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"Because not everything happens as one expects or with the

smoothness of a parade. We had expected, as I told you, to get at

their rear by seven in the morning but had not reached it by five

in the afternoon."

"And why didn't you do it at seven in the morning? You ought to

have been there at seven in the morning," returned Bilibin with a

smile. "You ought to have been there at seven in the morning."

"Why did you not succeed in impressing on Bonaparte by diplomatic

methods that he had better leave Genoa alone?" retorted Prince

Andrew in the same tone.