," added the adjutant with a smile. At
those words Kutuzov looked round. He was listening to the general's
report--which consisted chiefly of a criticism of the position at
Tsarevo-Zaymishche--as he had listened to Denisov, and seven years
previously had listened to the discussion at the Austerlitz council of
war. He evidently listened only because he had ears which, though there
was a piece of tow in one of them, could not help hearing; but it
was evident that nothing the general could say would surprise or even
interest him, that he knew all that would be said beforehand, and heard
it all only because he had to, as one has to listen to the chanting of
a service of prayer. All that Denisov had said was clever and to the
point. What the general was saying was even more clever and to
the point, but it was evident that Kutuzov despised knowledge
and cleverness, and knew of something else that would decide the
matter--something independent of cleverness and knowledge. Prince
Andrew watched the commander in chief's face attentively, and the only
expression he could see there was one of boredom, curiosity as to the
meaning of the feminine whispering behind the door, and a desire to
observe propriety. It was evident that Kutuzov despised cleverness and
learning and even the patriotic feeling shown by Denisov, but despised
them not because of his own intellect, feelings, or knowledge--he did
not try to display any of these--but because of something else. He
despised them because of his old age and experience of life. The only
instruction Kutuzov gave of his own accord during that report referred
to looting by the Russian troops. At the end of the report the general
put before him for signature a paper relating to the recovery of payment
from army commanders for green oats mown down by the soldiers, when
landowners lodged petitions for compensation.

After hearing the matter, Kutuzov smacked his lips together and shook
his head.

"Into the stove... into the fire with it! I tell you once for all, my
dear fellow," said he, "into the fire with all such things! Let them cut
the crops and burn wood to their hearts' content. I don't order it
or allow it, but I don't exact compensation either. One can't get on
without it. 'When wood is chopped the chips will fly.'" He looked at the
paper again. "Oh, this German precision!" he muttered, shaking his head.

CHAPTER XVI

"Well, that's all!" said Kutuzov as he signed the last