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Pierre, not knowing whom to answer, looked at them all and

smiled. His smile was unlike the half-smile of other people. When

he smiled, his grave, even rather gloomy, look was

instantaneously replaced by another-a childlike, kindly, even

rather silly look, which seemed to ask forgiveness.

The vicomte who was meeting him for the first time saw clearly

that this young Jacobin was not so terrible as his words

suggested. All were silent.

"How do you expect him to answer you all at once?" said Prince

Andrew. "Besides, in the actions of a statesman one has to

distinguish between his acts as a private person, as a general,

and as an emperor. So it seems to me."

"Yes, yes, of course!" Pierre chimed in, pleased at the arrival

of this reinforcement.

"One must admit," continued Prince Andrew, "that Napoleon as a

man was great on the bridge of Arcola, and in the hospital at

Jaffa where he gave his hand to the plague-stricken; but ... but

there are other acts which it is difficult to justify."