- This chapter is straight-up fantastic.
- Dolokhov and Petya put on French uniforms, saddle up, and just ride right into the middle of the French camp, bluffing their way past a guy asking for a password.
- Wow. That’s some intense bravery right there.
- It helps, of course, that every educated Russian at the time speaks flawless French.
- Dolokhov does the talking, asking questions about how many soldiers there are, and whether they’ve seen his totally made-up regiment anywhere.
- The French soldiers are a bit suspicious but Dolokhov is so ridiculously cool and collected that none of them openly question him.
- Dolokhov goes all out. He hands off their horses to the French while asking questions, then makes a couple snide remarks about the Russians. Then asks for the horses back so he and Petya can ride off.
- Will the horses be brought? There’s a moment of doubt, but they are.
- The two very slowly ride off.
- Petya is so full of excitement and hopped up on adrenaline that he hugs and kisses Dolokhov. (This was a time when men showed more physical affection for each other.)