Война и мир

Chapter 11

           TheycouldnotunderstandthatIhavenotthenecessaryqualificationsforit—thekindofgood-natured,fussyshallownessnecessaryfortheposition.Thenthere’sthishouse,whichmustbebuiltinordertohaveanookofone’sowninwhichtobequiet.Andnowthere’sthisrecruiting.”

           “Whyaren’tyouservinginthearmy?”

           “AfterAusterlitz!”saidPrinceAndrewgloomily.“No,thankyouverymuch!IhavepromisedmyselfnottoserveagainintheactiveRussianarmy.AndIwon’t—notevenifBonapartewerehereatSmolénskthreateningBaldHills—eventhenIwouldn’tserveintheRussianarmy!Well,asIwassaying,”hecontinued,recoveringhiscomposure,“nowthere’sthisrecruiting.MyfatherischiefincommandoftheThirdDistrict,andmyonlywayofavoidingactiveserviceistoserveunderhim.”

           “Thenyouareserving?”

           “Iam.”

           Hepausedalittlewhile.

           “Andwhydoyouserve?”

           “Why,forthisreason!Myfatherisoneofthemostremarkablemenofhistime.Butheisgrowingold,andthoughnotexactlycruelhehastooenergeticacharacter.Heissoaccustomedtounlimitedpowerthatheisterrible,andnowhehasthisauthorityofacommanderinchiefoftherecruiting,grantedbytheEmperor.IfIhadbeentwohourslateafortnightagohewouldhavehadapaymaster’sclerkatYúkhnovnahanged,”saidPrinceAndrewwithasmile.“SoIamservingbecauseIalonehaveanyinfluencewithmyfather,andnowandthencansavehimfromactionswhichwouldtormenthimafterwards.

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