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"Why are you so glum?" asked Nesvitski noticing Prince Andrew's

pale face and glittering eyes.

"There's nothing to be gay about," answered Bolkonski.

Just as Prince Andrew met Nesvitski and Zherkov, there came

toward them from the other end of the corridor, Strauch, an

Austrian general who was on Kutuzov's staff in charge of the

provisioning of the Russian army, and the member of the

Hofkriegsrath who had arrived the previous evening. There was

room enough in the wide corridor for the generals to pass the

three officers quite easily, but Zherkov, pushing Nesvitski aside

with his arm, said in a breathless voice,

"They're coming!... they're coming!... Stand aside, make way,

please make way!"

The generals were passing by, looking as if they wished to avoid

embarrassing attentions. On the face of the wag Zherkov there

suddenly appeared a stupid smile of glee which he seemed unable

to suppress.