第459章

第459章onthe25thofaugust,ontheeveofthebattleofborodino,theprefectofthefrenchemperor’spalace,m.debeausset,andcolonelfabvier,arrived,theformerfromparis,andthelatterfrommadrid,atnapoleon’sencampmentatvaluev.

afterchangingintoacourtuniformm.debeaussetorderedthepackagehehadbroughtfortheemperortobecarriedbeforehim,andwalkedintothefirstcompartmentofnapoleon’stent,wherehebusiedhimselfwhileconversingwiththeaides-de-campinunpackingthebox.

fabvierstoodtalkingwithgeneralsofhisacquaintanceintheentranceofthetent.

theemperornapoleonhadnotyetlefthisbedroom,hewasfinishinghistoilet.withsnortsandgruntsofsatisfaction,hewasturningfirsthisstoutbackandthenhisplump,hirsutechesttowardstheflesh-brushwithwhichavaletwasrubbinghimdown.anothervalet,holdingabottlewithonefingeronit,wassprinklingeaudecologneontheemperor’spamperedpersonwithanexpressionwhichseemedtosaythathealoneknewwhereandhowmucheaudecolognemustbesprinkled.napoleon’sshorthairwaswetandmattedonhisbrow.buthisface,thoughpuffyandyellow,expressedphysicalsatisfaction.

“goon,hard,goon…”hesaid,ingandclearinghisthroat,tothevaletbrushinghim.anadjutant,whohadcomeintothebedroomtoreporttotheemperorthenumberofprisonerstakeninthelastengagement,wasstandingatthedoor,aftergivinghismessage,awaitingpermissiontowithdraw.napoleon,frowning,glancedupfromunderhisbrowsattheadjutant.“noprisoners,”herepeatedtheadjutant’swords.“theyareworkingtheirowndestruction.somuchtheworsefortherussianarmy,”saidhe.“harder,brushharder,”hesaid,hunchinghisfatshouldersbeforethevalet.“good.letbeaussetcomeinandfabviertoo,”hesaidtotheadjutant,nodding.

“iobey,sire,”andtheadjutantdisappeared.

thetwovaletsrapidlydressedhismajesty,andintheblueuniformoftheguardshewalkedintothereception-roomwithfirm,rapidsteps.

beaussetmeanwhilewasingreathastesettingupthepresenthehadbroughtfromtheempressontwochairsjustbeforetheemperorasheentered.buttheemperorhadbeensoountablyrapidovergettingdressedandcominginthathehadnottimetohavethesurprisereadyforhim.

napoleonatoncenoticedwhattheywereabout,andguessedtheywerenotready.hedidnotwanttodeprivethemofthepleasureofpreparinganagreeablesurpriseforhim.hepretendednottoseem.debeausset,andbeckonedfabviertohim.napoleon,frowningsternly,listenedinsilencetowhatfabvierwassayingofthegallantryanddevotionofhisarmy,fightingbeforesalamanca,attheotherendofeurope;theyhad,hesaid,butonedream—tobeworthyoftheiremperor,andonefear—todispleasehim.theresultofthebattlehadbeendisastrous.napoleonmadeironicalremarksduringfabvier’saccountofit,asthoughhehadnotexpectedittobeotherwiseinhisabsence.

“imustmakeupforitatmoscow,”saidnapoleon.“atant？t,”headded,andsummonedbeausset,whohadbythistimeeededinpreparinghiseffect,hadstoodsomethingonthechairsandthrownacoveroverit.

beaussetmadeacourtier’slowbow,suchasonlytheoldretainersofthebourbonsknewhowtomake,andapproachedhim,handinghimaletter.

napoleonaddressedhimgailyandpinchedhimbytheear.

“youhavebeenquick,delightedtoseeyou.well,whatisparissaying？”hesaid,hislookofsternnesssuddenlychangingtothemostcordialexpression.

“sire,allparisisregrettingyourabsence,”answeredbeausset,asindutybound.butthoughnapoleonknewbeaussetwasboundtosaythisorsomethinglikeit,thoughathislucidmomentsheknewitwasallfalse,hewasgladtohearthisfromhim.hecondescendedtopinchhisearagain.

“iamverysorrytohavemadeyoutotravelsofar,”hesaid.

“sire,iexpectedtofindyouatleastatthegatesofmoscow,”saidbeausset.

napoleonsmiled,andliftinghisheadabsentlylookedroundtotheright.anadjutantapproachedobsequiouslywithagoldsnuffboxandofferedit.napoleontookit.