Rostóv gazed at what was happening before him as at a hunt. He felt instinctively that if the hussars struck at the French dragoons now, the latter could not withstand them, but if a charge was to be made it must be done now, at that very moment, or it would be too late. He looked around. A captain, standing beside him, was gazing like himself with eyes fixed on the cavalry below them.

“Andréy Sevastyánych!” said Rostóv. “You know, we could crush them.⁠ ⁠…”

“A fine thing too!” replied the captain, “and really⁠ ⁠…”