Chapter 11

           

           NextdaythefieldmarshalgaveadinnerandballwhichtheEmperorhonoredbyhispresence.KutúzovhadreceivedtheOrderofSt.GeorgeoftheFirstClassandtheEmperorshowedhimthehighesthonors,buteveryoneknewoftheimperialdissatisfactionwithhim.TheproprietieswereobservedandtheEmperorwasthefirsttosetthatexample,buteverybodyunderstoodthattheoldmanwasblameworthyandgood-for-nothing.WhenKutúzov,conformingtoacustomofCatherine’sday,orderedthestandardsthathadbeencapturedtobeloweredattheEmperor’sfeetonhisenteringtheballroom,theEmperormadeawryfaceandmutteredsomethinginwhichsomepeoplecaughtthewords,“theoldcomedian.”

           TheEmperor’sdispleasurewithKutúzovwasspeciallyincreasedatVílnabythefactthatKutúzovevidentlycouldnotorwouldnotunderstandtheimportanceofthecomingcampaign.

           WhenonthefollowingmorningtheEmperorsaidtotheofficersassembledabouthim:“YouhavenotonlysavedRussia,youhavesavedEurope!”theyallunderstoodthatthewarwasnotended.

           KutúzovalonewouldnotseethisandopenlyexpressedhisopinionthatnofreshwarcouldimprovethepositionoraddtothegloryofRussia,butcouldonlyspoilandlowerthegloriouspositionthatRussiahadgained.HetriedtoprovetotheEmperortheimpossibilityoflevyingfreshtroops,spokeofthehardshipsalreadyenduredbythepeople,ofthepossibilityoffailureandsoforth.

           Thisbeingthefieldmarshal’sframeofmindhewasnaturallyregardedasmerelyahindranceandobstacletotheimpendingwar.

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