Chapter 11

           

           Nextdayhewokelate.Recallinghisrecentimpressions,thefirstthoughtthatcameintohismindwasthattodayhehadtobepresentedtotheEmperorFrancis;herememberedtheMinisterofWar,thepoliteAustrianadjutant,Bilíbin,andlastnight’sconversation.Havingdressedforhisattendanceatcourtinfullparadeuniform,whichhehadnotwornforalongtime,hewentintoBilíbin’sstudyfresh,animated,andhandsome,withhishandbandaged.Inthestudywerefourgentlemenofthediplomaticcorps.WithPrinceHippolyteKurágin,whowasasecretarytotheembassy,Bolkónskiwasalreadyacquainted.Bilíbinintroducedhimtotheothers.

           ThegentlemenassembledatBilíbin’swereyoung,wealthy,gaysocietymen,whohere,asinVienna,formedaspecialsetwhichBilíbin,theirleader,calledlesnôtres.*Thisset,consistingalmostexclusivelyofdiplomats,evidentlyhaditsowninterestswhichhadnothingtodowithwarorpoliticsbutrelatedtohighsociety,tocertainwomen,andtotheofficialsideoftheservice.ThesegentlemenreceivedPrinceAndrewasoneofthemselves,anhonortheydidnotextendtomany.Frompolitenessandtostartconversation,theyaskedhimafewquestionsaboutthearmyandthebattle,andthenthetalkwentoffintomerryjestsandgossip.

           *Ours.

           “Butthebestofitwas,”saidone,tellingofthemisfortuneofafellowdiplomat,“thattheChancellortoldhimflatlythathisappointmenttoLondonwasapromotionandthathewassotoregardit.Canyoufancythefigurehecut?...

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