the surface. For, to make the acquaintance of a
stranger who seems to be a counterpart of one's self in thought and
taste, is like the first hearing of a kindred language such as Dutch to
the English ear. At first it sounds like one's own tongue with a hundred
identical words, but on closer listening it will be found that the words
mean something else, and that the whole is incomprehensible and the more
difficult to acquire by the very reason of its resemblance.

Napoleon thought that the Russians would act as his enemies of the
Latin race had acted. He thought that like his own people they would be
over-confident, urging each other on to great deeds by loud words and a
hundred boasts. But the Russians lack self-confidence, are timid rather
than over-bold, dreamy rather than fiery. Only their women are glib of
speech. He thought that they would begin very brilliantly and end with a
compromise, heart-breaking at first and soon lived down.

"They are savages out here in the plains," he said. "It is a barbaric
and stupid instinct that makes them destroy their own property for the
sake of hampering us. As we approach Moscow we shall find that the
more civilized inhabitants of the villages, enervated by an easy
life, rendered selfish by possession of wealth, will not abandon their
property, but will barter and sell to us and find themselves the victims
of our might."

And the army believed him. For they always believed him. Faith can,
indeed, move mountains. It carried four hundred thousand men, without
provisions, through a barren land.

And now, in sight of the golden city, the army was still hungry. Nay! it
was ragged already. In three columns it converged on the doomed capital,
driving before it like a swarm of flies the Cossacks who harassed the
advance.

Here again, on the hill looking down into the smiling valley of the
Moskwa, the unexpected awaited the invaders. The city, shimmering in
the sunlight like the realization of some Arab's dream, was silent.
The Cossacks had disappeared. Except those around the Kremlin, towering
above the river, the city had no walls.

The army halted while aides-de-camp flew hither and thither on their
weary horses. Charles Darragon, sunburnt, dusty, hoarse with cheering,
was among the first. He looked right and left for de Casimir, but
could not see him. He had not seen his chief since Borodino, for he was
temporarily attached to the staff of Prince Eugene, who had lost heavily
a