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He spoke so rapidly that he did not finish half of his words； but his son was used to understanding him。 He led his son to the bureau； opened it； drew out a drawer； and took out of it a manuscript book filled with his bold； big； compressed handwriting。
“I am sure to die before you。 See； here are my notes； to be given to the Emperor after my death。 Now here； see； is a bank note and a letter： this is a prize for any one who writes a history of Suvorov’s wars。 Send it to the academy。 Here are my remarks； read them after I am gone for your own sake； you will find them profitable。”
Andrey did not tell his father that he probably had many years before him。 He knew there was no need to say that。
“I will do all that； father；” he said。
“Well； now； good…bye！” He gave his son his hand to kiss and embraced him。 “Remember one thing； Prince Andrey； if you are killed； it will be a grief to me in my old age…” He paused abruptly； and all at once in a shrill voice went on： “But if I learn that you have not behaved like the son of Nikolay Bolkonsky； I shall be … ashamed；” he shrilled。
“You needn’t have said that to me； father；” said his son； smiling。
The old man did not speak。
“There’s another thing I wanted to ask you；” went on Prince Andrey； “if I’m killed； and if I have a son； don’t let him slip out of your hands； as I said to you yesterday； let him grow up with you…please。”
“Not give him up to your wife？” said the old man； and he laughed。
They stood mutually facing each other。 The old man’s sharp eyes were fixed on his son’s eyes。 A quiver passed over the lower part of the old prince’s face。
“We have said good…bye…go along！” he said suddenly。 “Go along！” he cried in a loud and wrathful voice； opening the study door。
“What is it； what’s the matter？” asked the two princesses on seeing Prince Andrey； and catching a momentary glimpse of the figure of the old man in his white dressing…gown； wearing his spectacles and no wig； and shouting in a wrathful voice。
Prince Andrey sighed and made no reply。
“Now； then；” he said； turning to his wife； and that “now then” sounded like a cold sneer； as though he had said； “Now； go through your little performance。”
“Andrey？ Already！” said the little princess； turning pale and looking with dismay at her husband。 He embraced her。 She shrieked and fell swooning on his shoulder。
He cautiously withdrew the shoulder； on which she was lying； glanced into her face and carefully laid her in a low chair。
“Good…bye； Masha；” he said gently…to his sister； and they kissed one another’s hands； then with rapid steps he walked out of the room。
The little princess lay in the arm…chair； Mademoiselle Bourienne rubbed her temples。 Princess Marya； supporting her sister…in…law； still gazed with her fine eyes full of tears at the door by which Prince Andrey had gone； and she made the sign of the cross at it。 From the study she heard like pistol shots the repeated and angry sounds of the old man blowing his nose。 Just after Prince Andrey had gone； the door of the study was flung open； and the stern figure of the old man in his white dressing…gown peeped out。
“Gone？ Well； and a good thing too！” he said； looking furiously at the fainting princess。 He shook his head reproachfully and slammed the door。
Part Two
Chapter 1
IN THE OCTOBER OF 1805 the Russian troops were occupying the towns and villages of the Austrian archduchy； and fresh regiments kept arriving from Russia and encamping about the fortress of Braunau； burdening the inhabitants on whom they were billeted。 Braunau was the chief headquarters of the commander…in…chief； Kutuzov。
On the 11th of October 1805； one of the infantry regiments that had just reached Braunau had halted half a mile from the town； awaiting the inspection of the commander…in…chief。 In spite of the un…Russian character of the country and the environment （the fruit gardens； the stone walls； the tiled roofs； the mountains in the distance； the foreign peasants； who looked with curiosity at the Russian soldiers）； the regiment looked exactly as every Russian regiment always looks when it is getting ready for inspection anywhere in the heart of Russia。 In the evening； on the last stage of the march； the order had been received that the commander…in…chief would inspect the regiment on the march。 Though the wording of the order did not seem quite clear to the general in command of the regiment； and the question arose whether they were to take it to mean； in marching order or not； it was decided on a consultation between the majors to present the regiment in parade order on the ground； since； as the saying is； it is better to bow too low than not to bow low enough。 And the soldiers after a twenty…five mile march had not closed their eyes； but had spent the night mending and cleaning； while the adjutants and officers had been reckoning up and calculating。 And by the morning the regiment； instead of the straggling； disorderly crowd it had been on the last march； the previous evening； presented the spectacle of an organised mass of two thousand men； of whom every one knew his part and his duty； and had every button and every strap in its proper position； and shining with cleanliness。 It was not only the outside that was in good order； if the commander…in…chief should think fit to peep below the uniform； he would see on every man alike a clean shirt； and in every knapsack he would find the regulation number of articles。 There was only one circumstance which no one could feel comfortable about。 That was their foot…gear。 More than half the soldiers had holes in their boots。 But this deficiency was not due to any shortcoming on the part of their commanding officer； since in spite of his repeated demands the boots had not yet been granted him by the Austrian authorities； and the regiment had marched nearly a thousand miles。
The commander of the regiment was a sanguine…looking general past middle age； with grey whiskers and eyebrows； broad and thick…set； and thicker through from the chest to the back than across the shoulders。 He wore a brand…new uniform with the creases still in it where it had been folded； and rich gold epaulettes； which seemed to stand up instead of lying down on his thick shoulders。 The general had the air of a man who has successfully performed one of the most solemn duties of his life。 He walked about in front of the line； and quivered as he walked； with a slight jerk of his back at each step。 The general was unmistakably admiring his regiment； and happy in it； and it was evident that his whole brain was engrossed by the regiment。 But for all that； his quivering strut seemed to say that； apart from his military interests； he had plenty of warmth in his heart for the attractions of social life and the fair sex。
“Well； Mihail Mitritch； sir；” he said； addressing a major （the major came forward smiling； they were evidently in excellent spirits）。
“We have had our hands full all night…But it’ll do； I fancy； the regiment’s not so bad as some…eh？”
The major understood this good…humoured irony and laughed。
“Even on the Tsaritsyn review ground they wouldn’t be turned off。”
“Eh？” said the commander。
At that moment two figures