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Chapter 17

           Hethoughttooofthepossibility(whichhefearedmostofall)thatNapoleonmightfighthimwithhisownweaponandremaininMoscowawaitinghim.KutúzovevenimaginedthatNapoleon’sarmymightturnbackthroughMedýnandYukhnóv,buttheonethinghecouldnotforeseewaswhathappened—theinsane,convulsivestampedeofNapoleon’sarmyduringitsfirstelevendaysafterleavingMoscow:astampedewhichmadepossiblewhatKutúzovhadnotyetevendaredtothinkof—thecompleteexterminationoftheFrench.Dórokhov’sreportaboutBroussier’sdivision,theguerrillas’reportsofdistressinNapoleon’sarmy,rumorsofpreparationsforleavingMoscow,allconfirmedthesuppositionthattheFrencharmywasbeatenandpreparingforflight.Butthesewereonlysuppositions,whichseemedimportanttotheyoungermenbutnottoKutúzov.Withhissixtyyears’experienceheknewwhatvaluetoattachtorumors,knewhowaptpeoplewhodesireanythingaretogroupallnewssothatitappearstoconfirmwhattheydesire,andheknewhowreadilyinsuchcasestheyomitallthatmakesforthecontrary.Andthemorehedesireditthelessheallowedhimselftobelieveit.Thisquestionabsorbedallhismentalpowers.Allelsewastohimonlylife’scustomaryroutine.Tosuchcustomaryroutinebelongedhisconversationswiththestaff,thelettershewrotefromTarútinotoMadamedeStaël,thereadingofnovels,thedistributionofawards,hiscorrespondencewithPetersburg,andsoon.ButthedestructionoftheFrench,whichhealoneforesaw,washisheart’sonedesire.

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Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 1887 з 2250