فصل 11

مجموعه: جنگ و صلح / کتاب: کتاب 2 / فصل 11

فصل 11

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11

NEXT day he woke late. Recalling his recent impressions the first thought that came into his mind was that today he had to be presented to the Emperor Francis; he remembered the Minister of War, the polite Austrian adjutant, Bilibin, and last night’s conversation. Having dressed for his attendance at court in full parade uniform, which he had not worn for a long time, he went into Bilibin’s study fresh, animated and handsome, with his hand bandaged. In the study were four gentlemen of the diplomatic corps. With Prince Ippolit Kuragin, who was a secretary to the embassy, Bolkonsky was already acquainted. Bilibin introduced him to the others.

The gentlemen assembled at Bilibin’s were young, wealthy, merry, society men, who here, as in Vienna, formed a special set which Bilibin, their leader, called our set. This set, consisting almost exclusively of diplomats, evidently had its own interests which had nothing to do with war or politics but related to high society, to certain women, and to the official side of the service. These gentlemen received Prince Andrei as one of themselves, an honour they did not extend to many. From politeness and to start conversation, they asked him a few questions about the army and the battle, and then the talk went off into merry jests and gossip.

‘But the best of it was,’ said one, telling of the misfortune of a fellow diplomat, ‘that the Chancellor told him flatly that his appointment to London was a promotion and that he was so to regard it. Can you fancy the figure he cut …?’ ‘But the worst of it, gentlemen—I am giving Kuragin away to you—is that that man suffers, and this Don Juan, wicked fellow, is taking advantage of it!’ Prince Ippolit was lolling in a lounge chair with his legs over its arm. He began to laugh.

‘Tell me about that!’ he said.

‘Oh, you Don Juan! You serpent!’ cried several voices.

‘You, Bolkonsky, don’t know,’ said Bilibin turning to Prince Andrei, ‘that all the atrocities of the French army (I nearly said of the Russian army) are nothing compared to what this man has been doing among the women!’ ‘Woman is the war campaign for a man,’ announced Prince Ippolit, and began looking through a lorgnette at his elevated legs.

Bilibin and the rest of ‘ours’ burst out laughing in Ippolit’s face, and Prince Andrei saw that Ippolit, of whom—he had to admit—he had almost been jealous on his wife’s account, was the butt of this set.

‘Oh, I must give you a treat,’ Bilibin whispered to Bolkonsky. ‘Kuragin is exquisite when he discusses politics—you should see his gravity!’ He sat down beside Ippolit and wrinkling his forehead began talking to him about politics. Prince Andrei and the others gathered round these two.

‘The Berlin cabinet cannot express a feeling of alliance,’ began Ippolit gazing round with importance at the others, ‘without expressing … as in its last note … you understand … Besides, unless his Majesty the Emperor derogates from the principle of our alliance…’ ‘Wait, I have not finished …’ he said to Prince Andrei, seizing him by the arm, ‘I believe that intervention will be stronger than non-intervention. And—,’ he paused. ‘Finally one cannot impute the non-receipt of our despatch of November 18. That is how it will end.’ And he released Bolkonsky’s arm to indicate that he had now quite finished.

‘Demosthenes, I know thee by the pebble thou secretest in thy golden mouth!’ said Bilibin, and the mop of hair on his head moved with satisfaction.

Everybody laughed, and Ippolit louder than anyone. He was evidently distressed, and breathed painfully, but could not restrain the wild laughter that convulsed his usually impassive features.

‘Well now, gentlemen,’ said Bilibin, ‘Bolkonsky is my guest in this house and in Brünn itself. I want to entertain him, as far as I can, with all the pleasures of life here. If we were in Vienna it would be easy, but here, in this wretched Moravian hole, it is more difficult, and I beg you all to help me. Brünn’s attractions must be shown him. You can undertake the theatre, I society, and you, Ippolit, of course the women.’ ‘We must let him see Amélie, she’s exquisite!’ said one of ‘ours’, kissing his fingertips.

‘In general we must turn this bloodthirsty soldier to more humane interests,’ said Bilibin.

‘I shall scarcely be able to avail myself of your hospitality, gentlemen, it is already time for me to go,’ replied Prince Andrei looking at his watch.

‘Where to?’

‘To the Emperor.’

‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’

‘Well, goodbye, Bolkonsky! Goodbye, Prince! Come back early to dinner,’ cried several voices. ‘We’ll take you in hand.’ ‘When speaking to the Emperor, try as far as you can to praise the way that provisions are supplied and the routes indicated,’ said Bilibin, accompanying him to the hall.

‘I should like to speak well of them, but as far as I know the facts, I can’t,’ replied Bolkonsky, smiling.

‘Well, talk as much as you can, anyway. He has a passion for giving audiences, but he does not like talking himself and can’t do it, as you will see.’

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