战争与和平(上)-第152章

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Balashov　took　out　the　packet　that　contained　the　Tsar’s　letter；　and　laid　it　on　the　table　（a　table　consisting　of　a　door　laid　across　two　tubs　with　the　hinges　still　hanging　on　it）。　Davoust　took　the　packet　and　read　the　address　on　it。
“You　are　perfectly　at　liberty　to　show　me　respect　or　not；　as　you　please；”　said　Balashov。　“But；　permit　me　to　observe　that　I　have　the　honour　to　serve　as　a　general　on　the　staff　of　his　majesty…”
Davoust　glanced　at　him　without　a　word；　and　plainly　derived　satisfaction　from　signs　of　emotion　and　confusion　on　Balashov’s　face。
“You　will　be　shown　what　is　fitting；”　he　said；　and　putting　the　envelope　in　his　pocket　he　walked　out　of　the　barn。
A　minute　later　an　adjutant　of　the　marshal’s；　Monsieur　de　Castre；　came　in　and　conducted　Balashov　to　the　quarters　that　had　been　assigned　him。
He　dined　that　day　in　the　barn　with　the　marshal；　sitting　down　to　the　door　laid　across　the　tubs。
Next　day　Davoust　went　out　early　in　the　morning；　but　before　starting　he　sent　for　Balashov；　and　told　him　peremptorily　that　he　begged　him　to　remain　there；　to　move　on　with　the　baggage…waggons　should　the　command　be　given　to　do　so；　and　to　have　no　conversation　with　any　one　but　Monsieur　de　Castre。
After　four　days　spent　in　solitude　and　boredom；　with　a　continual　sense　of　dependence　and　insignificance；　particularly　galling　after　the　position　of　power　which　he　had　hitherto　occupied；　after　several　marches　with　the　marshal’s　baggage　and　the　French　troops；　who　were　in　possession　of　the　whole　district；　Balashov　was　brought　back　to　Vilna；　now　occupied　by　the　French；　and　re…entered　the　town　by　the　very　gate　by　which　he　had　left　it　four　days　earlier。
Next　day　the　Emperor’s　gentleman…in…waiting；　Count　de　Turenne；　came　to　Balashov　with　a　message　that　it　was　the　Emperor　Napoleon’s　pleasure　to　grant　him　an　audience。
Four　days　before　sentinels　of　the　Preobrazhensky　regiment　had　been　on　guard　before　the　very　house　to　which　Balashov　was　conducted。　Now　two　French　grenadiers　were　on　duty　before　it；　wearing　fur　caps　and　blue　uniforms　open　over　the　breast；　while　an　escort　of　hussars　and　Uhlans；　and　a　brilliant　suite　of　adjutants；　pages；　and　generals　were　waiting　for　Napoleon　to　come　out；　forming　a　group　round　his　saddle…horse　at　the　steps　and　his　Mameluke；　Rustan。　Napoleon　received　Balashov　in　the　very　house　in　Vilna　from　which　Alexander　had　despatched　him。


Chapter　6
THOUGH　BALASHOV　was　accustomed　to　the　pomp　of　courts；　he　was　impressed　by　the　splendour　and　luxury　of　Napoleon’s　court。
Count　de　Turenne　led　him　into　the　great　reception…room；　where　a　number　of　generals；　gentlemen…in…waiting；　and　Polish　magnates　were　waiting　to　see　the　Emperor。　Many　of　them　Balashov　had　seen　at　the　court　of　the　Russian　Emperor。　Duroc　told　him　that　the　Emperor　Napoleon　would　receive　the　Russian　general　before　going　out　for　his　ride。
After　a　delay　of　several　moments；　a　gentleman…in…waiting　came　into　the　great　reception…room；　and　bowing　courteously　to　Balashov；　invited　him　to　follow　him。
Balashov　went　into　the　little　reception…room；　from　which　one　door　led　to　the　study；　the　room　where　he　had　received　the　Russian　Emperor’s　last　charges　before　setting　off。　Balashov　stood　for　a　couple　of　minutes　waiting。　Hurried　steps　were　audible　through　the　door。　Both　halves　of　the　door　were　swiftly　thrown　open；　and　in　the　complete　stillness　that　followed　other　firm　and　resolute　steps　could　be　heard　from　the　study：　it　was　Napoleon。　He　had　only　just　finished　dressing　for　his　ride。　He　was　wearing　a　blue　uniform；　open　over　a　white　waistcoat；　that　came　low　down　over　his　round　belly；　riding…boots；　and　white　doeskin　breeches；　fitting　tightly　over　his　fat；　short　legs。　His　short　hair　had　evidently　just　been　brushed；　but　one　lock　hung　down　in　the　middle　of　his　broad　forehead。　His　plump；　white　neck　stood　out　in　sharp　contrast　to　the　black　collar　of　his　uniform；　he　smelt　of　eau…de…cologne。　His　still　young…looking；　full　face；　with　its　prominent　chin；　wore　an　expression　of　imperial　graciousness　and　majestically　condescending　welcome。
He　walked　out　with　a　quivering　strut；　his　head　thrown　a　little　back。　His　whole　stout；　short　figure；　with　his　broad；　fat　shoulders　and　his　prominent　stomach　and　chest；　had　that　imposing　air　of　dignity　common　in　men　of　forty　who　live　in　comfort。　It　was　evident；　too；　that　he　happened　that　day　to　be　in　a　particularly　good　humour。
He　nodded　in　acknowledgment　of　Balashov’s　low　and　respectful　bow；　and　going　up　to　him；　began　to　talk　at　once　like　a　man　who　values　every　minute　of　his　time；　and　will　not　deign　to　preface　what　he　is　going　to　say；　as　he　is　sure　of　always　speaking　well　and　saying　the　right　thing。
“Good…day；　general！”　said　he。　“I　have　received　the　Emperor　Alexander’s　letter　that　you　brought；　and　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you。”　He　glanced　at　Balashov’s　face　with　his　large　eyes；　and　immediately　looked　past　him。
It　was　obvious　that　he　took　no　interest　in　Balashov’s　personality。　It　was　plain　that　only　what　was　passing　in　his　soul　had　for　him　any　interest。　All　that　was　outside　him　had　no　significance　for　him；　because　everything　in　the　world　depended；　as　he　fancied；　on　his　will。
“I　do　not；　and　did　not；　desire　war；”　he　said；　“but　you　have　forced　me　to　it。　Even　now”　（he　threw　emphasis　on　the　word）　“I　am　ready　to　receive　any　explanations　you　can　give　me。”　And　he　began　briefly　and　clearly　explaining　the　grounds　of　his　displeasure　with　the　Russian　government。
Judging　from　the　studiously　composed　and　amicable　tone　of　the　French　Emperor；　Balashov　was　thoroughly　persuaded　that　he　was　desirous　of　peace；　and　intended　to　enter　into　negotiations。
“Sire！　The　Emperor；　my　sovereign；”　Balashov　began；　meaning　to　utter　the　speech　he　had　prepared　long　before　as　soon　as　Napoleon　had　finished　speaking；　and　looked　inquiringly　at　him。　But　the　look　the　Emperor　turned　upon　him　disconcerted　him。　“You　are　embarrassed；　recover　yourself；”　Napoleon　seemed　to　say；　as　with　a　hardly　perceptible　smile　he　scanned　Balashov’s　sword　and　uniform。　Balashov　regained　his　composure；　and　began　to　speak。　He　said　that　the　Emperor　Alexander　did　not　regard　Kurakin’s　asking　for　his　passport　a　sufficient　cause　for　war；　that　Kurakin　had　acted　on　his　own　initiative　without　the　Tsar’s　consent；　that　the　Tsar　did　not　desire　war；　and　that　he　had　no　relations　with　England。
“Not　as　yet；”　Napoleon　put　in；　and　as　though　afraid　to　abandon　himself　to　his　feelings；　he　frowned　and　nodded　slightly　as　a　sign　to　Balashov　that　he　might　continue。
After　saying　all　he　had　been　instructed　to　say；　Balashov　wound　up　by　saying　that　the　Emperor　Alexander　was　desirous　of　peace；　but　that　he　would　not　enter　into　negotiations　except　upon　condition　that…　At　that　point　Balashov　hesitated；　he　recollected　words　the　Emperor　Alexander　had　not　written　in　his　letter；　but　had　insisted　on　inserting　in　the　rescript　to　Saltykov；　and　had　commanded　Balashov　to　repeat　to　Napoleon。　Balashov　remembered　those　words：　“As　long　as　a　single　enemy　under　arms　remains　on　Russian　soil；”　but　some　complicated　feeling　checked　his　utterance　of　them。　He　could　not　utter　those　words；　though　he　tried　to　do　so。　He　stammered；　and　said：　“On　condition　the　French　troops　retreat　beyond　the　Niemen。”
Napoleon　observed　Balashov’s　embarrassment　in　the　utterance　of　those　last　words：　his　face　quivered；　and　the　calf　of　his　left　leg　began　twitching　rhythmically。　Not　moving　from　where　he　stood；　he　began　speaking　in　a　louder　and　more　hurried　voice　than　before。　During　the　speech　that　followed　Balashov　could　not　help　staring　at　the　twitching　of　Napoleon’s　left　leg；　which　grew　more　marked　as　his　voice　grew　louder。
“I　am　no　less　desirous　of　peace　than　the　Emperor　Alexander；”　he　began。　“Haven’t　I　been　doing　everything　for　the　last　eighteen　months　to　obtain　it？　For　eighteen　months　I　have　been　waiting　for　an　explanation；　but　before　opening　negotiations；　what　is　it　that’s　required　of　me？”　he　said；　frowning　and　making　a　vigorous　gesticulation　with　his　fat；　little　white　hand。
“The　withdrawal　of　the　forces　beyond　the　Niemen；　sire；”　said　Balashov。
“Beyond　the　Niemen？”　repeated　Napoleon。　“So　now　you　want　me　to　retreat　beyond　the　Niemen—only　beyond　the　Niemen？”　repeated　Napoleon；　looking　straight　at　Balashov。
Balashov　bowed　his　head　respectfully。
Four　months　before　he　had　been　asked　to　withdraw　from　Pomerania；　now　withdrawal　beyond　the　Niemen　was　all　that　was　required。　Napoleon　turned　quickly　away；　and　began　walking　up　and　down　the　room。
“You　say　that　I　am　required　to　withdraw　beyond　the　Niemen　before　opening　negotiations；　but　two　months　ago　I　was　required　in　the　same　way　to　withdraw　beyond　the　Oder　and　the　Vistula；　and　in　spite　of　that　you　agree　to　enter　into　negotiations。”
He　strode　in　silence　from　one　corner　of　the　room　to　the　other　and　stopped　again；　facing　Balashov。　Balashov　noticed　that　his　left　leg　was　twitching　more　rapidly　than　ever；　and　his　face　looked　as　though　petrified　in　its　stern　expression。　Napoleon　was　aware　of　this　twitching。　“The　vibration　of　my　left　calf　is　a　great　sign　with　me；”　he　said　in　later　days。
“Such　demands　as　to　retire　beyond　the　Oder　and　the　Vistula　may　be　made　to　a　prince　of　Baden；　but　not　to　me；”　Napoleon　almost　screamed；　quite　to　his　own　surprise。　“If　you　were　to　give　me　Petersburg　and　Moscow　I　wouldn’t　accept　such　conditions。　You　say：　I　began　the　war。　But　who　was　the　first　to　join　his　army？　The　Emperor　Alexander；　and　not　I。　And　you　offer　me　negotiations　when　I　have　spent　millions；　when　you　are　in　alliance　with　England；　and　when　your　position　is　weak—you　offer　me　negotiations！　What　is　the　object　of　your　alliance　with　England？　What　has　it　given　you？”　he　asked　hurriedly。　The　motive　of　his　words　was　obviously　now　not　to　enlarge　on　the　benefits　of　peace　and　to　consider　its　possibility；　but　simply　to　prove　his　own　rectitude；　and　his　own　power；　and　point　out　the　duplicity　and　the　errors　of　Alexander。
He　had　plainly　intended　in　entering　on　this　conversation　to　point　out　the　advantages　of　his　own　position；　and　to　signify　that　in　spite　of　them　he　would　entertain　the　proposal　of　negotiations。　But　he　had　begun　talking；　and　the　more　he　talked　the　less　able　was　he　to　control　the　tenor　of　his　words。
The　whole　gist　of　his　words　now　was　obviously　to　glorify　himself　and　to　insult　Alexander；　precisely　what　he　had　least　intended　doing　at　the　beginning　of　the　interview。
“I　am　told　you　have　concluded　a　peace　with　the　Turks？”
Balashov　bent　his　head　affirmatively。　“Peace　has　been　concluded…”　he　began。　But　Napoleon　did　not　allow　him　to　speak。　He　clearly　did　not　wish　any　one　to　speak　but　himself；　and　he　went　on　with　the　unrestrained　volubility　and　irritability　to　which　people　spoilt　by　success　are　so　prone。　“Yes；　I　know　you　have　made　peace　with　the　Turks　without　gaining　Moldavia　and　Wallachia。　I　would　have　given　your　Emperor　those　provinces　just　as　I　gave　him　Finland。　Yes；”　he　went　on；　“I　promised；　and　would　have　given　the　Emperor　Alexander　Moldavia　and　Wallachia；　but　now　he　will　not　possess　those　fair　provinces。　He　might　have　united　them　to　his　empire；　however；　and　he　would　have　enlarged　the　frontiers　of　Russia　from　the　Gulf　of　Bothnia　to　the　mouth　of　the　Danube。　Catherine　the　Great　could　have　done　no　more；”　Napoleon　declared；　growing　hotter　and　hotter　as　he　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　and　repeated　to　Balashov　almost　the　words　he　had　used　to　Alexan