his father’s peculiarities； and partly from a craving for solitude； Prince Andrey made use of Bogutcharovo； established himself there and spent the greater part of his time there。
After the Austerlitz campaign； Prince Andrey had grimly resolved never to serve again in the army。 And when war broke out and all were bound to serve； he took service under his father in the levying of the militia； so as to escape active service。 Since the campaign of 1805 the old prince and his son had as it were exchanged parts。 The old prince； stimulated by activity； expected the best results from the present campaign。 Prince Andrey； on the contrary； taking no part in the war； and secretly regretting his inaction； saw in it nothing but what was bad。
On the 26th of February； 1807 the old prince set off on a tour of inspection。 Prince Andrey was staying at Bleak Hills； as he usually did in his father’s absence。 Little Nikolushka had been ill for the last three days。 The coachman； who had driven the old prince away； returned bringing papers and letters from the town for Prince Andrey。 The valet with the letters not finding the young prince in his study； went to Princess Marya’s apartments； but he was not there either。 The valet was told that the prince had gone to the nursery。 “If you please； your excellency； Petrusha has come with some papers；” said one of the nursery maids； addressing Prince Andrey； who was sitting on a child’s little chair。 Screwing up his eyes； he was with trembling hands pouring drops from a medicine bottle into a glass half full of water。
“What is it？” he said angrily； and his hand shaking； he accidentally poured too many drops from the bottle into the glass。 He tipped the medicine out of the glass on to the floor and asked for some more water。 The maid gave it him。
In the room were a couple of armchairs； a child’s crib； a table and a child’s table and a little chair； on which Prince Andrey was sitting。 The windows were curtained； and on the table a single candle was burning； screened by a note…book； so that the light did not fall on the crib。
“My dear；” said Princess Marya； turning to her brother from beside the crib where she was standing； “it would be better to wait a little…later。”
“Oh； please； do as I say； what nonsense you keep talking； you have kept putting things off； and see what’s come of it！” said Prince Andrey in an exasperated whisper； evidently meaning to wound his sister。
“My dear； it’s really better not to wake him； he has fallen asleep；” said the princess in a voice of entreaty。
Prince Andrey got up and went on tiptoe to the crib with the glass in his hand。
“Should we really not wake him？” he said； hesitating。
“As you think—really…I believe so…but as you think；” said Princess Marya； obviously intimidated and ashamed that her opinion should triumph。 She drew her brother’s attention to the maid； who was summoning him in a whisper。
It was the second night that they had been without sleep looking after the baby； who was feverish。 Mistrusting their own household doctor and expecting the doctor they had sent from the town； they had spent all that time trying first one remedy and then another。 Agitated and worn out by sleeplessness； they vented their anxiety on each other； found fault with each other； and quarrelled。
“Petrusha with papers from your papa；” whispered the maid。 Prince Andrey went out。
“Damn them all！” he commented angrily； and after listening to the verbal instructions sent him from his father； and taking the correspondence and his father’s letter； he went back to the nursery。 “Well？” queried Prince Andrey。
“No change； wait a little； for God’s sake。 Karl Ivanitch always says sleep is better than anything；” Princess Marya whispered with a sigh。 Prince Andrey went up to the baby and felt him。 He was burning hot。 “Bother you and your Karl Ivanitch！” He took the glass with the drops of medicine in it and again went up to the crib。
“Andryusha； you shouldn’t！” said Princess Marya。 But he scowled at her with an expression of anger and at the same time of anguish； and bent over the child with the glass。
“But I wish it；” he said。 “Come； I beg you； give it him…”
Princess Marya shrugged her shoulders but obediently she took the glass； and calling the nurse； began giving the child the medicine。 The baby screamed and wheezed。 Prince Andrey； scowling and clutching at his head； went out of the room and sat down on the sofa in the adjoining one。
The letters were still in his hand。 Mechanically he opened them and began to read。 The old prince in his big； sprawling hand； making use of occasional abbreviations； wrote on blue paper as follows：
“I have this moment received； through a special messenger； very joyful news； if it’s not a falsehood。 Bennigsen has gained it seems a complete victory over Bonaparte near Eylau。 In Petersburg every one’s jubilant and rewards have been sent to the army without stint。 Though he’s a German—I congratulate him。 Commander in Kortchevo； a certain Handrikov； I can’t make out what he’s about； full contingent of men and regulation provision not yet arrived。 Gallop over at once and say I’ll have his head off if it’s not all here within the week。 I have a letter too about the Prussian battle at Preussisch…Eylau from Petenka； he took part in it；—it’s true。 If people don’t meddle who’ve no business to meddle； even a German beats Bonaparte。 They say he’s running away in great disorder。 Mind you gallop over to Kortchevo and do the business without delay！”
Prince Andrey sighed and broke open the other letter。 It was a letter from Bilibin； two sheets covered with fine handwriting。 He folded it up without reading it； and read through once more his father’s letter； ending with the words： “Mind you gallop over to Kortchevo and do the business without delay！”
“No； excuse me； I’m not going now till the child is better；” he thought； and going to the door he glanced into the nursery。 Princess Marya was still standing at the crib； softly rocking the baby。 “Oh； and what was the other unpleasant thing he writes about？” Prince Andrey thought of the contents of his father’s letter。 “Yes。 Our troops have gained a victory over Bonaparte precisely when I’m not in the army。 Yes； yes； everything mocks at me…well and welcome too…” and he began reading the letter in French from Bilibin。 He read； not understanding half of it； read simply to escape for one moment from thinking of what he had too long； too exclusively and too anxiously been dwelling upon。
Chapter 9
BILIBIN was now in a diplomatic capacity at the headquarters of the army； and though he wrote in French； with French jests； and French turns of speech； he described the whole campaign with an impartial self…criticism and self…mockery exclusively Russian。 Bilibin wrote that the obligation of diplomatic discretion was a torture to him； and that he was happy to have in Prince Andrey a trustworthy correspondent to whom he could pour out all the spleen that had been accumulating in him at the sight of what was going on in the army。 The letter was dated some time back； before the battle of Eylau。
“Since our great success at Austerlitz； you know； my dear prince；” wrote Bilibin； “that I have not left headquarters。 Decidedly I have acquired a taste for warfare； and it is just as well for me。 What I have seen in these three months is incredible。
“I will begin ab ovo。 ‘The enemy of the human race；’ as you know； is attacking the Prussians。 The Prussians are our faithful allies； who have only deceived us three times in three years。 We stand up for them。 But it occurs that the enemy of the human race pays no attention to our fine speeches； and in his uncivil and savage way flings himself upon the Prussians without giving them time to finish the parade that they had begun； and by a couple of conjuring tricks thrashes them completely； and goes to take up his quarters in the palace of Potsdam。
“ ‘I most earnestly desire；’ writes the King of Prussia to Bonaparte； ‘that your majesty may be received and treated in my palace in a manner agreeable to you； and I have hastened to take all the measures to that end which circumstances allowed。 May I have succeeded！’ The Prussian generals pride themselves on their politeness towards the French； and lay down their arms at the first summons。
“The head of the garrison at Glogau； who has ten thousand men； asks the King of Prussia what he is to do if he is summoned to surrender。…All these are actual facts。
“In short； hoping only to produce an effect by our military attitude； we find ourselves at war in good earnest； and； what is more； at war on our own frontiers with and for the King of Prussia。 Everything is fully ready； we only want one little thing； that is the commander…in…chief。 As it is thought that the successes at Austerlitz might have been more decisive if the commander…in…chief had not been so young； the men of eighty have been passed in review； and of Prosorovsky and Kamensky the latter is preferred。 The general comes to us in a k？bik after the fashion of Suvorov； and is greeted with acclamations of joy and triumph。
“On the 4th comes the first post from Petersburg。 The mails are taken to the marshal’s room； for he likes to do everything himself。 I am called to sort the letters and take those meant for us。 The marshal looks on while we do it； and waits for the packets addressed to him。 We seek—there are none。 The marshal gets impatient； sets to work himself； and finds letters from the Emperor for Count T。； Prince V。； and others。 Then he throws himself into one of his furies。 He rages against everybody； snatches hold of the letters； opens them； and reads those from the Emperor to other people。
“ ‘Ah； so that’s how I’m being treated！ No confidence in me！ Oh； ordered to keep an eye on me； very well； get along with you！’
“And then he writes the famous order of the day to General Bennigsen：
“ ‘I am wounded； I cannot ride on horseback； consequently cannot command the army。 You have led your corps d’armée defeated to Pultusk！ Here it remains exposed and destitute of wood and of forage； and in need of assistance； and so； as you reported yourself to Count Buxhevden yesterday； you must think of retreat to our frontier； a