Chapter 23

           

           AtthatmomentCountRostopchínwithhisprotrudingchinandalerteyes,wearingtheuniformofageneralwithsashoverhisshoulder,enteredtheroom,steppingbrisklytothefrontofthecrowdofgentry.

           “OursovereigntheEmperorwillbehereinamoment,”saidRostopchín.“Iamstraightfromthepalace.Seeingthepositionwearein,Ithinkthereislittleneedfordiscussion.TheEmperorhasdeignedtosummonusandthemerchants.Millionswillpourforthfromthere”—hepointedtothemerchants’hall—“butourbusinessistosupplymenandnotspareourselves....Thatistheleastwecando!”

           Aconferencetookplaceconfinedtothemagnatessittingatthetable.Thewholeconsultationpassedmorethanquietly.Afteralltheprecedingnoisethesoundoftheiroldvoicessayingoneafteranother,“Iagree,”orforvariety,“Itooamofthatopinion,”andsoonhadevenamournfuleffect.

           ThesecretarywastoldtowritedowntheresolutionoftheMoscownobilityandgentry,thattheywouldfurnishtenmen,fullyequipped,outofeverythousandserfs,astheSmolénskgentryhaddone.Theirchairsmadeascrapingnoiseasthegentlemenwhohadconferredrosewithapparentrelief,andbeganwalkingupanddown,arminarm,tostretchtheirlegsandconverseincouples.

           “TheEmperor!TheEmperor!”asuddencryresoundedthroughthehallsandthewholethronghurriedtotheentrance.

           TheEmperorenteredthehallthroughabroadpathbetweentwolinesofnobles.Everyfaceexpressedrespectful,awe-struckcuriosity.PierrestoodratherfaroffandcouldnothearallthattheEmperorsaid.

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