Bolkonski, verymodestlywithoutoncementioninghimself, describedtheengagementandhisreceptionbytheMinisterofWar.
"Theyreceivedmeandmynewsasonereceivesadoginagameofskittles," saidheinconclusion.
Bilibinsmiledandthewrinklesonhisfacedisappeared.
"Cependant, moncher," heremarked, examininghisnailsfromadistanceandpuckeringtheskinabovehislefteye, "malgrelahauteestimequejeprofessepourtheOrthodoxRussianarmy, j'avouequevotrevictoiren'estpasdesplusvictorieuses." [1]
HewentontalkinginthiswayinFrench, utteringonlythosewordsinRussianonwhichhewishedtoputacontemptuousemphasis.
"Comenow! YouwithallyourforcesfallontheunfortunateMortierandhisonedivision, andeventhenMortierslipsthroughyourfingers! Where'sthevictory?"
"Butseriously," saidPrinceAndrew, "wecanatanyratesaywithoutboastingthatitwasalittlebetterthanatUlm..."
"Whydidn'tyoucaptureone, justone, marshalforus?"
", asItoldyou, togetattheirrearbyseveninthemorningbuthadnotreacheditbyfiveintheafternoon."
"Andwhydidn'tyoudoitatseveninthemorning? Yououghttohavebeenthereatseveninthemorning," returnedBilibinwithasmile."Yououghttohavebeenthereatseveninthemorning."
"WhydidyounotsucceedinimpressingonBonapartebydiplomaticmethodsthathehadbetterleaveGenoaalone?" retortedPrinceAndrewinthesametone.
