Війна і мир

Chapter 3

           

           Pierrenowunderstoodthecount’sdissatisfactionwiththewordingoftheNote.

           “Onewouldhavethoughtquilldriversenoughhadsprungup,”remarkedtheoldprince.“ThereinPetersburgtheyarealwayswriting—notnotesonlybutevennewlaws.MyAndrewtherehaswrittenawholevolumeoflawsforRussia.Nowadaystheyarealwayswriting!”andhelaughedunnaturally.

           Therewasamomentarypauseintheconversation;theoldgeneralclearedhisthroattodrawattention.

           “DidyouhearofthelasteventatthereviewinPetersburg?ThefigurecutbythenewFrenchambassador.”

           “Eh?Yes,Iheardsomething:hesaidsomethingawkwardinHisMajesty’spresence.”

           “HisMajestydrewattentiontotheGrenadierdivisionandtothemarchpast,”continuedthegeneral,“anditseemstheambassadortooknonoticeandallowedhimselftoreplythat:‘WeinFrancepaynoattentiontosuchtrifles!’TheEmperordidnotcondescendtoreply.Atthenextreview,theysay,theEmperordidnotoncedeigntoaddresshim.”

           Allweresilent.OnthisfactrelatingtotheEmperorpersonally,itwasimpossibletopassanyjudgment.

           “Impudentfellows!”saidtheprince.“YouknowMétivier?Iturnedhimoutofmyhousethismorning.Hewashere;theyadmittedhiminspiteofmyrequestthattheyshouldletnoonein,”hewenton,glancingangrilyathisdaughter.

           AndhenarratedhiswholeconversationwiththeFrenchdoctorandthereasonsthatconvincedhimthatMétivierwasaspy.Thoughthesereasonswereveryinsufficientandobscure,noonemadeanyrejoinder.

           Aftertheroast,champagnewasserved.

Зміст книги
Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 993 з 2250