Chapter I
It is now October 1805. If I remembered when this book started, that would presumably tell me how much time had passed. I just checked; it began in July 1805. That doesn't tell me how long it's been since Andrew left Lisa with his father; a lot has happened since that first party.
A regiment is about to be inspected, so after a twenty mile march, they've been cleaning all night so that they look like gentlemen and not soldiers who've just marched twenty miles. This is the same kind of ridiculousness that had Lisa and Marya crying "sister my sister" at each other for ten minutes straight, having only met once before.
The only thing that is not completely spick and span is their boots, because they've marched a total of 700 miles without new ones, despite repeated requests. But they look all right. That's the main thing. By jingo, they are having a jolly good time.
Then, they get another message. The intention was that they be inspected in the condition in which they'd actually arrived, to show the shocking lack of provisions (such as boots). They have an hour to change into their great coats and muddy themselves up. Maybe they should just roll around on the ground? That would show off their nice holey boots. The regimental commander shouts at Dolokhov for wearing a great coat of the wrong colour, despite the fact that he's wearing it with the regimental commander's permission, because he's been degraded from an officer. He shouts a bit about badges and the importance of standing straight, then comes back to complain about Dolokhov some more. Dolokhov tells him off.
Chapter II
Kutuzov arrives to inspect the regiment. The regimental commander is very obsequious. Kutuzov does notice the boots and looks very disappointed. Kutuzov greets Timokhin, because he served with him in the past, which means that the regimental commander has to suddenly decide to like him. Kutuzov also reveals that Timokhin is a drunk; this may or may not be relevant in future. Prince Andrew decides to remind Kutuzov about Dolokhov being presented; apparently, he'd been told to do that before. Kutzukov states that he hopes Dolokhov is learning a lesson through his demotion, and Dolokhov loudly proclaims that he only hopes for a chance to prove himself to the Emperor and Russia. Dolohov's entire attitude reads as 'bite me', tbh (I couldn't find a gif of Yuri saying 'bite me', so have two gifs instead).
Incidentally, I just looked it up and Russian Princes may be better translated as English Dukes or Barons.
The regimental commander and Timokhin have a nice gossip about Dolokhov as the army moves on. Apparently, he swings between sensible and "like a beast". He's also a pretty legendary figure amongst the men, who then turn to gossiping about the war and Napoleon. The band is called to the front to sing a nice song about Father Kutuzov. Zherkov, another soldier, has now decided that he can be friends with Dolokhov again, now that Dolokhov has been acknowledged by General Kuzutkov. Dolokhov's attitude is still 'bite me', disguised beneath a layer of politeness.
...and, with the end of this chapter, the book finally goes from 10% to 11%!
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