He would say a lot of pleasant things, ask you to dinner" ("That would not be bad as regards the unwritten code," thought Boris), "but nothing more would come of it.

There will soon be a battalion of us aides-de-camp and adjutants! But this is what we'll do: I have a good friend, an adjutant general and an excellent fellow, Prince Dolgorukov; and though you may not know it, the fact is that now Kutuzov with his staff and all of us count for nothing.

Everything is now centered round the Emperor.

So we will go to Dolgorukov; I have to go there anyhow and I have already spoken to him about you.

We shall see whether he cannot attach you to himself or find a place for you somewhere nearer the sun.