战争与和平(上)-第252章

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“Eh？”　Kutuzov　inquired　in　the　middle　of　Denisov’s　exposition；　“are　you　ready　now？”
“Yes；　your　highness；”　said　the　general。　Kutuzov　shook　his　head　with　an　air　that　seemed　to　say；　“How　is　one　man　to　get　through　it　all？”　and　gave　his　attention　again　to　Denisov。
“I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　as　a　Russian　officer；”　Denisov　was　saying；　“that　I　will　cut　Napoleon’s　communications。”
“Is　Kirill　Andreivitch　Denisov；　the　ober…intendant；　any　relation　of　yours？”　Kutuzov　interposed。
“My　uncle；　your　highness。”
“Oh！　we　used　to　be　friends；”　said　Kutuzov；　more　cheerily。　“Very　good；　very　good；　my　dear　boy；　you　stay　here　on　the　staff；　we’ll　have　a　talk　to…morrow。”　Nodding　to　Denisov；　he　turned　away　and　put　out　his　hand　for　the　papers　Konovnitsyn　had　brought　him。
“Will　not　your　highness　be　pleased　to　walk　into　the　house？”　said　the　general　on　duty　in　a　discontented　voice；　“it’s　necessary　to　look　through　the　plans　and　to　sign　some　papers。”　An　adjutant　appeared　at　the　door　to　announce　that　everything　was　in　readiness　within。　But　apparently　Kutuzov　preferred　to　be　rid　of　business　before　going　indoors。　He　paused　…
“No；　have　a　table　placed　here；　my　dear　boy；　I’ll　look　through　them　here；”　he　said。　“Don’t　you　go　away；”　he　added；　addressing　Prince　Andrey。　Prince　Andrey　remained　in　the　porch　listening　to　the　general　on　duty。
While　the　latter　was　presenting　his　report　Prince　Andrey　heard　the　whisper　of　a　woman’s　voice　and　the　rustle　of　a　woman’s　silk　dress　at　the　door。　Several　times　glancing　in　that　direction　he　noticed　behind　the　door　a　plump；　rosy…faced；　good…looking　woman　in　a　pink　dress　with　a　lilac　silk　kerchief　on　her　head。　She　had　a　dish　in　her　hand　and　was　apparently　waiting　for　the　commander…in…chief　to　enter。　Kutuzov’s　adjutant　explained　to　Prince　Andrey　in　a　whisper　that　this　was　the　priest’s　wife；　the　mistress　of　the　house；　who　intended　to　offer　his　highness　bread　and　salt；　the　emblems　of　welcome；　on　his　entrance。　Her　husband　had　met　his　highness　with　the　cross　in　church；　and　she　intended　to　welcome　him　to　the　house。…　“She’s　very　pretty；”　added　the　adjutant　with　a　smile。　Kutuzov　looked　round　at　the　words。　He　heard　the　general’s　report；　the　subject　of　which　was　chiefly　a　criticism　of　the　position　of　the　troops　before　Tsarevo…Zaimishtche；　just　as　he　had　heard　Denisov；　and　just　as；　seven　years　before；　he　had　heard　the　discussions　of　the　military　council　before　Austerlitz。　He　was　obviously　hearing　it　simply　because　he　had　ears；　and　although　one　of　them　was　stuffed　up　with　cotton…wool　they　could　not　help　hearing。　But　it　was　obvious　that　nothing　that　general　could　possibly　say　could　surprise　or　interest　him；　that　he　knew　beforehand　all　he　would　be　told；　and　listened　only　because　he　had　to　listen　to　it；　just　as　one　has　to　listen　to　the　litany　being　sung。　All　Denisov　had　said　was　practical　and　sensible。　What　the　general　was　saying　was　even　more　practical　and　sensible；　but　apparently　Kutuzov　despised　both　knowledge　and　intellect；　and　knew　of　something　else　that　would　settle　things—something　different；　quite　apart　from　intellect　and　knowledge。　Prince　Andrey　watched　the　commander…in…chief’s　face　attentively；　and　the　only　expression　he　could　detect　in　it　was　an　expression　of　boredom；　of　curiosity　to　know　the　meaning　of　the　feminine　whispering　at　the　door；　and　of　a　desire　to　observe　the　proprieties。　It　was　obvious　that　Kutuzov　despised　intellect　and　learning；　and　even　the　patriotic　feeling　Denisov　had　shown；　but　he　did　not　despise　them　through　intellect；　nor　through　sentiment；　nor　through　learning　（for　he　made　no　effort　to　display　anything　of　the　kind）；　he　despised　them　through　something　else—through　his　old　age；　through　his　experience　of　life。　The　only　instruction　of　his　own　that　Kutuzov　inserted　in　the　report　related　to　acts　of　marauding　by　Russian　troops。　The　general；　at　the　end　of　the　report；　presented　his　highness　a　document　for　signature　relating　to　a　petition　for　damages　from　a　landowner　for　the　cutting　of　his　oats　by　certain　officers。
Kutuzov　smacked　his　lips　together　and　shook　his　head；　as　he　listened　to　the　matter。
“Into　the　stove　…　into　the　fire　with　it！　And　I　tell　you　once　for　all；　my　dear　fellow；”　he　said；　“all　such　things　put　into　the　fire。　Let　them　cut　the　corn　and　burn　the　wood　to　their　heart’s　content。　It’s　not　by　my　orders　and　it’s　not　with　my　permission；　but　I　can’t　pursue　the　matter。　It　can’t　be　helped。　You　can’t　hew　down　trees　without　the　chips　flying。”　He　glanced　once　more　at　the　paper。　“Oh；　this　German　preciseness；”　he　commented；　shaking　his　head。


Chapter　16
“WELL；　now；　that’s　all；”　said　Kutuzov；　as　he　signed　the　last　paper；　and　rising　clumsily；　and　straightening　his　fat；　white　neck；　he　went　to　the　door　with　a　more　cheerful　countenance。
The　priest’s　wife；　with　the　colour　rushing　to　her　face；　snatched　up　the　dish；　and　though　she　had　been　so　long　preparing；　she　did　not　succeed　in　presenting　it　at　the　right　moment。　With　a　low　bow　she　offered　it　to　Kutuzov。　Kutuzov　screwed　up　his　eyes。　He　smiled；　chucked　her　under　the　chin；　and　said：
“And　what　a　pretty　face！　Thank　you；　my　dear！”
He　took　some　gold　coins　out　of　his　trouser　pocket；　and　put　them　on　the　dish。　“Well；　and　how　are　we　getting　on？”　he　said；　going　towards　the　room　that　had　been　assigned　him。　The　priest’s　wife；　with　smiling　dimples　on　her　rosy　face；　followed　to　show　him　the　room。　The　adjutant　came　out　to　Prince　Andrey　in　the　porch；　and　invited　him　to　lunch。　Half　an　hour　later　Kutuzov　sent　for　Prince　Andrey。　He　was　reclining　in　a　low　chair；　still　in　the　same　unbuttoned　military　coat。　He　had　a　French　novel　in　his　hand；　and　at　Prince　Andrey’s　entrance　laid　a　paper…knife　in　it　and　put　it　aside。　It　was　Les　Chevaliers　du　Cygne；　a　work　by　Madame　de　Genlis；　as　Prince　Andrey　saw　by　the　cover。
“Well；　sit　down；　sit　down　here。　Let　us　have　a　little　talk；”　said　Kutuzov。　“It’s　sad；　very　sad。　But　remember；　my　dear；　think　of　me　as　a　father；　another　father；　to　you　…！”
Prince　Andrey　told　Kutuzov　all　he　knew　about　his　father’s　end；　and　what　he　had　seen　at　Bleak　Hills。
“To　think　what　we　have　been　brought　to！”　Kutuzov　cried　suddenly；　in　a　voice　full　of　feeling；　Prince　Andrey’s　story　evidently　bringing　vividly　before　him　the　position　of　Russia。
“Wait　a　bit；　wait　a　bit！”　he　added；　with　a　vindictive　look　in　his　face；　and　apparently　unwilling　to　continue　a　conversation　that　stirred　him　too　deeply；　he　said：
“I　sent　for　you　to　keep　you　with　me。”
“I　thank　your　highness！”　answered　Prince　Andrey；　“but　I　am　afraid　I　am　no　more　good　for　staff　work；”　he　said；　with　a　smile；　which　Kutuzov　noticed。　He　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　“And　the　great　thing　is；”　added　Prince　Andrey；　“I　am　used　to　my　regiment。　I　like　the　officers；　and　I　think　the　men　have　come　to　like　me。　I　should　be　sorry　to　leave　the　regiment。　If　I　decline　the　honour　of　being　in　attendance　on　you；　believe　me　…”
Kutuzov’s　podgy　face　beamed　with　a　shrewd；　good…natured；　and　yet　subtly　ironical　expression。　He　cut　Bolkonsky　short。
“I’m　sure　you　would　have　been　of　use　to　me。　But　you’re　right；　you’re　right。　It’s　not　here　that　we　want　men。　There　are　always　a　multitude　of　counsellors；　but　men　are　scarce。　The　regiments　wouldn’t　be　what　they　are　if　all　the　would…be　counsellors　would　serve　in　them　like　you。　I　remember　you　at　Austerlitz。　I　remember；　I　remember　you　with　the　flag！”　said　Kutuzov；　and　a　flush　of　pleasure　came　into　Prince　Andrey’s　face　at　this　reminiscence。　Kutuzov　held　out　his　hand　to　him；　offering　him　his　cheek　to　kiss；　and　again　Prince　Andrey　saw　tears　in　the　old　man’s　eye。　Though　Prince　Andrey　knew　Kutuzov’s　tears　were　apt　to　come　easily；　and　that　he　was　particularly　affectionate　and　tender　with　him　from　the　desire　to　show　sympathy　with　his　loss；　yet　he　felt　this　reminder　of　Austerlitz　agreeable　and　flattering。
“Go　your　own　way；　and　God　bless　you　in　it。　…　I　know　your　path　is　the　path　of　honour！”　He　paused。　“I　missed　you　at　Bucharest。　I　wanted　some　one　to　send　…”　And　changing　the　subject；　Kutuzov　began　talking　of　the　Turkish　war；　and　of　the　peace　that　had　been　concluded。　“Yes；　I　have　been　roundly　abused；”　he　said；　“both　for　the　war　and　the　peace　…　but　it　all　happened　in　the　nick　of　time。”　“　‘Everything　comes　in　time　for　him　who