Sayfa 491 / 3800

Prince Andrew glanced at Kutuzov's face only a foot distant from

him and involuntarily noticed the carefully washed seams of the

scar near his temple, where an Ismail bullet had pierced his

skull, and the empty eye socket. "Yes, he has a right to speak so

calmly of those men's death," thought Bolkonski.

"That is why I beg to be sent to that detachment," he said.

Kutuzov did not reply. He seemed to have forgotten what he had

been saying, and sat plunged in thought. Five minutes later,

gently swaying on the soft springs of the carriage, he turned to

Prince Andrew. There was not a trace of agitation on his face.

With delicate irony he questioned Prince Andrew about the details

of his interview with the Emperor, about the remarks he had heard

at court concerning the Krems affair, and about some ladies they

both knew.

CHAPTER XIV