Война и мир

Chapter 5

           InthesocietyinwhichPrinceAndrewlivedhehadneverseenanyonewhotogetherwithawkwardandclumsygesturespossessedsuchcalmnessandself-assurance;hehadneverseensoresoluteyetgentleanexpressionasthatinthosehalf-closed,ratherhumideyes,orsofirmasmilethatexpressednothing;norhadheheardsucharefined,smooth,softvoice;aboveallhehadneverseensuchdelicatewhitenessoffaceorhands—handswhichwerebroad,butveryplump,soft,andwhite.SuchwhitenessandsoftnessPrinceAndrewhadonlyseenonthefacesofsoldierswhohadbeenlonginhospital.ThiswasSperánski,SecretaryofState,reportertotheEmperorandhiscompanionatErfurt,wherehehadmorethanoncemetandtalkedwithNapoleon.

           Speránskididnotshifthiseyesfromonefacetoanotheraspeopleinvoluntarilydoonenteringalargecompanyandwasinnohurrytospeak.Hespokeslowly,withassurancethathewouldbelistenedto,andhelookedonlyatthepersonwithwhomhewasconversing.

           PrinceAndrewfollowedSperánski’severywordandmovementwithparticularattention.Ashappenstosomepeople,especiallytomenwhojudgethoseneartothemseverely,healwaysonmeetinganyonenew—especiallyanyonewhom,likeSperánski,heknewbyreputation—expectedtodiscoverinhimtheperfectionofhumanqualities.

           SperánskitoldKochubéyhewassorryhehadbeenunabletocomesoonerashehadbeendetainedatthepalace.HedidnotsaythattheEmperorhadkepthim,andPrinceAndrewnoticedthisaffectationofmodesty.

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