There had been some sort of a battle evidently, for the wagons were in all sorts of confusion and there were dead men and horses everywhere.

He did not stop to examine them save to make sure that the dead men were French, proving that the convoy had come from Paris.

He threaded his way among the wagons and finally reached the steps that led to the broad terrace upon which rose the chateau.
The main door was open.

There were no soldiers about, which struck him as peculiar, almost terrifying.

He went up the steps and across the terrace, and stopped before the building, almost stumbling over the bodies of two men whose uniforms were plainly Russian! He inspected them briefly and stepped toward the door of the entrance hall.