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The infantry passing before him came to a halt without any

command being given, apparently obstructed by something in front.

"Do order them to form into battalion columns and go round the

village!" he said angrily to a general who had ridden up. "Don't

you understand, your excellency, my dear sir, that you must not

defile through narrow village streets when we are marching

against the enemy?"

"I intended to re-form them beyond the village, your excellency,"

answered the general.

Kutuzov laughed bitterly.

"You'll make a fine thing of it, deploying in sight of the enemy!

Very fine!"

"The enemy is still far away, your excellency. According to the

dispositions..."

"The dispositions!" exclaimed Kutuzov bitterly. "Who told you

that?... Kindly do as you are ordered."

"Yes, sir."

"My dear fellow," Nesvitski whispered to Prince Andrew, "the old

man is as surly as a dog."