按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Tsar greeted the officers and the Semyonovsky guard of honour； and once more shaking hands with the old man； he went with him into the castle。
When he was alone with the commander…in…chief； the Tsar gave expression to his displeasure at the slowness of the pursuit of the enemy； and the blunders made at Krasnoe and the Berezina； and to his views as to the coming campaign abroad。 Kutuzov made no observation or explanation。 The same expression of unreasoning submission with which seven years before he had listened to the Tsar’s commands on the field of Austerlitz remained fixed now on his face。
When Kutuzov had left the room； and with downcast head walked across the reception…hall with his heavy； waddling step； a voice stopped him。
“Your highness；” said some one。
He raised his head； and looked into the face of Count Tolstoy； who stood facing him with a small object on a silver dish。 Kutuzov seemed for some time unable to grasp what was wanted of him。
All at once he seemed to recollect himself； a faint smile gleamed on his pudgy face； and with a low； respectful bow； he picked up the object on the dish。 It was the Order of St。 George of the first rank。
Chapter 11
THE NEXT DAY the commander…in…chief gave a dinner and a ball； which the Tsar honoured with his presence。
Kutuzov had received the Order of St。 George of the first rank； the Tsar had shown him the highest marks of respect； but every one was aware that the Tsar was displeased with the commander…in…chief。 The proprieties were observed； and the Tsar set the first example in doing so。 But every one knew that the old man was in fault； and had shown his incapacity。 When； in accordance with the old custom of Catherine’s time； Kutuzov gave orders for the captured standards to be lowered at the Tsar’s feet on his entering the ball…room； the Tsar frowned with vexation； and muttered words； which some heard as： “The old comedian。”
The Tsar’s displeasure was increased at Vilna by Kutuzov’s obvious unwillingness or incapacity to see the importance of the approaching campaign。
When next morning the Tsar said to the officers gathered about him： “You have not only saved Russia； you have saved Europe；” every one knew at once that the war was not over。
Kutuzov alone refused to see this； and frankly gave it as his opinion that no fresh war could improve the position of Russia； or add to her glory； that it could but weaken her position； and cast her down from that high pinnacle of glory at which in his view Russia was standing now。 He tried to show the Tsar the impossibility of levying fresh troops； and talked of the hardships the people were suffering； the possibility of failure； and so on。
Such being his attitude on the subject； the commander…in…chief could naturally be looked upon only as a hindrance and a drag on the progress of the coming campaign。
To avoid friction with the old man； the obvious resource was—as with him at Austerlitz and with Barclay at the beginning of the war—to withdraw all real power from the commander…in…chief； without disturbing him by any open explanation on the matter； and to transfer it to the Tsar。
With this object； the staff was gradually transformed； and all the real power of Kutuzov’s staff was removed and transferred to the Tsar。 Toll； Konovnitsyn； and Yermolov received new appointments。 Every one talked openly of the commander…in…chief’s great weakness and failing health。
He was bound to be in failing health； so as to make way for his successor。 And his health was； in fact； failing。
Just as naturally； as simply； and as gradually as Kutuzov had come to the Court of Exchequer at Petersburg out of Turkey to raise the militia； and then to take the command of the army just at the time when he was needed； did a new commander come now to replace him； when his part was played。
The war of 1812； in addition to its national significance； dear to every Russian heart； was to take a new European character。
The movement of men from west to east was to be followed by a movement from east to west； and this new war needed a new representative； with other aims and other qualities； and moved by impulses different from Kutuzov’s。
For the movement from east to west； and the establishment of the position of peoples； Alexander was needed just as Kutuzov was needed for the deliverance and the glory of Russia。
Kutuzov did not see what was meant by Europe； the balance of power； and Napoleon。 He could not understand all that。
After the enemy had been annihilated； Russia had been delivered and raised to the highest pinnacle of her glory； the representative of the Russian people； a Russian of the Russians； had no more left to do。 Nothing was left for the representative of the national war but to die。 And he did die。
Chapter 12
As is generally the case； Pierre only felt the full strain of the physical hardships and privations he had suffered as a prisoner； when they were over。 After he had been rescued； he went to Orel； and two days after getting there； as he was preparing to start for Kiev； he fell ill and spent three months laid up at Orel。 He was suffering； so the doctors said； from a bilious fever。 Although they treated him by letting blood and giving him drugs； he recovered。
Everything that had happened to Pierre from the time of his rescue up to his illness had left hardly any impression on his mind。 He had only a memory of dark grey weather； sometimes rainy and sometimes sunshiny； of internal physical aches； of pain in his feet and his side。 He remembered a general impression of the misery and suffering of men； remembered the worrying curiosity of officers and generals； who questioned him about his imprisonment； the trouble he had to get horses and a conveyance； and more than all he remembered his own dullness of thought and of feeling all that time。
On the day of his rescue he saw the dead body of Petya Rostov。 The same day he learned that Prince Andrey had lived for more than a month after the battle of Borodino； and had only a short time before died at Yaroslavl in the Rostovs’ house。 The same day Denisov； who had told Pierre this piece of news； happened to allude in conversation to the death of Ellen； supposing Pierre to have been long aware of it。 All this had at the time seemed to Pierre only strange。 He felt that he could not take in all the bearings of these facts。 He was at the time simply in haste to get away from these places where men were slaughtering each other to some quiet refuge where he might rest and recover his faculties； and think over all the new strange things he had learned。
But as soon as he reached Orel； he fell ill。 On coming to himself after his illness； Pierre saw waiting on him two of his servants； Terenty and Vaska； who had come from Moscow； and the eldest of his cousins； who was staying at Pierre’s estate in Elets； and hearing of his rescue and his illness had come to nurse him。
During his convalescence Pierre could only gradually recover from the impressions of the last few months； which had become habitual。 Only by degrees could he become accustomed to the idea that there was no one to drive him on to…morrow； that no one would take his warm bed from him； and that he was quite sure of getting his