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nd those birch…trees； with their light and shade； and the curling clouds and the smoke of the fires； everything around seemed suddenly transformed into something weird and menacing。 A shiver ran down his back。 Rising quickly to his feet； he went out of the barn； and began to walk about。
He heard voices behind the barn。
“Who’s there？” called Prince Andrey。
The red…nosed Captain Timohin； once the officer in command of Dolohov’s company； now in the lack of officers promoted to the command of a battalion； came shyly into the barn。 He was followed by an adjutant and the paymaster of the regiment。
Prince Andrey got up hurriedly； listened to the matters relating to their duties that the officers had come to him about； gave a few instructions； and was about to dismiss them； when he heard a familiar； lisping voice behind the barn。
“Que diable！” said the voice of some one stumbling over something。
Prince Andrey； peeping out of the barn； saw Pierre； who had just hit against a post lying on the ground； and had almost fallen over。 Prince Andrey always disliked seeing people from his own circle； especially Pierre； who reminded him of all the painful moments he had passed through on his last stay at Moscow。
“Well！” he cried。 “What fate has brought you？ I didn’t expect to see you。”
While he said this there was in his eyes and his whole face more than coldness； positive hostility； which Pierre noticed at once。 He had approached the barn with the greatest eagerness； but now； on seeing Prince Andrey’s face； he felt constrained and ill at ease。
“I have come … you know … simply … I have come … it’s interesting；” said Pierre； who had so many times already that day repeated that word “interesting” without meaning it。 “I wanted to see the battle！”
“Yes； yes； but your mason brethren； what do they say of war？ How would they avert it？” said Prince Andrey sarcastically。 “Well； tell me about Moscow。 And my people？ Have they reached Moscow at last？” he asked seriously。
“Yes。 Julie Drubetskoy told me so。 I went to call； but missed them。 They had started for your Moscow estate。”
Chapter 25
THE OFFICERS would have taken leave； but Prince Andrey； apparently unwilling to be left alone with his friend； pressed them to stay and have some tea。 Benches were set； and tea was brought。 With some astonishment the officers stared at Pierre’s huge； bulky figure； and heard his talk of Moscow； and of the position of our troops； which he had succeeded in getting a view of。 Prince Andrey did not speak； and his face was so forbidding that Pierre addressed his remarks more to the simple…hearted Timohin than to Bolkonsky。
“So you understand the whole disposition of the troops？” Prince Andrey put in。
“Yes。 At least； how do you mean？” said Pierre。 “As I am not a military man； I can’t say I do fully； but still I understand the general arrangement。”
“Well； then； you know more than anybody else；” said Prince Andrey。
“Oh！” said Pierre incredulously； looking over his spectacles at Prince Andrey。 “Well； and what do you say of the appointment of Kutuzov？” he asked。
“I was very glad of his appointment； that’s all I know；” said Prince Andrey。
“Well； tell me your opinion of Barclay de Tolly。 In Moscow they are saying all kinds of things about him。 What do you think of him？”
“Ask them；” said Prince Andrey； indicating the officers。
With the condescendingly doubtful smile with which every one addressed him； Pierre looked at Timohin。
“It was a gleam of light in the dark； your excellency； when his highness took the command；” said Timohin； stealing shy glances continually at his colonel。
“Why so？” asked Pierre。
“Well； as regards firewood and food； let me tell you。 Why； all the way we retreated from Sventsyan not a twig； nor a wisp of hay； nor anything； dare we touch。 We were retreating； you see； so he would get it； wouldn’t he； your excellency？” he said； turning to his prince； “but we mustn’t dare to。 In our regiment two officers were court…martialled for such things。 Well； since his highness is in command； it’s all straightforward as regards that。 We see daylight …”
“Then why did he forbid it？”
Timohin looked round in confusion； at a loss how to answer such a question。 Pierre turned to Prince Andrey with the same inquiry。
“Why； so as not to waste the country we were leaving for the enemy；” said Prince Andrey； with angry sarcasm。 “That’s a first principle： never to allow pillage and accustom your men to marauding。 And at Smolensk too he very correctly judged that the French were the stronger and might overcome us。 But he could not understand；” cried Prince Andrey in a voice suddenly shrill； “he could not understand that for the first time we were fighting on Russian soil； that there was a spirit in the men such as I had never seen before； that we had twice in succession beaten back the French； and that success had multiplied our strength tenfold。 He ordered a retreat； and all our efforts and our curses were in vain。 He had no thought of treachery； he tried to do everything for the best and thought over everything well。 But for that very reason he was no good。 He is no good now just because be considers everything soundly and accurately as every German must。 How can I explain to you。 … Well； your father has a German valet； say； and he’s an excellent valet and satisfies all his requirements better than you can do and all’s well and good； but if your father is sick unto death； you’ll send away the valet and wait on your father yourself with your awkward； unpractised hands； and be more comfort to him than a skilful man who’s a stranger。 That’s how we have done with Barclay。 While Russia was well； she might be served by a stranger； and an excellent minister he was； but as soon as she’s in danger； she wants a man of her own kith and kin。 So you in your club have been making him out to be a traitor！ They slander him now as a traitor； and afterwards； ashamed of their false accusations； they will suddenly glorify him as a hero or a genius； which would be even more unfair to him。 He’s an honest and conscientious German …”
“They say he’s an able general； though；” said Pierre。
“I don’t know what’s meant by an able general；” Prince Andrey said ironically。
“An able general；” said Pierre； “well； it’s one who foresees all contingencies … well； divines the enemy’s projects。”
“But that’s impossible；” said Prince Andrey； as though of a matter long ago settled。
Pierre looked at him in surprise。
“But you know they say；” he said； “that war is like a game of chess。”
“Yes；” said Prince Andrey； “only with this little difference； that in chess you may think over each move as long as you please； that you are not limited as to time； and with this further difference that a knight is always stronger than a pawn and two pawns are always stronger than one； while in war a battalion is sometimes stronger than a division； and sometimes weaker than a company。 No one can ever be certain of the relative strength of armies。 Believe me；” he said； “if anything did depend on the arrangements made by the staff； I would be there； and helping to make them； but instead of that I have the honour of servi