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"Stop jesting," said Prince Andrew sadly and seriously. This news

grieved him and yet he was pleased.

As soon as he learned that the Russian army was in such a

hopeless situation it occurred to him that it was he who was

destined to lead it out of this position; that here was the

Toulon that would lift him from the ranks of obscure officers and

offer him the first step to fame! Listening to Bilibin he was

already imagining how on reaching the army he would give an

opinion at the war council which would be the only one that could

save the army, and how he alone would be entrusted with the

executing of the plan.

"Stop this jesting," he said.