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“Eh； monsieur； Russian sauce is a bit strong for a French stomach … sets the teeth on edge；” said a wrinkled clerk standing near Pierre； just when the Frenchman burst into tears。 The clerk looked about him for signs of appreciation of his jest。 Several persons laughed； but some were still gazing in dismay at the man who was undressing the second Frenchman and about to flog him。
Pierre choked； scowled； and turning quickly； went back to his chaise； still muttering something to himself as he went； and took his seat in it。 During the rest of the way he several times started； and cried out so loudly that the coachman at last asked him what he desired。
“Where are you driving？” Pierre shouted to the coachman as he drove to Lubyanka。
“You told me to drive to the governor’s；” answered the coachman。
“Fool！ dolt！” shouted Pierre； abusing his coachman； a thing he very rarely did。 “I told you home； and make haste； blockhead！ This very day I must set off；” Pierre said to himself。
At the sight of the tortured Frenchman and the crowd round the Lobnoye Place； Pierre had so unhesitatingly decided that he could stay no longer in Moscow； and must that very day set off to join the army； that it seemed to him either that he had told the coachman so； or that the coachman ought to know it of himself。
On reaching home Pierre told his omniscient and omnipotent head…coachman； Yevstafitch； who was known to all Moscow； that he was going to drive that night to Mozhaisk to the army； and gave orders for his saddle horses to be sent on there。 All this could not be arranged in one day； and therefore by Yevstafitch’s representations Pierre was induced to defer his departure till next day to allow time for relays of horses to be sent on ahead。
The 24th was a bright day after a spell of bad weather； and after dinner on that day Pierre set out from Moscow。 Changing horses in the night at Perhushkovo； Pierre learned that a great battle had been fought that evening。 He was told that the earth had been vibrating there at Perhushkovo from the cannon。 No one could answer Pierre’s question whether the battle was a victory or a defeat。 This was the battle of the 24th at Shevardino。 Towards dawn Pierre approached Mozhaisk。
Troops were quartered in all the houses in Mozhaisk； and at the inn； where Pierre was met by his coachman and postillion； there was not a room to spare； the whole place was full of officers。
From Mozhaisk onwards troops were halting or marching everywhere。 Cossacks； foot soldiers； horse soldiers； waggons； gun…carriages； and cannons were everywhere。
Pierre pushed on as fast as possible； and the further he got and the more deeply he plunged into this ocean of soldiers； the stronger became the thrill of uneasiness and of a new pleasurable sensation。 It was a feeling akin to what he had felt at the Slobodsky Palace on the Tsar’s visit； a sense of the urgent necessity of taking some step and making some sacrifice。 He was conscious now of a glad sense that all that constitutes the happiness of life； comfort； wealth； even life itself； were all dust and ashes； which it was a joy to fling away in comparison with something else。 … What that something else was Pierre could not have said； and indeed he did not seek to get a clear idea； for whose sake and for what object he found such peculiar joy in sacrificing all。 He was not interested in knowing the object of the sacrifice； but the sacrifice itself afforded him a new joyful sensation。
Chapter 19
ON THE 24th was fought the battle before the redoubt of Shevardino； on the 25th not a shot was fired on either side； on the 26th was fought the battle of Borodino。
How and with what object were the battles of Shevardino and Borodino fought？ Why was the battle of Borodino fought？ There was not the slightest sense in it； either for the French or for the Russians。 The immediate result of it was； and was bound to be； for the Russians； that we were brought nearer to the destruction of Moscow （the very thing we dreaded above everything in the world）； and for the French； that they were brought nearer to the destruction of their army （which they； too； dreaded above everything in the world）。 That result was at the time perfectly obvious； and yet Napoleon offered battle； and Kutuzov accepted it。
If military leaders were guided by reasonable considerations only； it would seem that it must have been clear to Napoleon that in advancing two thousand versts into the heart of the country and giving battle； with the probable contingency of losing a quarter of his men； he was going to certain destruction； and that it must have been equally clear to Kutuzov that in accepting that battle and risking the loss of a fourth of his army； he would infallibly lose Moscow。 For Kutuzov this was mathematically clear； as clear as it is at chess； that if I have one piece less than my adversary and I exchange pieces； I am certain to be a loser by it； and therefore must avoid exchanging pieces。 When my adversary has sixteen pieces and I have fourteen； I am only one…eighth weaker than he； but when we have exchanged thirteen pieces； he is three times as strong as I am。
Up to the battle of Borodino our forces were approximately five…sixths of the French； but after that battle they were only one…half—that is； before the battle a hundred thousand against a hundred and twenty thousand； and after the battle fifty thousand against a hundred thousand。 And yet the shrewd and experienced Kutuzov fought the battle。 Napoleon； a military genius； as he is called； gave battle； losing a fourth of his army and drawing his line of communications out further than ever。 If we are told that he expected the taking of Moscow to complete the campaign； as the taking of Vienna had done； we may say that there are many evidences to the contrary。 Napoleon’s historians themselves tell us that he wanted to halt as soon as he reached Smolensk； that he knew the danger of his extended line； and that he knew that the taking of Moscow would not be the end of the campaign； because from Smolensk he had learned in what condition the towns were left when abandoned to him； and he had not received a single reply to his reiterated expressions of a desire to open negotiations。
In giving and accepting battle at Borodino； Kutuzov and Napoleon acted without design or rational plan。 After the accomplished fact historians have brought forward cunningly devised evidences of the foresight and genius of the generals； who of all the involuntary instruments of the world’s history were the most slavish and least independent agents。
The ancients have transmitted to us examples of epic poems in which the whole interest of history is concentrated in a few heroic figures； and under their influence we are still unable to accustom our minds to the idea that history of that kind is meaningless at our stage in the development of humanity。
In answer to the next question； how the battles of Borodino and Shevardino came to be fought； we have also a very definite； well…known； and utterly false account。 All the historians describe the affair thus：
The Russian army； they say； in its retreat from Smolensk sought out the best position for a general engagement； and such a position they fo