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！
“Yes； I saw him； and I’m persuaded he fears a general engagement more than anything in the world；” repeated Dolgorukov； who evidently attached great value to this general deduction he had made from his interview with Napoleon。 “If he weren’t afraid of an engagement what reason has he to ask for this interview； to open negotiations； and； above all； to retreat； when retreat is contrary to his whole method of conducting warfare？ Believe me； he’s afraid； afraid of a general engagement； his hour has come； mark my words。”
“But tell me what was he like； how did he behave？” Prince Andrey still insisted。
“He’s a man in a grey overcoat； very anxious to be called ‘your majesty；’ but disappointed at not getting a title of any kind out of me。 That’s the sort of man he is； that’s all；” answered Dolgorukov； looking round with a smile at Bilibin。
“In spite of my profound respect for old Kutuzov；” he pursued； “a pretty set of fools we should be to wait about and let him have a chance to get away or cheat us； when as it is he’s in our hands for certain。 No； we mustn’t forget Suvorov and his rule—never to put oneself in a position to be attacked； but to make the attack oneself。 Believe me； the energy of young men is often a safer guide in warfare than all the experience of the old cunctators。”
“But in what position are you going to attack him？ I have been at the outposts to…day； and there was no making out where his chief forces are concentrated；” said Prince Andrey。 He was longing to explain to Dolgorukov his own idea； the plan of attack he had formed。
“Ah； that’s a matter of no consequence whatever；” Dolgorukov said quickly； getting up and unfolding a map on the table。 “Every contingency has been provided for； if he is concentrated at Brünn。…” And Prince Dolgorukov gave a rapid and vague account of Weierother’s plan of a flank movement。
Prince Andrey began to make objections and to explain his own plan； which may have been as good as Weierother’s； but had the fatal disadvantage that Weierother’s plan had already been accepted。 As soon as Prince Andrey began to enlarge on the drawbacks of the latter and the advantages of his own scheme； Prince Dolgorukov ceased to attend； and looked without interest not at the map； but at Prince Andrey’s face。
“There is to be a council of war at Kutuzov’s to…night； though； you can explain all that then；” said Dolgorukov。
“That’s what I am going to do；” said Prince Andrey； moving away from the map。
“And what are you worrying yourselves about； gentlemen？” said Bilibin； who had till then been listening to their talk with a beaming smile； but now unmistakably intended to make a joke。 “Whether there is victory or defeat to…morrow； the glory of the Russian arms is secure。 Except your Kutuzov； there’s not a single Russian in command of a column。 The commanders are： Herr General Wimpfen； le comte de Langeron； le prince de Lichtenstein； le prince de Hohenlohe and Prishprshiprsh； or some such Polish name。”
“Hold your tongue； backbiter；” said Dolgorukov。 “It’s not true； there are two Russians： Miloradovitch and Dohturov； and there would have been a third； Count Araktcheev； but for his weak nerves。”
“Mihail Ilarionovitch has come out； I think；” said Prince Andrey。 “Good luck and success to you； gentlemen；” he added； and went out； after shaking hands with Dolgorukov and Bilibin。
On returning home Prince Andrey could not refrain from asking Kutuzov； who sat near him in silence； what he thought about the coming battle。 Kutuzov looked sternly at his adjutant； and after a pause； answered： “I think the battle will be lost； and I said so to Count Tolstoy and asked him to give that message to the Tsar。 And what do you suppose was the answer he gave me？ ‘Eh； mon cher général； je me mêle de riz et de c？telettes； mêlez…vous des affaires de la guerre。’ Yes。… That’s the answer I got！”
Chapter 12
AT TEN O’CLOCK in the evening； Weierother with his plans rode over to Kutuzov’s quarters； where the council of war was to take place。 All the commanders of columns were summoned to the commander…in…chief’s； and with the exception of Prince Bagration； who declined to come； all of them arrived at the hour fixed。
Weierother； who was entirely responsible for all the arrangements for the proposed battle； in his eagerness and hurry； was a striking contrast to the ill…humoured and sleepy Kutuzov； who reluctantly played the part of president and chairman of the council of war。 Weierother obviously felt himself at the head of the movement that had been set going and could not be stopped。 He was like a horse in harness running downhill with a heavy load behind him。 Whether he were pulling it or it were pushing him； he could not have said； but he was flying along at full speed with no time to consider where this swift motion would land him。 Weierother had been twice that evening to make a personal inspection up to the enemy’s line； and twice he had been with the Emperors； Russian and Austrian； to report and explain； and to his office； where he had dictated the disposition of the German troops。 He came now； exhausted； to Kutuzov’s。
He was evidently so much engrossed that he even forgot to be respectful to the commander…in…chief。 He interrupted him； talked rapidly and indistinctly； without looking at the person he was addressing； failed to answer questions that were put to him； was spattered with mud； and had an air pitiful； exhausted； distracted； and at the same time self…confident and haughty。
Kutuzov was staying in a small nobleman’s castle near Austerlitz。 In the drawing…room； which had been made the commander…in…chief’s study； were gathered together： Kutuzov himself； Weierother； and the members of the council of war。 They were drinking tea。 They were only waiting for Prince Bagration to open the council。 Presently Bagration’s orderly officer came with a message that the prince could not be present。 Prince Andrey came in to inform the commander…in…chief of this； and； profiting by the permission previously given him by Kutuzov to be present at the council； he remained in the room。
“Well； since Prince Bagration isn’t coming； we can begin；” said Weierother； hastily getting up from his place and approaching the table； on which an immense map of the environs of Brünn lay unfolded。
Kutuzov； his uniform unbuttoned； and his fat neck as though set free from bondage； bulging over the collar； was sitting in a low chair with his podgy old hands laid symmetrically on the arms； he was almost asleep。
At the sound of Weierother’s voice； he made an effort and opened his solitary eye。
“Yes； yes； please； it’s late as it is；” he assented； and nodding his head； he let it droop and closed his eyes again。
If the members of the council had at first believed Kutuzov to be shamming sleep； the nasal sounds to which he gave vent during the reading that followed； proved that the commander…in…chief was concerned with something of far greater consequence than the desire to show his contempt for their disposition of the troops or anything else whatever； he was concerned with the satisfaction of an irresistible human necessity—sleep。 He was really asleep。 Weierother； with the gestur