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"Gentlemen, the dispositions for tomorrow-or rather for today,

for it is past midnight-cannot now be altered," said he. "You

have heard them, and we shall all do our duty. But before a

battle, there is nothing more important..." he paused, "than to

have a good sleep."

He moved as if to rise. The generals bowed and retired. It was

past midnight. Prince Andrew went out.

The council of war, at which Prince Andrew had not been able to

express his opinion as he had hoped to, left on him a vague and

uneasy impression. Whether Dolgorukov and Weyrother, or Kutuzov,

Langeron, and the others who did not approve of the plan of

attack, were right-he did not know. "But was it really not

possible for Kutuzov to state his views plainly to the Emperor?

Is it possible that on account of court and personal

considerations tens of thousands of lives, and my life, my life,"

he thought, "must be risked?"