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eror would not be displeased at this excess of zeal。
No sooner had the adjutant said this than the old whiskered officer； with happy face and sparkling eyes； brandished his sabre in the air shouting “Vive l’Empereur！” and commanding his men to follow him； he set spurs to his horse and galloped down to the river。 He gave a vicious thrust to his horse； that floundered under him； and plunged into the water； making for the most rapid part of the current。 Hundreds of Uhlans galloped in after him。 It was cold and dangerous in the middle in the rapid current。 The Uhlans clung to one another； falling off their horses。 Some of the horses were drowned； some； too； of the men； the others struggled to swim across； some in the saddle； others clinging to their horse’s manes。 They tried to swim straight across； and although there was a ford half a verst away they were proud to be swimming and drowning in the river before the eyes of that man sitting on the log and not even looking at what they were doing。 When the adjutant； on going back； chose a favourable moment and ventured to call the Emperor’s attention to the devotion of the Poles to his person； the little man in the grey overcoat got up； and summoning Berthier； he began walking up and down the bank with him； giving him instructions； and casting now and then a glance of displeasure at the drowning Uhlans who had interrupted his thoughts。
It was no new conviction for him that his presence in any quarter of the earth； from Africa to the steppes of Moscow； was enough to impress men and impel them to senseless acts of self…sacrifice。 He sent for his horse and rode back to his bivouac。
Forty Uhlans were drowned in the river in spite of the boats sent to their assistance。 The majority struggled back to the bank from which they had started。 The colonel； with several of his men； swam across the river and with difficulty clambered up the other bank。 But as soon as they clambered out in drenched and streaming clothes they shouted “Vive l’Empereur！” looking ecstatically at the place where Napoleon had stood； though he was no longer there； and at that moment thought themselves happy。
In the evening between giving two orders—one for hastening the arrival of the counterfeit rouble notes that had been prepared for circulation in Russia； and the other for shooting a Saxon who had been caught with a letter containing a report on the disposition of the French army—Napoleon gave a third order for presenting the colonel； who had quite unnecessarily flung himself in the river； the order of the Légion d’Honneur； of which he was himself the head。 Quos vult perdere； dementat。
Chapter 3
THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR had meanwhile been spending more than a month in Vilna； holding reviews and inspecting man？uvres。 Nothing was in readiness for the war； which all were expecting； though it was to prepare for it that the Tsar had come from Petersburg。 There was no general plan of action。 The vacillation between all the plans that were proposed and the inability to fix on any one of them； was more marked than ever after the Tsar had been for a month at headquarters。 There was a separate commander…in…chief at the head of each of the three armies； but there was no commander with authority over all of them； and the Tsar did not undertake the duties of such a commander…in…chief himself。
The longer the Tsar stayed at Vilna； the less ready was the Russian army for the war； which it had grown weary of expecting。 Every effort of the men who surrounded the Tsar seemed to be devoted to making their sovereign spend his time pleasantly and forget the impending war。
Many balls and fêtes were given by the Polish magnates； by members of the court； and by the Tsar himself； and in the month of June it occurred to one of the Polish generals attached to the Tsar’s staff that all the generals on the staff should give a dinner and a ball to the Tsar。 The suggestion was eagerly taken up。 The Tsar gave his consent。 The generals on the staff subscribed the necessary funds。 The lady who was most likely to please the Tsar’s taste was selected as hostess for the ball。 Count Bennigsen； who had land in the Vilna province； offered his house in the outskirts for this fête； and the 13th of June was the day fixed for a ball； a dinner； with a regatta and fireworks at Zakreta； Count Bennigsen’s suburban house。
On the very day on which Napoleon gave the order to cross the Niemen； and the vanguard of his army crossed the Russian frontier； driving back the Cossacks； Alexander was at the ball given by the generals on his staff at Count Bennigsen’s house。
It was a brilliant and festive entertainment。 Connoisseurs declared that rarely had so many beauties been gathered together at one place。 Countess Bezuhov； who had been among the Russian ladies who had followed the Tsar from Petersburg to Vilna； was at that ball； her heavy； Russian style of beauty—as it is called—overshadowing the more refined Polish ladies。 She was much noticed； and the Tsar had deigned to bestow a dance upon her。
Boris Drubetskoy； who had left his wife at Moscow； and was living “en gar？on；” as he said； at Vilna； was also at that ball； and although he was not a general on the staff； he had subscribed a large sum to the ball。 Boris was now a wealthy man who had risen to high honours。 He no longer sought patronage； but was on an equal footing with the most distinguished men of his age。 At Vilna he met Ellen； whom he had not seen for a long while。 As Ellen was enjoying the good graces of a very important personage indeed； and Boris had so recently been married； they made no allusion to the past； but met as good…natured； old friends。
At midnight dancing was still going on。 Ellen happening to have no suitable partner had herself proposed a mazurka to Boris。 They were the third couple。 Boris was looking coldly at Ellen’s splendid bare shoulders； which rose out of her dress of dark gauze and gold； and was talking to her of old acquaintances； and yet though others and himself too were unaware of it； he never for a second ceased observing the Tsar who was in the same room。 The Tsar was not dancing； he was standing in the doorway； stopping one person after the other with the gracious words he alone knew how to utter。
At the beginning of the mazurka； Boris saw that a general of the staff； Balashov； one of the persons in closest attendance on the Tsar； went up to him； and； regardless of court etiquette； stopped close to him； while he conversed with a Polish lady。 After saying a few words to the lady； the Tsar glanced inquiringly at Balashov； and apparently seeing that he was behaving like this only because he had weighty reasons for doing so； he gave the lady a slight nod and turned to Balashov。 The Tsar’s countenance betrayed amazement； as soon as Balashov had begun to speak。 He took Balashov’s arm and walked across the room with him； unconsciously clearing a space of three yards on each side of him as people hastily drew back。 Boris noticed the excited face of Araktcheev as the Tsar walked up the room with Balashov。 Araktcheev； looking from under his brows at the Tsar； and sniffing with his red nose； moved forward out of the crowd as though expecting the Tsar to apply to