Onreturningfromthereview, KutuzovtooktheAustriangeneralintohisprivateroomand, callinghisadjutant, askedforsomepapersrelatingtotheconditionofthetroopsontheirarrival, andthelettersthathadcomefromtheArchdukeFerdinand, .
"Ah!..." saidKutuzovglancingatBolkonskiasifbythisexclamationhewasaskingtheadjutanttowait, andhewentonwiththeconversationinFrench.
"AllIcansay, General," ."AllIcansay, General, isthatifthematterdependedonmypersonalwishes, —ofwhomAustriahassomany—, General."
AndKutuzovsmiledinawaythatseemedtosay, "YouarequiteatlibertynottobelievemeandIdon'tevencarewhetheryoudoornot, ."
TheAustriangenerallookeddissatisfied, buthadnooptionbuttoreplyinthesametone.
"Onthecontrary," hesaid, inaquerulousandangrytonethatcontrastedwithhisflatteringwords, "onthecontrary, yourexcellency'sparticipationinthecommonactionishighlyvaluedbyHisMajesty; butwethinkthepresentdelayisdeprivingthesplendidRussiantroopsandtheircommanderofthelaurelstheyhavebeenaccustomedtowinintheirbattles," heconcludedhisevidentlyprearrangedsentence.
Kutuzovbowedwiththesamesmile.
"Butthatismyconviction, andjudgingbythelastletterwithwhichHisHighnesstheArchdukeFerdinandhashonoredme, IimaginethattheAustriantroops, underthedirectionofsoskillfulaleaderasGeneralMack, havebynowalreadygainedadecisivevictoryandnolongerneedouraid," saidKutuzov.
