OnourrightflankcommandedbyBagration, atnineo''sdemandtocommencetheaction, andwishingtoavertresponsibilityfromhimself, , evenifthemessengerwerenotkilled (whichheverylikelywouldbe), andfoundthecommander-in-chief (whichwouldbeverydifficult), hewouldnotbeabletogetbackbeforeevening.

Bagrationcasthislarge, expressionless, sleepyeyesroundhissuite, andtheboyishfaceRostov, breathlesswithexcitementandhope, .

"AndifIshouldmeetHisMajestybeforeImeetthecommander-in-chief, yourexcellency?" saidRostov, withhishandtohiscap.

"YoucangivethemessagetoHisMajesty," saidDolgorukov, hurriedlyinterruptingBagration.

OnbeingrelievedfrompicketdutyRostovhadmanagedtogetafewhours' sleepbeforemorningandfeltcheerful, bold, andresolute, withelasticityofmovement, faithinhisgoodfortune, andgenerallyinthatstateofmindwhichmakeseverythingseempossible, pleasant, andeasy.

Allhiswisheswerebeingfulfilledthatmorning: therewastobeageneralengagementinwhichhewastakingpart, morethanthat, hewasorderlytothebravestgeneral, andstillmore, hewasgoingwithamessagetoKutuzov, , hehadagoodhorseunderhim, 'stroops, whichhadnotyetadvancedintoactionbutwerestandingmotionless; thenhecametotheregionoccupiedbyUvarov'scavalryandherehenoticedastirandsignsofpreparationforbattle; havingpassedUvarov'.