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On Kutuzov's staff, among his fellow officers and in the army

generally, Prince Andrew had, as he had had in Petersburg

society, two quite opposite reputations. Some, a minority,

acknowledged him to be different from themselves and from

everyone else, expected great things of him, listened to him,

admired, and imitated him, and with them Prince Andrew was

natural and pleasant. Others, the majority, disliked him and

considered him conceited, cold, and disagreeable. But among these

people Prince Andrew knew how to take his stand so that they

respected and even feared him.

Coming out of Kutuzov's room into the waiting room with the

papers in his hand Prince Andrew came up to his comrade, the

aide-de-camp on duty, Kozlovski, who was sitting at the window

with a book.

"Well, Prince?" asked Kozlovski.

"I am ordered to write a memorandum explaining why we are not

advancing."

"And why is it?"

Prince Andrew shrugged his shoulders.

"Any news from Mack?"

"No."