Theofficerswereabouttotakeleave, butPrinceAndrew, apparentlyreluctanttobeleftalonewithhisfriend, 'shugestoutfigureandlistenedtohistalkofMoscowandthepositionofourarmy, , andhisexpressionwassoforbiddingthatPierreaddressedhisremarkschieflytothegood-naturedbattalioncommander.
"Soyouunderstandthewholepositionofourtroops?" PrinceAndrewinterruptedhim.
"Yes—thatis, howdoyoumean?" saidPierre."NotbeingamilitarymanIcan'tsayIhaveunderstooditfully, butIunderstandthegeneralposition."
"Well, then, youknowmorethananyoneelse, beitwhoitmay," saidPrinceAndrew.
"Oh!" saidPierre, lookingoverhisspectaclesinperplexityatPrinceAndrew."Well, andwhatdoyouthinkofKutuzov'sappointment?" heasked.
"Iwasverygladofhisappointment, that'sallIknow," repliedPrinceAndrew.
"....Whatdoyouthinkofhim?"
"Askthem," repliedPrinceAndrew, indicatingtheofficers.
PierrelookedatTimokhinwiththecondescendinglyinterrogativesmilewithwhicheverybodyinvoluntarilyaddressedthatofficer.
"Weseelightagain, sincehisSerenityhasbeenappointed, yourexcellency," saidTimokhintimidly, andcontinuallyturningtoglanceathiscolonel.
"Whyso?" askedPierre.
"Well, tomentiononlyfirewoodandfodder, , , weweregoingaway, sohewouldgetitall; wasn'titso, yourexcellency?" andagainTimokhinturnedtotheprince."Butwedaren'..."
"Thenwhywasitforbidden?"
Timokhinlookedaboutinconfusion, .
