Война и мир

Chapter 3

           

           “Yes,sire,andMoscowisnowinashes.Ileftitallinflames,”repliedMichaudinadecidedtone,butglancingattheEmperorhewasfrightenedbywhathehaddone.

           TheEmperorbegantobreatheheavilyandrapidly,hislowerliptrembled,andtearsinstantlyappearedinhisfineblueeyes.

           Butthislastedonlyamoment.Hesuddenlyfrowned,asifblaminghimselfforhisweakness,andraisinghisheadaddressedMichaudinafirmvoice:

           “Isee,Colonel,fromallthatishappening,thatProvidencerequiresgreatsacrificesofus...IamreadytosubmitmyselfinallthingstoHiswill;buttellme,Michaud,howdidyouleavethearmywhenitsawmyancientcapitalabandonedwithoutabattle?Didyounotnoticediscouragement?...”

           Seeingthathismostgraciousrulerwascalmoncemore,Michaudalsogrewcalm,butwasnotimmediatelyreadytoreplytotheEmperor’sdirectandrelevantquestionwhichrequiredadirectanswer.

           “Sire,willyouallowmetospeakfranklyasbefitsaloyalsoldier?”heaskedtogaintime.

           “Colonel,Ialwaysrequireit,”repliedtheEmperor.“Concealnothingfromme,Iwishtoknowabsolutelyhowthingsare.”

           “Sire!”saidMichaudwithasubtle,scarcelyperceptiblesmileonhislips,havingnowpreparedawell-phrasedreply,“sire,Ileftthewholearmy,fromitschiefstothelowestsoldier,withoutexceptionindesperateandagonizedterror...”

           “Howisthat?”theEmperorinterruptedhim,frowningsternly.“WouldmisfortunemakemyRussiansloseheart?...Never!”

           Michaudhadonlywaitedforthistobringoutthephrasehehadprepared.

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