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"Take this and deliver it," said he to his adjutant, handing him

the papers and still taking no notice of the special messenger.

Prince Andrew felt that either the actions of Kutuzov's army

interested the Minister of War less than any of the other matters

he was concerned with, or he wanted to give the Russian special

messenger that impression. "But that is a matter of perfect

indifference to me," he thought. The minister drew the remaining

papers together, arranged them evenly, and then raised his head.

He had an intellectual and distinctive head, but the instant he

turned to Prince Andrew the firm, intelligent expression on his

face changed in a way evidently deliberate and habitual to him.

His face took on the stupid artificial smile (which does not even

attempt to hide its artificiality) of a man who is continually

receiving many petitioners one after another.