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Chapter 6

           Hiswholeshortcorpulentfigurewithbroadthickshoulders,andchestandstomachinvoluntarilyprotruding,hadthatimposingandstatelyappearanceoneseesinmenoffortywholiveincomfort.Itwasevident,too,thathewasinthebestofspiritsthatday.

           HenoddedinanswertoBalashëv’slowandrespectfulbow,andcominguptohimatoncebeganspeakinglikeamanwhovalueseverymomentofhistimeanddoesnotcondescendtopreparewhathehastosaybutissurehewillalwayssaytherightthingandsayitwell.

           “Goodday,General!”saidhe.“IhavereceivedtheletteryoubroughtfromtheEmperorAlexanderandamverygladtoseeyou.”HeglancedwithhislargeeyesintoBalashëv’sfaceandimmediatelylookedpasthim.

           ItwasplainthatBalashëv’spersonalitydidnotinteresthimatall.Evidentlyonlywhattookplacewithinhisownmindinterestedhim.Nothingoutsidehimselfhadanysignificanceforhim,becauseeverythingintheworld,itseemedtohim,dependedentirelyonhiswill.

           “Idonot,anddidnot,desirewar,”hecontinued,“butithasbeenforcedonme.Evennow”(heemphasizedtheword)“Iamreadytoreceiveanyexplanationsyoucangiveme.”

           AndhebeganclearlyandconciselytoexplainhisreasonsfordissatisfactionwiththeRussiangovernment.JudgingbythecalmlymoderateandamicabletoneinwhichtheFrenchEmperorspoke,Balashëvwasfirmlypersuadedthathewishedforpeaceandintendedtoenterintonegotiations.

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