" "If they had known that you wished it, the entertainment would have been put off," said the prince, who, like a wound-up clock, by force of habit said things he did not even wish to be believed.

"Don't tease! Well, and what has been decided about Novosiltsev's dispatch? You know everything.

" "What can one say about it?" replied the prince in a cold, listless tone.

" What has been decided? They have decided that Buonaparte has burnt his boats, and I believe that we are ready to burn ours.