Война и мир

Chapter 22

           Thenobilitydon’tgwudgetheahlives—evewyoneofuswillgoandbwinginmorewecwuits,andthesov’weign”(thatwasthewayhereferredtotheEmperor)“needonlysaythewordandwe’llalldiefo’him!”addedtheoratorwithanimation.

           CountRostóv’smouthwateredwithpleasureandhenudgedPierre,butPierrewantedtospeakhimself.Hepushedforward,feelingstirred,butnotyetsurewhatstirredhimorwhathewouldsay.Scarcelyhadheopenedhismouthwhenoneofthesenators,amanwithoutatoothinhishead,withashrewdthoughangryexpression,standingnearthefirstspeaker,interruptedhim.Evidentlyaccustomedtomanagingdebatesandtomaintaininganargument,hebeganinlowbutdistincttones:

           “Iimagine,sir,”saidhe,mumblingwithhistoothlessmouth,“thatwehavebeensummonedherenottodiscusswhetherit’sbestfortheempireatthepresentmomenttoadoptconscriptionortocalloutthemilitia.WehavebeensummonedtoreplytotheappealwithwhichoursovereigntheEmperorhashonoredus.Buttojudgewhatisbest—conscriptionorthemilitia—wecanleavetothesupremeauthority....”

           Pierresuddenlysawanoutletforhisexcitement.Hehardenedhisheartagainstthesenatorwhowasintroducingthissetandnarrowattitudeintothedeliberationsofthenobility.Pierresteppedforwardandinterruptedhim.Hehimselfdidnotyetknowwhathewouldsay,buthebegantospeakeagerly,occasionallylapsingintoFrenchorexpressinghimselfinbookishRussian.

           “Excuseme,yourexcellency,”hebegan.

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