Война и мир

Chapter 6

           

           NapoleonnoticedBalashëv’sembarrassmentwhenutteringtheselastwords;hisfacetwitchedandthecalfofhisleftlegbegantoquiverrhythmically.Withoutmovingfromwherehestoodhebeganspeakinginaloudertoneandmorehurriedlythanbefore.Duringthespeechthatfollowed,Balashëv,whomorethanonceloweredhiseyes,involuntarilynoticedthequiveringofNapoleon’sleftlegwhichincreasedthemoreNapoleonraisedhisvoice.

           “Idesirepeace,nolessthantheEmperorAlexander,”hebegan.“HaveInotforeighteenmonthsbeendoingeverythingtoobtainit?Ihavewaitedeighteenmonthsforexplanations.Butinordertobeginnegotiations,whatisdemandedofme?”hesaid,frowningandmakinganenergeticgestureofinquirywithhissmallwhiteplumphand.

           “ThewithdrawalofyourarmybeyondtheNiemen,sire,”repliedBalashëv.

           “TheNiemen?”repeatedNapoleon.“SonowyouwantmetoretirebeyondtheNiemen—onlytheNiemen?”repeatedNapoleon,lookingstraightatBalashëv.

           Thelatterbowedhisheadrespectfully.

           InsteadofthedemandoffourmonthsearliertowithdrawfromPomerania,onlyawithdrawalbeyondtheNiemenwasnowdemanded.Napoleonturnedquicklyandbegantopacetheroom.

           “YousaythedemandnowisthatIamtowithdrawbeyondtheNiemenbeforecommencingnegotiations,butinjustthesamewaytwomonthsagothedemandwasthatIshouldwithdrawbeyondtheVistulaandtheOder,andyetyouarewillingtonegotiate.”

           HewentinsilencefromonecorneroftheroomtotheotherandagainstoppedinfrontofBalashëv.

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