Chapter 19

           

           Atthemen’sendofthetablethetalkgrewmoreandmoreanimated.ThecoloneltoldthemthatthedeclarationofwarhadalreadyappearedinPetersburgandthatacopy,whichhehadhimselfseen,hadthatdaybeenforwardedbycouriertothecommanderinchief.

           “AndwhythedeucearewegoingtofightBonaparte?”remarkedShinshín.“HehasstoppedAustria’scackleandIfearitwillbeourturnnext.”

           Thecolonelwasastout,tall,plethoricGerman,evidentlydevotedtotheserviceandpatrioticallyRussian.HeresentedShinshín’sremark.

           “Itisforthereasson,mygootsir,”saidhe,speakingwithaGermanaccent,“forthereassonzatzeEmperorknowszat.HedeclaresinzemanifesstozathecannotfiewwizindifferencezedangervreateningRussiaandzatzesafetyanddignityofzeEmpireasvellaszesanctityofitsalliances...”hespokethislastwordwithparticularemphasisasifinitlaythegistofthematter.

           Thenwiththeunerringofficialmemorythatcharacterizedhimherepeatedfromtheopeningwordsofthemanifesto:

           ...andthewish,whichconstitutestheEmperor’ssoleandabsoluteaim—toestablishpeaceinEuropeonfirmfoundations—hasnowdecidedhimtodespatchpartofthearmyabroadandtocreateanewconditionfortheattainmentofthatpurpose.

           “Zat,mydearsir,isvy...”heconcluded,drinkingatumblerofwinewithdignityandlookingtothecountforapproval.

           “Connaissez-vousleProverbe:*‘Jerome,Jerome,donotroam,butturnspindlesathome!’?”saidShinshín,puckeringhisbrowsandsmiling.“Celanousconvientàmerveille.

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