Part I

his employment, but asked him meanwhile to remain on his staff. Anatole Kurágin, whom Prince Andréy had hoped to find with the army, was not there. He had gone to Petersburg, but Prince Andréy was glad to hear this. His mind was occupied by the interests of the center that was conducting a gigantic war, and he was glad to be free for a while from the distraction caused by the thought of Kurágin. During the first four days, while no duties were required of him, Prince Andréy rode round the whole fortified camp and, by the aid of his own knowledge and by talks with experts, tried to form a definite opinion about it. But the question whether the camp was advantageous or disadvantageous remained for him undecided. Already from his military experience and what he had seen in the Austrian campaign, he had come to the conclusion that in war the most deeply considered plans have no significance and that all depends on the way unexpected movements of the enemy⁠—that cannot be foreseen⁠—are met, and on how and by whom the whole matter is handled. To clear up this last point for himself, Prince Andréy, utilizing his position and acquaintances, tried to fathom the character of the control of the army and of the men and parties engaged in it, and he deduced for himself the following of the state of affairs.