Chapter 3

           

           Onreturningfromthereview,KutúzovtooktheAustriangeneralintohisprivateroomand,callinghisadjutant,askedforsomepapersrelatingtotheconditionofthetroopsontheirarrival,andthelettersthathadcomefromtheArchdukeFerdinand,whowasincommandoftheadvancedarmy.PrinceAndrewBolkónskicameintotheroomwiththerequiredpapers.KutúzovandtheAustrianmemberoftheHofkriegsrathweresittingatthetableonwhichaplanwasspreadout.

           “Ah!...”saidKutúzovglancingatBolkónskiasifbythisexclamationhewasaskingtheadjutanttowait,andhewentonwiththeconversationinFrench.

           “AllIcansay,General,”saidhewithapleasanteleganceofexpressionandintonationthatobligedonetolistentoeachdeliberatelyspokenword.ItwasevidentthatKutúzovhimselflistenedwithpleasuretohisownvoice.“AllIcansay,General,isthatifthematterdependedonmypersonalwishes,thewillofHisMajestytheEmperorFranciswouldhavebeenfulfilledlongago.Ishouldlongagohavejoinedthearchduke.Andbelievemeonmyhonourthattomepersonallyitwouldbeapleasuretohandoverthesupremecommandofthearmyintothehandsofabetterinformedandmoreskillfulgeneral—ofwhomAustriahassomany—andtolaydownallthisheavyresponsibility.Butcircumstancesaresometimestoostrongforus,General.”

           AndKutúzovsmiledinawaythatseemedtosay,“YouarequiteatlibertynottobelievemeandIdon’tevencarewhetheryoudoornot,butyouhavenogroundsfortellingmeso.Andthatisthewholepoint.

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