第319章

第319章“hismajestydrewhisattentiontothegrenadierdivisionandtheparademarch,”pursuedthegeneral;“anditseemstheambassadortooknonoticeandhadtheinsolencetosay‘weinfrance,’sayshe,‘don’tpayattentiontosuchtrivialmatters.’theemperordidnotvouchsafehimareply.atthereviewthatfollowedtheemperor,theysay,didnotoncedeigntoaddresshim.”

everyonewassilent;uponthisfactwhichrelatedtothetsarpersonally,nocriticismcouldbeoffered.

“impudentrogues！”saidtheoldprince.“doyouknowmetivier？iturnedhimoutofthehouseto-day.hewashere,hewasallowedtocomein,inspiteofmyingnooneshouldbeadmitted,”saidtheoldprince,glancingangrilyathisdaughter.andhetoldthemhiswholeconversationwiththefrenchdoctorandhisreasonsforbelievingmetiviertobeaspy.thoughhisreasonswereveryinsufficientandobscure,nooneraisedanobjection.

afterthemeat,champagnewashandedround.theguestsrosefromtheirplacestocongratulatetheoldprince.princessmaryatoowentuptohim.heglancedatherwithacold,spitefulglance,andofferedherhisshaven,wrinkledcheek.thewholeexpressionofhisfacetoldherthattheirmorning’sconversationwasnotforgotten,thathisresolutionstillheldgood,andthatitwasonlyowingtothepresenceoftheirvisitorsthathedidnottellhersonow.

whentheywentintothedrawing-roomtocoffee,theoldmensattogether.

princenikolayandreitchgrewmoreanimated,andbegantoexpresshisviewsontheimpendingwar.hesaidthatourwarswithbonapartewouldbeessfulsolongaswesoughtallianceswiththegermansandwentmeddlingineuropeanaffairs,intowhichwehadbeendrawnbythepeaceoftilsit.wehadnobusinesstofightforaustriaoragainstaustria.ourpoliticalinterestsalllayintheeast,andasregardsbonaparte,theonethingwasanarmedforceonthefrontier,andafirmpolicy,andhewouldneveragaindaretocrosstherussianfrontier,ashehaddonein1807.

“andhowshouldwe,prince,fightagainstthefrench！”saidcountrastoptchin.“canwearmourselvesagainstourteachersanddivinities？lookatouryoungmen,lookatourladies.ourgodsarethefrench,andparis—ourparadise.”

hebegantalkingmoreloudly,obviouslywiththeintentionofbeingheardbyeveryone.

“ourfashionsarefrench,ourideasarefrench,ourfeelingsarefrench！youhavesentmetivierabouthisbusinessbecausehe’safrenchmanandascoundrel,butourladiesarecrawlingontheirhandsandkneesafterhim.yesterdayiwasataneveningparty,andoutoffiveladiesthreewerecatholicsandhadapapalindulgenceforembroideringonsundays.andtheysittingallbutnaked,likethesign-boardsofsomepublicbath-house,ifyou’llexcusemysayingso.ah,whenonelooksatouryoungpeople,prince,onewouldliketotakepeterthegreat’soldcudgeloutofthemuseumandbreakafewribsinthegoodoldrussianstyle,toknockthenonsenseoutofthem！”

allweresilent.theoldprincelookedatrastoptchinwithasmileonhisfaceandshookhisheadapprovingly.

“well,good-bye,yourexcellency;don’tyoubeill,”saidrastoptchin,gettingupwiththebriskmovementscharacteristicofhim,andholdingouthishandtotheoldprince.

“good-bye,mydearfellow.yourtalkisamusici’malwaysgladtolistento！”saidtheoldprince,keepingholdofhishandandofferinghimhischeekforakiss.theothers,too,gotupwhenrastoptchindid.