"Do order them to form into battalion columns and go round the village!" he said angrily to a general who had ridden up.

" Don't you understand, your excellency, my dear sir, that you must not defile through narrow village streets when we are marching against the enemy?" "I intended to re-form them beyond the village, your excellency," answered the general.

Kutuzov laughed bitterly.

"You'll make a fine thing of it, deploying in sight of the enemy! Very fine!" "The enemy is still far away, your excellency.

According to the dispositions..." "The dispositions!" exclaimed Kutuzov bitterly.