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That's what keeping one's head means. That's the way, Count,"

said Berg, lighting his pipe and emitting rings of smoke.

"Yes, that was fine," said Rostov, smiling.

But Boris noticed that he was preparing to make fun of Berg, and

skillfully changed the subject. He asked him to tell them how and

where he got his wound. This pleased Rostov and he began talking

about it, and as he went on became more and more animated. He

told them of his Schon Grabern affair, just as those who have

taken part in a battle generally do describe it, that is, as they

would like it to have been, as they have heard it described by

others, and as sounds well, but not at all as it really was.

Rostov was a truthful young man and would on no account have told

a deliberate lie. He began his story meaning to tell everything

just as it happened, but imperceptibly, involuntarily, and

inevitably he lapsed into falsehood.