Война и мир

Chapter 7

           InthecourseofconversationhementionedMoscowandquestionedBalashëvabouttheRussiancapital,notmerelyasaninterestedtravelerasksaboutanewcityheintendstovisit,butasifconvincedthatBalashëv,asaRussian,mustbeflatteredbyhiscuriosity.

           “HowmanyinhabitantsarethereinMoscow?Howmanyhouses?IsittruethatMoscowiscalled‘HolyMoscow’?HowmanychurchesarethereinMoscow?”heasked.

           Andreceivingthereplythatthereweremorethantwohundredchurches,heremarked:

           “Whysuchaquantityofchurches?”

           “TheRussiansareverydevout,”repliedBalashëv.

           “Butalargenumberofmonasteriesandchurchesisalwaysasignofthebackwardnessofapeople,”saidNapoleon,turningtoCaulaincourtforappreciationofthisremark.

           BalashëvrespectfullyventuredtodisagreewiththeFrenchEmperor.

           “Everycountryhasitsowncharacter,”saidhe.

           “ButnowhereinEuropeisthereanythinglikethat,”saidNapoleon.

           “IbegyourMajesty’spardon,”returnedBalashëv,“besidesRussiathereisSpain,wheretherearealsomanychurchesandmonasteries.”

           ThisreplyofBalashëv’s,whichhintedattherecentdefeatsoftheFrenchinSpain,wasmuchappreciatedwhenherelateditatAlexander’scourt,butitwasnotmuchappreciatedatNapoleon’sdinner,whereitpassedunnoticed.

           TheuninterestedandperplexedfacesofthemarshalsshowedthattheywerepuzzledastowhatBalashëv’stonesuggested.“Ifthereisapointwedon’tseeit,oritisnotatallwitty,”theirexpressionsseemedtosay.

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