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By his age he should have belonged to the younger men, but by his

wealth and connections he belonged to the groups of old and

honored guests, and so he went from one group to another. Some of

the most important old men were the center of groups which even

strangers approached respectfully to hear the voices of

well-known men. The largest circles formed round Count

Rostopchin, Valuev, and Narýshkin. Rostopchin was describing how

the Russians had been overwhelmed by flying Austrians and had had

to force their way through them with bayonets.

Valuev was confidentially telling that Uvarov had been sent from

Petersburg to ascertain what Moscow was thinking about

Austerlitz.