第368章

第368章fromtheindifferentandperplexedfacesofthemarshalspresentitwasobviousthattheywerepuzzledtodiscoverwhereinlaythepointoftheretort，estedbybalashov’sintonation.“iftherewereapoint，wefailtocatchit，ortheremarkwasperhapsreallypointless，”theirexpressionseemedtosay.solittleeffecthadthisretortthatnapoleonindeedcertainlysawnothinginit；andhena？velyaskedbalashovthroughwhattownsthedirectroadfromvilnatomoscowpassed.balashov，whohadbeenalldinner-timeonhisguard，repliedthatas，accordingtotheproverb，everyroadleadstorome，everyroadleadstomoscow；thattherewereverymanyroads，andamongthemwastheroadtopoltava，theoneselectedbycharlesxii.balashovcouldnothelpflushingwithdelightatthefelicityofthisreply.balashovhadhardlyutteredthelastword“poltava”whencaulaincourtbegantalkingofthebadnessoftheroadfrompetersburgtomoscowandhisownpetersburgreminiscences.

afterdinnertheywenttodrinkcoffeeinnapoleon’sstudy，whichhadfourdaysbeforebeenthestudyoftheemperoralexander.napoleonsatdown，stirringhiscoffeeinasèvrescup，andmotionedbalashovtoaseatbesidehim.

thereisawell-knownafter-dinnermoodwhichismorepotentthananyrationalconsiderationinmakingamansatisfiedwithhimselfanddisposedtoregardeveryoneasafriend.napoleonwasundertheinfluenceofthismood.hefanciedhimselfsurroundedbypersonswhoadoredhim.hefeltnodoubtthatbalashovtooafterhisdinnerwashisfriendandhisworshipper.napoleonaddressedhimwithanamicableandratherironicalsmile.

“thisistheveryroom，iamtold，inwhichtheemperoralexanderusedtosit.strange，isn’tit，general？”hesaid，obviouslywithouttheslightestmisgivingthatthisremarkcouldbeotherthanagreeabletotherussian，sinceitaffordedaproofofhis，napoleon’s，superiorityoveralexander.

balashovcouldmakenoreplytothis，andhebowedinsilence.

“yes，fourdaysago，wintzengerodeandsteinweredeliberatinginthisveryroom，”napoleoncontinued，withthesameconfidentandironicalsmile.“whatican’tunderstand，”hesaid，“istheemperoralexander’sgatheringroundhimallmypersonalenemies.thatidonotunderstand.didn’theconsiderthatimightdothesame？”heaskedbalashov；andobviouslythequestionbroughthimbacktoareminiscenceofthemorning’sanger，whichwasstillfreshinhim.“andlethimknowthatiwilldoso，”napoleonsaid，gettingupandpushingawayhiscup.“i’lldriveallhiskithandkinoutofgermany—thewurtembergsandbadensandweimars…yes，i’lldrivethemout.lethimgetarefugereadyfortheminrussia.”

balashovbowedhishead，withanairthatindicatedthathewouldbegladtowithdraw，andwassimplylisteningbecausehehadnoalternativebuttolistentowhatwassaidtohim.napoleondidnotnoticethisexpression.hewasaddressingbalashovnow，notastheenvoyofhisenemy，butasamannowquitedevotedtohimandcertaintorejoiceatthehumiliationofhisformermaster.

“andwhyhastheemperoralexandertakenthecommandofhistroops？what’sthatfor？warismyprofession，buthisworkistoreignandnottocommandarmies.whathasinducedhimtotakesucharesponsibilityonhimself？”

napoleonagaintookhissnuff-box，walkedseveraltimesinsilenceupanddowntheroom，andallatoncesurprisedbalashovbycomingcloseuptohim.andwithafaintsmile，asconfidently，rapidly，andswiftly，asthoughheweredoingsomethingthatbalashovcouldnotbutregardasanhonourandapleasure，heputhishanduptothefaceoftherussiangeneralofforty，andgavehimalittlepinchontheearwithasmileonhislips.

tohavetheearpulledbytheemperorwasregardedasthegreatesthonourandmarkoffavouratthefrenchcourt.

“well，yousaynothing，admirerandcourtieroftheemperoralexander，”hesaid，asthoughitwerecomicthatthereshouldbeinhispresenceacourtierandworshipperofanymanotherthanhim，napoleon.“arethehorsesreadyforthegeneral？”headded，withaslightnodinacknowledgmentofbalashov’sbow.“givehimmine；hehasalongwaytogo.…”

thelettertakenbackbybalashovwasnapoleon’slastlettertoalexander.everydetailoftheconversationwastransmittedtotherussianemperor，andthewarbegan.