of 1807 which seemed to him so recent. “Bennigsen should have advanced into Prussia sooner, then things would have taken a different turn …”
“But, Prince,” Dessalles began timidly, “the letter mentions Vítebsk. …”
“Ah, the letter? Yes …” replied the prince peevishly. “Yes … yes …” His face suddenly took on a morose expression. He paused. “Yes, he writes that the French were beaten at … at … what river is it?”
Dessalles dropped his eyes.
“The prince says nothing about that,” he remarked gently.
“Doesn’t he? But I didn’t invent it myself.”
No one spoke for a long time.
“Yes … yes … Well, Mikháil Ivánovich,” he suddenly went on, raising his head and pointing to the plan of the building, “tell me how you mean to alter it. …”