation, but as if he were not listening to it continued

to dress while walking about, and three times unexpectedly

interrupted.