战争与和平(上)-第175章

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n　was　led　into　blunders　from　his　frequent　transitions　from　one　to　the　other；　and　said　in　one　drawing…room　what　should　have　been　reserved　for　the　other。
Soon　after　the　Tsar’s　arrival；　Prince　Vassily；　in　conversation　about　the　progress　of　the　war　at　Anna　Pavlovna’s；　severely　criticised　Barclay　de　Tolly；　and　expressed　himself　unable　to　decide　who　should　be　appointed　commander…in…chief。　One　of　the　guests；　usually　spoken　of　as　a　“man　of　great　abilities；”　described　how　he　had　that　day　seen　the　newly　elected　commander　of　the　Petersburg　militia；　Kutuzov；　presiding　over　the　enrolment　of　militiamen　in　the　Court　of　Exchequer；　and　ventured　discreetly　to　suggest　that　Kutuzov　would　be　the　man　who　might　satisfy　all　requirements。
Anna　Pavlovna　smiled　mournfully；　and　observed　that　Kutuzov　had　done　nothing　but　cause　the　Tsar　annoyance。
“I　have　said　so　over　and　over　again　in　the　assembly　of　nobility；”　interposed　Prince　Vassily；　“but　they　wouldn’t　listen　to　me。　I　said　that　his　election　to　the　command　of　the　militia　would　not　be　pleasing　to　his　majesty。　They　wouldn’t　listen　to　me。　It’s　all　this　mania　for　being　in　the　opposition；”　he　went　on。　“And　to　what　public　are　they　playing；　I　should　like　to　know。　It’s　all　because　we　are　trying　to　ape　the　silly　enthusiasm　of　Moscow；”　said　Prince　Vassily；　forgetting　for　a　moment　that　it　was　at　Ellen’s　that　that　enthusiasm　was　jeered　at；　while　at　Anna　Pavlovna’s　it　was　as　well　to　admire　it。　But　he　hastened　to　retrieve　his　mistake。　“Is　it　suitable　for　Kutuzov；　the　oldest　general　in　Russia；　to　be　presiding　in　the　Court？　Et　il　en　restera　pour　sa　peine！　Did　any　one　hear　of　such　a　thing　as　appointing　a　man　commander…in…chief　who　cannot　sit　a　horse；　who　drops　asleep　at　a　council—a　man；　too；　of　the　lowest　morals！　A　pretty　reputation　he　gained　for　himself　in　Bucharest！　To　say　nothing　of　his　qualities　as　a　general；　can　we　appoint；　at　such　a　moment；　a　man　decrepit　and　blind—yes；　simply　blind！　A　fine　idea—a　blind　general！　He　sees　nothing。　Playing　blind…man’s　buff—that’s　all　he’s　fit　for！”
No　one　opposed　that　view。
On　the　24th　of　July　it　was　accepted　as　perfectly　correct。　But　on　the　29th　Kutuzov　received　the　title　of　prince。　The　bestowal　of　this　title　might　be　taken　to　indicate　a　desire　to　shelve　him；　and　therefore　Prince　Vassily’s　dictum　still　remained　correct；　though　he　was　in　no　such　hurry　now　to　express　it。　But　on　the　8th　of　August　a　committee；　consisting　of　General　Field…Marshal　Saltykov；　Araktcheev；　Vyazmitinov；　Lopuhin；　and　Kotchubey　was　held　to　consider　the　progress　of　the　war。　This　committee　decided　that　the　disasters　were　due　to　divided　authority；　and　although　the　members　of　the　committee　were　aware　of　the　Tsar’s　dislike　of　Kutuzov；　after　a　deliberation　they　advised　the　appointment　of　Kutuzov　as　commander…in…chief。　And　that　same　day　Kutuzov　was　appointed　commander…in…chief　of　the　army；　and　intrusted　with　unlimited　authority　over　the　whole　region　occupied　by　the　troops。
On　the　9th　of　August　Prince　Vassily　once　more　met　the　“man　of　great　abilities”　at　Anna　Pavlovna’s。　The　latter　gentleman　was　assiduous　in　his　attendance　at　Anna　Pavlovna’s；　in　the　hope　of　receiving；　through　her　influence；　an　appointment　on　one　of　the　institutions　of　female　education。　Prince　Vassily　strode　into　the　room　with　the　air　of　a　victorious　general；　of　a　man　who　has　succeeded　in　attaining　the　object　of　his　desires。
“Well；　you　know　the　great　news！　Prince　Kutuzov　is　marshal！　All　differences　of　opinion　are　at　an　end。　I　am　so　glad；　so　delighted！”　said　Prince　Vassily。　“At　last　here　is　a　man！”　he　declared；　looking　sternly　and　significantly　at　all　the　company。　In　spite　of　his　desire　to　secure　the　post　he　coveted；　the　“man　of　great　abilities”　could　not　refrain　from　reminding　Prince　Vassily　of　the　view　he　had　expressed　shortly　before。　（This　was　a　breach　of　civility　to　Prince　Vassily　in　Anna　Pavlovna’s　drawing…room；　and　also　to　Anna　Pavlovna；　who　had　received　the　tidings　with　equal　enthusiasm；　but　he　could　not　refrain。）
“But　they　say　he　is　blind；　prince；”　he　said　to　recall　to　Prince　Vassily　his　own　words。
“Allez　donc；　il　y　voit　assez；”　said　Prince　Vassily；　with　the　rapid　bass　voice　and　the　cough　with　which　he　always　disposed　of　all　difficulties。　“He　sees　quite　enough；”　he　repeated。　“And　what　I’m　particularly　glad　of；”　he　went　on；　“is　that　the　Emperor　has　given　him　unlimited　authority　over　all　the　troops；　over　the　whole　region；　an　authority　no　commander…in…chief　has　ever　had　before。　It’s　another　autocrat；”　he　concluded；　with　a　victorious　smile。
“God　grant　it　may　be；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna。
The　“man　of　great　abilities；”　a　novice　in　court　society；　was　anxious　to　flatter　Anna　Pavlovna　by　maintaining　her　former　opinion　against　this　new　view　of　the　position。　He　said：　“They　say　the　Emperor　was　unwilling　to　give　Kutuzov　such　authority。　They　say　he　blushed　like　a　young　lady　to　whom　Joconde　is　read；　saying　to　him；　‘The　sovereign　and　the　country　decree　you　this　honour。’　”
“Perhaps　the　heart　was　not　of　the　party；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna。
“Oh　no；　no；”　Prince　Vassily　maintained　warmly。　Now　he　would　not　put　Kutuzov　second　to　any　one。　To　hear　Prince　Vassily　now　Kutuzov　was　not　simply　a　good　man　in　himself；　but　idolised　by　every　one。　“No；　that’s　impossible；　for　the　sovereign　has　always　known　how　to　appreciate　him；”　he　added。
“God　only　grant　that　Prince　Kutuzov　may　take　the　control　of　things　into　his　own　hands；”　said　Anna　Pavlovna；　“and　not　permit　any　one　to　put　a　spoke　in　his　wheel。”
Prince　Vassily　knew　at　once　who　was　meant。　He　whispered；　“I　know　for　a　fact　that　Kutuzov　made　it　an　express　condition　that　the　Tsarevitch　should　not　be　with　the　army。　Vous　savez　ce　qu’il　a　dit　à　l’Empereur。”　And　Prince　Vassily　repeated　the　words　said　to　have　been　spoken　by　Kutuzov　to　the　Tsar：　“　‘I　can　neither　punish　him　if　he　does　wrong；　nor　reward　him　if　he　does　well。’　Oh！　he’s　a　shrewd　fellow；　Prince　Kutuzov。　I　have　known　him　a　long　while。”
“They　do　say；”　observed　the　“man　of　great　abilities；”　who　had　not　acquired　a　courtier’s　tact；　“that　his　excellency　even　made　it　an　express　condition　that　the　Emperor　himself　should　not　be　with　the　army。”
He　had　hardly　uttered　the　words　when　Anna　Pavlovna　and　Prince　Vassily　simultaneously　turned　their　backs　on　him；　and　looked　mournfully　at　one　another；　with　a　sigh　at　his　na？veté。


Chapter　7
AT　THE　TIME　when　this　was　taking　place　in　Petersburg；　the　French　had　passed　through　Smolensk；　and　were　moving　closer　and　closer　to　Moscow。　Napoleon’s　historian；　Thiers；　like　others　of　Napoleon’s　historians；　tries　to　justify　his　hero　by　maintaining　that　he　was　drawn　on　to　the　walls　of　Moscow　against　his　will。　He　is　as　right　as　any　historians　who　seek　the　explanation　of　historic　events　in　the　will　of　a　man；　he　is　as　right　as　the　Russian　historians；　who　assert　that　Napoleon　was　lured　to　Moscow　by　the　skilful　strategy　of　the　Russian　generals。　In　this　case；　apart　from　the　law　of　“retrospectiveness；”　which　makes　all　the　past　appear　a　preparation　for　the　subsequent　facts；　the　element　of　mutual　interaction；　too；　comes　in；　confusing　the　whole　subject。　A　good　chess…player；　who　has　lost　a　game；　is　genuinely　convinced　that　his　failure　is　due　to　his　blunders；　and　he　seeks　the　blunder　at　the　commencement　of　the　game；　forgetting　that　at　every　move　during　the　whole　game　there　were　similar　errors；　that　not　one　piece　has　been　played　as　perfectly　as　possible。　The　blunder　on　which　he　concentrates　his　attention　attracts　his　notice　simply　because　his　opponent　took　advantage　of　it。　How　much　more　complex　is　the　game　of　war；　which　must　be　played　within　certain　limits　of　time；　in　which　there　is　not　one　will　controlling　lifeless　toys；　in　which　the　whole　is　the　resultant　of　the　innumerable　collisions　of　diverse　individual　wills！
After　Smolensk；　Napoleon　tried　to　force　on　a　battle　beyond　Dorogobuzh；　at　Vyazma；　and　then　at　Tsarevo…Zaimishtche。　But　the　Russians　could　not　give　battle；　owing　to　innumerable　combinations　of　circumstances；　till　Borodino；　one　hundred　and　twelve　versts　from　Moscow。　From　Vyazma　Napoleon　gave　instructions　for　an　advance　straight　upon　Moscow。
“Moscow；　the　Asiatic　capital　of　this　great　empire；　the　holy　city　of　the　peoples　of　Alexander；　Moscow；　with　its　innumerable　churches　in　the　form　of　Chinese　pagodas！”
This　Moscow　would　not　let　Napoleon’s　imagination　rest。　On　the　march　from　Vyazma　to　Tsarevo…Zaimishtche　Napoleon　was　riding　on　his　cream…coloured　English　horse；　accompanied　by　his　guards；　and　sentinels；　and　pages；　and　adjutants。　The　commander　of　the　staff；　Berthier；　had　dropped　behind　to　put　questions　to　a　Russian　prisoner　taken　by　the　cavalry。　Accompanied　by　the　interpreter；　Lelorme　d’Ideville；　he　galloped　after　Napoleon；　and　pulled　his　horse　up　with　an　amused　expression。
“Well？”　said　Napoleon。
“A　Cossack　of　Platov’s　detachment　says　Platov　is　effecting　a　junction　with　the　main　army；　and　that　Kutuzov　has　been　appointed　commander…in…chief。　He　is　very　shrewd　and　talkative。”
Napoleon　smiled；　and　bade　them　give　the　Cossack　a　horse　and　bring　him　before　him。　He　wished　to　talk　to　him　himself。　Several　adjutants　galloped　off；　and　within　an　hour　Denisov’s　serf　Lavrushka；　whom　his　master　had　left　with　Rostov；　rode　up　to　Napoleon；　sitting　on　a　French　cavalry　saddle；　wearing　an　orderly’s　short　jacket；　and　looking　sly；　tipsy；　and　mirthful。　Napoleon　bade　him　ride　at　his　side　and　began　questioning　him。
“Are　you　a　Cossack？”
“Yes；　a　Cossack；　your　honour。”
“The　Cossack；　ignorant　in　whose　company　he　was；　since　Napoleon’s　plain　appearance　had　nothing　to　suggest　to　the　Oriental　imagination　the　presence　of　a　monarch；　talked　with　extraordinary　familiarity　of　the　incidents　of　the　war；”　says　Thiers；　relating　this　episode。　In　reality　Lavrushka；　who　had　been　drunk　the　previous　evening；　and　had　left　his　master　without　dinner；　had　been　thrashed　for　it；　and　sent　to　the　village　in　quest　of　fowls；　where　he　was　tempted　on　by　plunder　till　he　got　caught　by　the　French。　Lavrushka　was　one　of　those　coarse；　impudent　lackeys　who　have　seen　a　good　deal　of　life；　look　on　it　as　a　duty　to　do　nothing　without　cunning　and　trickery；　are　ready　to　do　any　kind　of　service　for　their　masters；　and　are　particularly　keen　in　scenting　out　the　baser　impulses　of　their　superiors；　especially　on　the　side　of　vanity　and　pettiness。　On　coming　into　the　presence　of　Napoleon；　whom　he　easily　and　confidently　recognised；　Lavrushka　was　not　in　the　least　taken　aback；　and　only　did　his　utmost　to　win　the　favour　of　his　new　master。
He　was　very　well　aware　that　this　was　Napoleon；　and　Napoleon’s　presence　impressed　him　no　more　than　Rostov’s　or　the　quartermaster’s　with　the　rod　in　his　hand；　because　he　had　nothing　of　which　either　the　quartermaster　or　Napoleon　could　not　deprive　him。
He　had　repeated　all　the　gossip　that　was　talked　among　the　officers’　servants。　Much　of　it　was　true。　But　when　Napoleon　asked　him　whether　the　Russians　expected　to　conquer　Bonaparte　or　not；　Lavrushka　screwed　up　his　eyes　and　thought　a　bit。
He　saw　in　the　question　a　sharp　piece　of　cunning；　as　cunning　fellows；　like　Lavrushka；　always　do　in　everything。　He　frowned　and　paused　a　minute。
“Well；　if　it　does　come　to　a　battle；”　he　said　thoughtfully；　“and　pretty　soon；　then　yours　will　win。　That’s　sure　thing。　But　if　now；　three　days　and　there’s　a　battle　after　that；　well　then；　I　say；　tha