It would almost seem that he doubted his own ascendency over his companion and master, which semblance was further increased by a subtle ring of anxiety in his voice while he argued.

It is possible that Karl Steinmetz suspected the late Princess Natasha of having transmitted to her son a small hereditary portion of that Slavonic exaltation and recklessness of consequence which he deplored.
"Then you turn back at Tver ?" enquired Paul, at length breaking a long silence.
"Yes; I must not leave Osterno just now.

Perhaps later, when the winter has come, I will follow.

Russia is quiet during the winter, very quiet.
Ha, ha!" He shrugged his shoulders and shivered.

But the shiver was interrupted.
He raised himself in his saddle and peered forward into the gathering darkness.
"What is that," he asked sharply, "on the road in front ?" Paul had already seen it.
"It looks like a horse," he answered--"a strayed horse, for it has no rider." They were going west, and what little daylight there was lived on the western horizon.