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"Eh? What?" asked Prince Andrew.

Bilibin came out to meet him. His usually calm face showed

excitement.

"There now! Confess that this is delightful," said he. "This

affair of the Thabor Bridge, at Vienna.... They have crossed

without striking a blow!"

Prince Andrew could not understand.

"But where do you come from not to know what every coachman in

the town knows?"

"I come from the archduchess'. I heard nothing there."

"And you didn't see that everybody is packing up?"

"I did not... What is it all about?" inquired Prince Andrew

impatiently.

"What's it all about? Why, the French have crossed the bridge

that Auersperg was defending, and the bridge was not blown up: so

Murat is now rushing along the road to Brunn and will be here in

a day or two."

"What? Here? But why did they not blow up the bridge, if it was

mined?"

"That is what I ask you. No one, not even Bonaparte, knows why."

Bolkonski shrugged his shoulders.