第361章

第361章attwoo’clockinthenightofthe13thofjune,thetsarsentforbalashov,and,readinghimhislettertonapoleon,commandedhimtogoinpersonandgivethelettertothefrenchemperor.ashedismissedbalashov,herepeatedtohimhisdeclarationthathewouldnevermakepeaceaslongasasingleenemyunderarmsremainedonrussiansoil,andtoldhimtobesuretorepeatthosewordstonapoleon.thetsarhadnotinsertedtheminhislettertonapoleon,because,withhischaracteristictact,hefeltthosewordswouldbeinappropriateatthemomentwhenthelasteffortswerebeingmadeforconciliation;butheexpresslychargedbalashovtorepeatthatmessagebywordofmouthtonapoleon.

balashovrodeoutonthenightbetweenthe13thandthe14th,accompaniedbyatrumpeterandtwocossacks;andatdawnhereachedthefrenchoutpostsatthevillageofrykontyontherussiansideoftheniemen.hewasstoppedbythesentinelsofthefrenchcavalry.

afrenchsubalternofhussars,inacrimsonuniformandafurcap,shoutedtobalashovtostop.balashovdidnotimmediatelyobey,butwentonadvancingalongtheroadatawalkingpace.

thesubaltern,withscowlsandmutteredabuse,swoopeddownuponbalashov,drewhissword,andshoutedrudelytotherussiangeneral：“washedeafthathedidnothearwhenhewasspokento？”balashovgavehimhisname.thesubalternsentasoldiertohissuperiorofficer.

payingnofurtherattentiontobalashov,thesubalternbegantalkingwithhiscomradesaboutregimentalmatters,withoutlookingattherussiangeneral.itwasanexceedinglystrangesensationforbalashov,whowasusedatalltimestothedignitiesofhisposition,wasalwaysincontactwiththehighestpowerandauthority,andonlythreehoursbeforehadbeenconversingwiththetsar,tobebroughthereonrussiansoilintocollisionwiththishostile,andstillmore,disrespectfuldisplayofbruteforce.

thesunwasonlybeginningtorisebehindstorm-clouds,theairwasfreshanddewy.aherdofcattlewasbeingdrivenalongtheroadfromthevillage.larksspranguptrillingoneafteranotherinthefields,likebubblesrisingtothesurfaceofwater.

balashovlookedabouthim,awaitingthearrivaloftheofficerfromthevillage.therussiancossacksandtrumpeterandthefrenchhussarslookedatoneanothernowandtheninsilence.

afrenchcolonelofhussars,evidentlyonlyjustoutofbed,cameridingoutofthevillageonahandsome,sleek,greyhorse,accompaniedbytwohussars.theofficers,thesoldiers,andthehorsesalllookedsmartandwellsatisfied.

inthisearlystageofthecampaignthetroopswerewellinastateofgooddiscipline,ingood,almostparade,order,andengagedinpeacefulpursuits,withashadeofmartialerintheirdress,andashadeofgaietyandspiritofadventureintheirtemperthatalwaysaccompaniesthecommencementofawar.

thefrenchcolonelhadmuchadotosuppresshisyawns,butwascourteousinhismanner,andevidentlyunderstoodalltheimportanceofbalashov’sposition.heledhimpastthelineofoutposts,andinformedhimthathisdesiretobepresentedtotheemperorwouldinallprobabilityimmediatelybesatisfied,astheemperor’squarterswere,hebelieved,notfaroff.

theyrodethroughthevillageofrykonty,pastfrenchpicketropes,sentinels,andsoldiers,whosalutedtheircolonelandstaredwithcuriosityattherussianuniform.theycameoutontheothersideofthevillage,andthecoloneltoldbalashovthattheywereonlytwokilometresfromthecommanderofthedivision,whowouldreceivehimandconducthimtohisdestination.

thesunhadbynowfullyrisenandwasshiningcheerfullyonthebrightgreenfields.

theyhadjustpassedaninnandwereridinguphillwhenapartyofhorsemencameridingdownhilltowardsthem.theforemostfigurewasatallman,inahatwithplumes,mountedonaravenhorse,withtrappingsglitteringinthesun.hehadascarletcloak,andcurlyblackhair,thatfloatedonhisshoulders,andherodeinthefrenchfashion,withhislonglegsthrustoutinfront.thispersonagegallopedtowardsbalashov,withhisjewelsandgoldlaceandfeathersallflutteringandglitteringinthebrightjunesun.