Война и мир

Chapter 7

           

           “It’slikethis,”hesaidthoughtfully,“ifthere’sabattlesoon,yourswillwin.That’sright.Butifthreedayspass,thenafterthat,well,thenthatsamebattlewillnotsoonbeover.”

           Lelorgned’IdevillesmilinglyinterpretedthisspeechtoNapoleonthus:“IfabattletakesplacewithinthenextthreedaystheFrenchwillwin,butiflater,Godknowswhatwillhappen.”Napoleondidnotsmile,thoughhewasevidentlyinhighgoodhumor,andheorderedthesewordstoberepeated.

           Lavrúshkanoticedthisandtoentertainhimfurther,pretendingnottoknowwhoNapoleonwas,added:

           “WeknowthatyouhaveBonaparteandthathehasbeateneverybodyintheworld,butweareadifferentmatter...”—withoutknowingwhyorhowthisbitofboastfulpatriotismslippedoutattheend.

           Theinterpretertranslatedthesewordswithoutthelastphrase,andBonapartesmiled.“TheyoungCossackmadehismightyinterlocutorsmile,”saysThiers.Afterridingafewpacesinsilence,NapoleonturnedtoBerthierandsaidhewishedtoseehowthenewsthathewastalkingtotheEmperorhimself,tothatveryEmperorwhohadwrittenhisimmortallyvictoriousnameonthePyramids,wouldaffectthisenfantduDon.*

           *“ChildoftheDon.”

           ThefactwasaccordinglyconveyedtoLavrúshka.

           Lavrúshka,understandingthatthiswasdonetoperplexhimandthatNapoleonexpectedhimtobefrightened,togratifyhisnewmasterspromptlypretendedtobeastonishedandawe-struck,openedhiseyeswide,andassumedtheexpressionheusuallyputonwhentakentobewhipped

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