Війна і мир

Chapter 26

           “WhatofSweden?HowwilltheycrossPomerania?”

           PrinceAndrew,seeingthathisfatherinsisted,began—atfirstreluctantly,butgraduallywithmoreandmoreanimation,andfromhabitchangingunconsciouslyfromRussiantoFrenchashewenton—toexplaintheplanofoperationforthecomingcampaign.Heexplainedhowanarmy,ninetythousandstrong,wastothreatenPrussiasoastobringheroutofherneutralityanddrawherintothewar;howpartofthatarmywastojoinsomeSwedishforcesatStralsund;howtwohundredandtwentythousandAustrians,withahundredthousandRussians,weretooperateinItalyandontheRhine;howfiftythousandRussiansandasmanyEnglishweretolandatNaples,andhowatotalforceoffivehundredthousandmenwastoattacktheFrenchfromdifferentsides.Theoldprincedidnotevincetheleastinterestduringthisexplanation,butasifhewerenotlisteningtoitcontinuedtodresswhilewalkingabout,andthreetimesunexpectedlyinterrupted.Oncehestoppeditbyshouting:“Thewhiteone,thewhiteone!”

           ThismeantthatTíkhonwasnothandinghimthewaistcoathewanted.Anothertimeheinterrupted,saying:

           “Andwillshesoonbeconfined?”andshakinghisheadreproachfullysaid:“That’sbad!Goon,goon.”

           ThethirdinterruptioncamewhenPrinceAndrewwasfinishinghisdescription.Theoldmanbegantosing,inthecrackedvoiceofoldage:“Malbrooks’enva-t-enguerre.Dieusaitquandreviendra.”*

           *“Marlboroughisgoingtothewars;Godknowswhenhe’ll

           return.”

           Hissononlysmiled

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