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Weyrother again gave that smile which seemed to say that to him

it was strange and ridiculous to meet objections from Russian

generals and to have to prove to them what he had not merely

convinced himself of, but had also convinced the sovereign

Emperors of.

"The enemy has quenched his fires and a continual noise is heard

from his camp," said he. "What does that mean? Either he is

retreating, which is the only thing we need fear, or he is

changing his position." (He smiled ironically.) "But even if he

also took up a position in the Thuerassa, he merely saves us a

great deal of trouble and all our arrangements to the minutest

detail remain the same."

"How is that?..." began Prince Andrew, who had for long been

waiting an opportunity to express his doubts.

Kutuzov here woke up, coughed heavily, and looked round at the

generals.