第88章

第88章“don’tbeinsuchahurry,yourhonour,”theclerkansweredrudelyandangrily,lookingatkozlovsky.throughthedoorheheardatthatmomentkutuzov’svoice,eageranddissatisfied,andotherunfamiliarvoicesinterruptinghim.thesoundofthosevoices,theinattentionwithwhichkozlovskyglancedathim,thechurlishnessoftheharassedclerk,thefactthattheclerkandkozlovskyweresittingroundatubontheflooratsolittledistancefromthecommander-in-chief,andthatthecossacksholdingthehorseslaughedsoloudlyatthewindow—allmadeprinceandreyfeelthatsomegravecalamitywashangingoverthem.

princeandreyturnedtokozlovskywithurgentquestions.

“inaminute,prince,”saidkozlovsky.“thedispositionofbagration’stroops…”

“whataboutcapitulation？”

“nothingofthesort;arrangementshavebeenmadeforabattle！”

princeandreywenttowardsthedoorfromwhichthesoundofvoicescame.butatthemomentwhenhewasgoingtoopenthedoor,thevoicesintheroompaused,thedooropenedofitself,andkutuzovwithhiseaglenoseandpodgyfaceappearedinthedoorway.princeandreywasstandingexactlyoppositekutuzov;butfromtheexpressionofthecommander-in-chief’soneseeingeyeitwasevidentthatthoughtandanxietysoengrossedhimastoveil,asitwere,hisvision.helookedstraightintohisadjutant’sfaceanddidnotrecognisehim.

“well,haveyoufinished？”headdressedkozlovsky.

“inasecond,yourexcellency.”

bagration,ashortleanman,notyetelderly,witharesoluteandimpassivefaceoforientaltype,cameoutafterthecommander-in-chief.

“ihavethehonourtoreportmyself,”princeandreysaidforthesecondtime,ratherloudly,ashehandedkutuzovanenvelope.

“ah,fromvienna？verygood！later,later！”kutuzovwentouttothestepswithbagration.

“well,prince,good-bye,”hesaidtobagration.“christbewithyou！maymyblessingbringyouagreatvictory！”kutuzov’sfacesuddenlysoftened,andthereweretearsinhiseyes.withhisleftarmhedrewbagrationtohim,whilewithhisrighthand,onwhichheworearing,hecrossedhimwithagestureevidentlyhabitual.heofferedhimhispodgycheek,butbagrationkissedhimontheneck.“christbewithyou！”repeatedkutuzov,andhewenttowardshiscarriage.“getinwithme,”hesaidtobolkonsky.

“yourmosthighexcellency,ishouldhavelikedtobeofusehere.allowmetoremaininprincebagration’sdetachment.”

“getin,”saidkutuzov,andnoticingthatbolkonskystilldelayed：“ihaveneedofgoodofficersmyself,myself.”

theytooktheirseatsinthecarriageanddroveforsomeminutesinsilence.

“thereisagreatdeal,agreatdealofeverythingstillbeforeus,”hesaid,withanexpressionofold-ageclairvoyance,asthoughhesawallthatwaspassinginbolkonsky’sheart.“ifone-tenthpartofhisdetachmentcomesin,ishallthankgod,”addedkutuzov,asthoughtalkingtohimself.

princeandreyglancedatkutuzov,andunconsciouslyhiseyeswerecaughtbythecarefullywashedseamsofthescaronhistemple,wherethebullethadgonethroughhisheadatismail,andtheemptyeyesocket,notayardfromhim.“yes,hehastherighttospeaksocalmlyofthedestructionofthesemen,”thoughtbolkonsky.

“that’swhyiaskyoutosendmetothatdetachment,”hesaid.

kutuzovmadenoreply.heseemedtohaveforgottenwhatwassaidtohim,andsatplungedinthought.fiveminuteslater,swayingeasilyinthesoftcarriagesprings,kutuzovaddressedprinceandrey.therewasnotraceofemotiononhisfacenow.withdelicateironyhequestionedprinceandreyaboutthedetailsofhisinterviewwiththeemperor,aboutthecommentshehadheardatcourtonthekremsengagement,andaboutladiesoftheircommonacquaintance.