Pagina 435 de 3800

The night was dark but starry, the road showed black in the snow

that had fallen the previous day-the day of the battle. Reviewing

his impressions of the recent battle, picturing pleasantly to

himself the impression his news of a victory would create, or

recalling the send-off given him by the commander in chief and

his fellow officers, Prince Andrew was galloping along in a post

chaise enjoying the feelings of a man who has at length begun to

attain a long-desired happiness. As soon as he closed his eyes

his ears seemed filled with the rattle of the wheels and the

sensation of victory. Then he began to imagine that the Russians

were running away and that he himself was killed, but he quickly

roused himself with a feeling of joy, as if learning afresh that

this was not so but that on the contrary the French had run away.

He again recalled all the details of the victory and his own calm

courage during the battle, and feeling reassured he dozed off....