Війна і мир

Chapter 19

           ThosesenttofetchthedeputationhadreturnedwiththenewsthatMoscowwasempty,thateveryonehadleftit.Thefacesofthosewhowerenotconferringtogetherwerepaleandperturbed.TheywerenotalarmedbythefactthatMoscowhadbeenabandonedbyitsinhabitants(graveasthatfactseemed),butbythequestionhowtotelltheEmperor—withoutputtinghimintheterriblepositionofappearingridiculous—thathehadbeenawaitingtheboyarssolonginvain:thatthereweredrunkenmobsleftinMoscowbutnooneelse.Somesaidthatadeputationofsomesortmustbescrapedtogether,othersdisputedthatopinionandmaintainedthattheEmperorshouldfirstbecarefullyandskillfullyprepared,andthentoldthetruth.

           “Hewillhavetobetold,allthesame,”saidsomegentlemenofthesuite.“But,gentlemen...”

           ThepositionwasthemoreawkwardbecausetheEmperor,meditatinguponhismagnanimousplans,waspacingpatientlyupanddownbeforetheoutspreadmap,occasionallyglancingalongtheroadtoMoscowfromunderhisliftedhandwithabrightandproudsmile.

           “Butit’simpossible...”declaredthegentlemenofthesuite,shruggingtheirshouldersbutnotventuringtouttertheimpliedword—leridicule....

           AtlasttheEmperor,tiredoffutileexpectation,hisactor’sinstinctsuggestingtohimthatthesublimemomenthavingbeentoolongdrawnoutwasbeginningtoloseitssublimity,gaveasignwithhishand

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